no image
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Johann Gottlieb Graun
Person · male · Germany · Wahrenbrück · born 1703 · died 1771 · recording since 1998
German composer and violinist
streamingdatabasedatabasedatabase
Listen on SpotifyYouTube Music
Also known as Graun · ヨハン・ゴットリープ・グラウン
Timeline
12 events▣ Album 9◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1700s
1770s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: Konzertante Musik mit Viola da gamba
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography398 words · 2 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1348422810
Biography
Johann Gottlieb Graun (1702/1703 – 27 October 1771) was a German Baroque/Classical era composer and violinist, born in Wahrenbrück. His brother Carl Heinrich was a singer and also a composer, and is the better known of the two.
Johann Gottlieb studied with J.G. Pisendel in Dresden and Giuseppe Tartini in Padua. Appointed Konzertmeister in Merseburg in 1726, he taught the violin to J.S. Bach's son Wilhelm Friedemann. He joined the court of the Prussian crown prince (the future Frederick the Great) in 1732. Graun was later made Konzertmeister of the Berlin Opera in 1740. He composed over 50 songs and compositions.
Graun's compositions were highly respected, and continued to be performed after his death: "The concert-master, John Gottlib Graun, brother to the opera-composer, his admirers say, 'was one of the greatest performers on the violin of his time, and most assuredly, a composer of the first rank'," wrote Charles Burney. He was primarily known for his instrumental works, though he also wrote vocal music and operas. He wrote a large number of violin concertos, trio sonatas, and solo sonatas for violin with cembalo, as well as two string quartets — among the earliest attempts in this genre. He also wrote many concertos for viola da gamba, which were very virtuosic, and were played by Ludwig Christian Hesse, considered the leading gambist of the time. Despite these achievements, Graun’s reputation during his lifetime was by no means commensurate with the significance of his work. Overshadowed by the fame of his younger brother Carl Heinrich Graun and by that of his pupil Franz Benda, his contributions were long underestimated and, in many cases, largely overlooked. Only in more recent scholarship has a reassessment begun to take shape. In particular, studies have demonstrated that as early as the 1730s Graun developed a stylistic model for the violin concerto that proved influential and normative for subsequent composers. This growing recognition has led to a more nuanced understanding of Graun’s role in the formation of mid-18th-century instrumental style and has gradually restored his position as a central figure in the history of German violin music.
Despite the popularity of his works, Graun was not free from criticism. Burney noted that some critics complained that, "In his concertos and church music ... the length of each movement is more immoderate than Christian patience can endure."
Selected recordings
Concerti & Sinfonie Wiener Akademie, dir. Martin Haselböck cpo
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 9 | 81.7th |
| Studio albums | 9 | 90th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 12 | 88.9th |
| Recording span (years) | -227 | 2.8th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (9 release groups · 9 studio albums)
Albums · 9
Konzertante Musik mit Viola da gamba
1998 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:13:42
1Concerto a violono e viola da gamba (ut mineur): Allegro con spirito8:522Concerto a violono e viola da gamba (ut mineur): Adagio con sordini7:153Concerto a violono e viola da gamba (ut mineur): Allegro7:544Trio a due viola da gamba e basso (sol majeur): Adagio (andante)4:235Trio a due viola da gamba e basso (sol majeur): Allegro3:246Trio a due viola da gamba e basso (sol majeur): Allegro (minuetto)3:467Concerto per la viola da gamba (la mineur): Allegro moderato10:168Concerto per la viola da gamba (la mineur): Adagio7:139Concerto per la viola da gamba (la mineur): Allegro5:4310Sonate a tre, violono ovvero viola da gamba, violono quinto accordio e basso cembalo (la mejeur): Adagio5:1011Sonate a tre, violono ovvero viola da gamba, violono quinto accordio e basso cembalo (la mejeur): Allegro4:3912Sonate a tre, violono ovvero viola da gamba, violono quinto accordio e basso cembalo (la mejeur): Allegro5:07Concert Life in 18th Century Berlin
