Daniel Speer

Georg Daniel Speer (1636 – 1707) was a German composer and Baroque writer of a musical treatise, political tracts, and fiction. In 1687 he published a treatise on music that is considered useful in understanding Middle Baroque music. His writing on music would influence German Baroque trombone works for over a century. In non-musical writing his political tracts led to his being imprisoned for a year and a half. In literature he is known for three or four autobiographical novels that give a feel of the musical scene of his era and make use of humor. In them the narrator is referred to as Daniel Simplex. His novels had largely became obscure until rediscovery in the 1930s.

Sonata I in F Major is from Grund-richtiger Kurtz-Leicht- und Nöthiger jetzt Wol-vermehrter Unterricht der musicalischen Kunst Oder Vierfaches Musicalisches Kleeblatt, Ulm 1697 and was composed entirely for Bassoon Trio.