Johann Paul Schorn

History

Johann Paul SCHORN (d. after 1720) was a musician and luthier active in Innsbruck and Salzburg, Austria. According to John Dilworth, he worked in Innsbruck from 1654 to 1684 and was appointed to the service of the Archbishop of Stuttgart in 1684. Sources contain conflicting information regarding his exact dates in Innsbruck, with Cecie Stainer stating he worked there from about 1680-90. He was living in Mülln, Salzburg from 1689, and returned to Salzburg around 1696-1720 as a musician to the court, as noted by John Dilworth. Cecie Stainer indicates his Salzburg period was about 1696 to 1716. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states he was based in Innsbruck until 1696 before entering the service of the Archbishop of Salzburg and residing in the Mülln suburb near Salzburg. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also notes that if J. Hart distinguishes between a Jakob and a Johann Schorn, it seems to be a confusion with Jakob Schrot, and that Schorn only seems to have used both first names after Johann Joseph Schorn also began working in Salzburg.

Craft

• Instrument Types: Johann Paul Schorn crafted violins, lutes, viols, viole d'amore, guitars, pochettes, and Polish cithers.
• Construction Style: His instruments are described as fine Stainer copies with a high-modelled, pronounced arching and sweeping corners, as noted by John Dilworth and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. Henri Poidras also mentions a pronounced arching.
• Varnish: He used a good golden-brown varnish, which George Hart describes as similar to that of Albani. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states his varnish is very good, and Cecie Stainer notes he used a fairly good varnish.
• Extant Instruments: A violin from 1719 with a finely carved lion's head is preserved in the Cherubini Museum, Florence. A pochette dated 1695, said to have belonged to Mozart, is in the Salzburg Museum. The royal collection of old musical instruments in Berlin holds a so-called Brettlgeige, which is traditionally believed to be the violin Mozart played as a child, featuring a beautifully carved lion's head on the pegbox. A beautiful violin from 1692 is owned by the collegiate church in Laufen. The Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna possesses an excellent viola d'amore from 1716 and a Polish zither, as well as a Polish cither dated Salzburg, 1696, and a viola d'amore dated Salzburg 1699. The Kärnthener Landesmuseum in Klagenfurt holds a viola d'amore from 1700, a violin from 1703, a violin repaired by Schorn in 1700, and a Polish zither from 1700. An instrument from 1701 is located in the städtische Museum Carolino-Augusteum in Salzburg.

Influence

• Stylistic Influences: His work is closely related to that of Albani, with his model being high-arched and his varnish similar to Albani's, according to George Hart and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. He also produced fine Stainer copies, as noted by John Dilworth.

Legacy

• Notable Associations: A pochette dated 1695 in the Salzburg Museum is said to have belonged to Mozart. The royal collection of old musical instruments in Berlin preserves a Brettlgeige, which is traditionally believed to be the violin on which Mozart played as a child.
• Museum Holdings: Instruments by Schorn are held in significant collections including the Cherubini Museum in Florence, the Salzburg Museum, the royal collection of old musical instruments in Berlin, the Stiftskirche in Laufen, the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna, the Kärnthener Landesmuseum in Klagenfurt, and the städtische Museum Carolino-Augusteum in Salzburg.

Further Information

• Labels: His labels often varied in wording, including examples such as "Joannes Schorn fecit / in Mülln prope Salisburg / Anno 1688", "Johannes Schorn / Salisburgiensis, 1695", "Joann Paul Schorn / H.F. Musicus auch Lauten / und Geigenmacher in Salzburg / Ao. 1716", "Joannes Schorn H.F. Musicus / und Laudenmacher-Salisburgi / 1719", and "Joannes Schorn, Hoff Lauten / und Geigenmacher. Salisburgi / 1708".
• Workshop Locations: He worked in Innsbruck and later resided in Mülln near Salzburg, and then in Salzburg itself.

Summary

Johann Paul Schorn was an Austrian musician and luthier active in Innsbruck and Salzburg from the mid-17th to early 18th century. He is known for crafting a variety of stringed instruments, including violins, lutes, and viole d'amore, often producing fine Stainer copies with a high-arched model and good golden-brown varnish. His work shows stylistic similarities to Albani. Several of his instruments are preserved in prominent museums, and a pochette and a Brettlgeige are famously associated with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.