2001 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:12:05
1Quadro "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" in g minor: I. Largo3:592Quadro "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" in g minor: II. Allegretto5:573Quadro "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" in g minor: III. Adagio3:564Quadro "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" in g minor: IV. Vivace3:505Sonata in A major: I. Allegretto9:096Sonata in A major: II. Adagio4:427Sonata in A major: III. Allegro3:538Sonata da Camera in C major, op. 4: I. Andante e molto2:099Sonata da Camera in C major, op. 4: II. Allegro4:5710Sonata da Camera in C major, op. 4: III. Allegro assai3:3511Trio in F major: I. Larghetto1:5312Trio in F major: II. Allegro3:5113Trio in F major: III. Siciliano1:5414Trio in F major: IV. Allegro3:0715Kammersonate "Echo" in D major, op. 5: I. Adagio e mesto3:5916Kammersonate "Echo" in D major, op. 5: II. Allegro moderato5:4117Kammersonate "Echo" in D major, op. 5: III. Allegretto5:332005 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:08:36
1Sinfonia Grosso in D major: I. Allegro maestoso3:312Sinfonia Grosso in D major: II. Arietta. Grazioso2:593Sinfonia Grosso in D major: III. Allegro scherzando3:374Violin Concerto in D minor: I. Allegro5:375Violin Concerto in D minor: II. Adagio5:306Violin Concerto in D minor: III. Allegro assai6:007Violin Concerto in A major: I. Allegretto6:288Violin Concerto in A major: II. Largo6:179Violin Concerto in A major: III. Allegro5:5010Concerto per la Viola da Gamba in A major: I. Allegretto9:1311Concerto per la Viola da Gamba in A major: II. Adagio8:0212Concerto per la Viola da Gamba in A major: III. Allegro5:322009 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:26:53
Disc 11Concerto C minor, GraunWV C:XIII:68: I. Allegro3:432Concerto C minor, GraunWV C:XIII:68: II. Largo3:463Concerto C minor, GraunWV C:XIII:68: III. Allegro3:014Concerto G major, GraunWV C:XIII:84: I. Allegro6:005Concerto G major, GraunWV C:XIII:84: II. Adagio8:006Concerto G major, GraunWV C:XIII:84: III. Allegro Molto E Con Spirito6:107Concerto A major: I. Allegretto5:498Concerto A major: II. Adagio6:519Concerto A major: III. Allegro3:56Disc 21Concerto F major, GraunWV Av:XIII:31: I. Allegro5:452Concerto F major, GraunWV Av:XIII:31: II. Mesto9:573Concerto F major, GraunWV Av:XIII:31: III. Allegro5:464Concerto E-flat major, GraunWV Cv:XIII:116: I. Allegretto6:345Concerto E-flat major, GraunWV Cv:XIII:116: II. Adagio, Un Poco Andante5:426Concerto E-flat major, GraunWV Cv:XIII:116: III. Allegro5:532012 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:07:27
1Concerto für Blockflöte, Viola da gamba & Orchester, TWV 52:a1: I. Grave4:052Concerto für Blockflöte, Viola da gamba & Orchester, TWV 52:a1: II. Allegro4:223Concerto für Blockflöte, Viola da gamba & Orchester, TWV 52:a1: III. Dolce3:454Concerto für Blockflöte, Viola da gamba & Orchester, TWV 52:a1: IV. Allegro3:475Adagio & Allegro7:016Concerto A‐dur für Viola da gamba, zwei Violinen & b.c.: I. À Tempo guisto3:297Concerto A‐dur für Viola da gamba, zwei Violinen & b.c.: II. Allegro2:568Concerto A‐dur für Viola da gamba, zwei Violinen & b.c.: III. Largo4:269Concerto A‐dur für Viola da gamba, zwei Violinen & b.c.: IV. Allegro3:0510Interludium in D2:2811Concerto G-dur für Viola da gamba, Streicher & b.c.: I. Allegro5:2512Concerto G-dur für Viola da gamba, Streicher & b.c.: II. Adagio ma non tanto8:4413Concerto G-dur für Viola da gamba, Streicher & b.c.: III. Allegro7:2714Arpeggiata und Fantasia6:27Forgotten Chamber Works with Oboe from the Court of Prussia
2018 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 59:21
1Quadro Sonata in B-flat major for Traverso, Oboe, Viola and B.C., op. VI: I. Larghetto3:242Quadro Sonata in B-flat major for Traverso, Oboe, Viola and B.C., op. VI: II. Allegretto5:123Quadro Sonata in B-flat major for Traverso, Oboe, Viola and B.C., op. VI: III. Allegro assai5:094Trio Sonata in D minor for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: I. Andante2:115Trio Sonata in D minor for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: II. Allegro2:586Trio Sonata in D minor for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: III. Vivace3:057Quintet in A minor for Traverso, Oboe, Viola, Cello and Obbligato Harpsichord, GraunWV Av:XIV:14: I. Amabile3:118Quintet