Franz Ignaz Danzi, cellist and composer, was born on June 15, 1763 in Schwetzinger, Germany and died on April 13, 1826 in Karlsruhe, Germany. His father, cellist Innozenz Danzi (1730-1798) was one of the highest paid musicians of the famous Mannheim Orchestra.

Franz began playing cello with that orchestra in 1778, eventually succeeding his father in 1783 (in Munich). In 1807 Franz became Kapellmeister in Stuttgart where he became good friends with Carl Maria von Weber, 23 years his junior (born 1786 - ironically, Weber died on June 5, 1826, less than 2 months after Danzi).

Danzi lived at a significant time in the history of European concert music. His career, spanning the transition from the late Classical to the early Romantic styles, coincided with the origin of much of the music that lives in our concert halls and is familiar to contemporary classical-music audiences. As a young man he knew Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whom he revered; he was a contemporary of Ludwig van Beethoven, about whom he—like many of his generation—had strong but mixed feelings; and he was a mentor and promoter for the young Carl Maria von Weber.

He composed 4 Flute Concertos between 1806 and 1814 including the Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 31 in 1806. In addition, he wrote several chamber works for the Flute and 9 Woodwind Quintets (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and F Horn), a medium he is often credited with inventing.

Although originally written for Wind Quintet, I created this arrangement of the Quintet in Eb Major (Op. 67 No. 3) for Flute & Piano.