in A minor for Traverso, Oboe, Viola, Cello and Obbligato Harpsichord, GraunWV Av:XIV:14: II. Allegro non tanto5:079Quintet in A minor for Traverso, Oboe, Viola, Cello and Obbligato Harpsichord, GraunWV Av:XIV:14: III. Allegro alla siciliana7:4710Trio Sonata in G major for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: I. Un poco adagio2:4411Trio Sonata in G major for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: II. Allegro4:3012Trio Sonata in G major for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: III. Larghetto e cantabile3:0713Trio Sonata in A minor for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: I. Moderato2:3514Trio Sonata in A minor for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: II. Allegro4:3015Trio Sonata in A minor for Oboe, Violin and B.C.: III. Vivace3:51Torna vincitor: Cantatas & Viola da Gamba Concerto
2021 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:18:25
1Cantata »O Dio, Fileno«: Recitativo. O Dio, Fileno, comincia il prato1:022Cantata »O Dio, Fileno«: Aria. Aure amiche14:163Cantata »O Dio, Fileno«: Recitativo accompagnato. Ma, che fu mai quell’empio5:054Cantata »O Dio, Fileno«: Aria. Va, ma conserva i miei11:075Viola da Gamba Concerto in A minor: Allegro moderato10:266Viola da Gamba Concerto in A minor: Adagio7:207Viola da Gamba Concerto in A minor: Allegro6:388Cantata »Già la sera«: Aria. Già la sera si avvicina12:489Cantata »Già la sera«: Recitativo Lascia una volta, o Nice2:3210Cantata »Già la sera«: Aria. Non più fra i sassi algosi7:112024 · studio album
2026 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:12:53
1Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major, GraunWV Cv:XIII:116: I. Allegretto7:152Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major, GraunWV Cv:XIII:116: II. Adagio un poco Andante4:203Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major, GraunWV Cv:XIII:116: III. Allegro6:054Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in C major: I. Allegretto5:355Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in C major: II. Adagio5:216Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in C major: III. Allegro4:147Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major: I. Allegro moderato3:278Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major: II. Largo3:359Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major: III. Allegro3:1610Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in F major: I. Allegretto6:5011Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in F major: II. Adagio4:0712Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in F major: III. Allegro assai4:2313Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major: I. Allegro moderato6:1414Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major: II. Larghetto3:1115Concerto for viola, strings and basso continuo in E-flat major: III. Allegro5:00
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Johann Gottlieb Graun head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 9 | 81.7th |
| Studio albums | 9 | 90th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 12 | 88.9th |
| Recording span (years) | -227 | 2.8th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
aliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d7422261-143e-406e-a6bd-cf456da2b46ediscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d7422261-143e-406e-a6bd-cf456da2b46ecore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q502321genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q502321seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Gottlieb_Graunbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Gottlieb_Graun
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: no portrait (not displayed: the licence credit is missing)
Wikidata: Q502321 · MusicBrainz: d7422261-143e-406e-a6bd-cf456da2b46e
Similar artists
Browse every Tier 3 artist →Ranked from this record's own data: shared genre tags (rarer tags weigh more), era, home country and comparable fame. Every card lists the signals that placed it — no editorial picks.
Christian Cannabich
Germany · Person
symphony
1 shared genre tag · debut 1998, same year · from Germany
19 wikis
Franz Ignaz Beck
Germany · Person
symphony
1 shared genre tag · debut 1996, 2 years apart · from Germany
13 wikis
Felix Draeseke
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha · Person
symphony
1 shared genre tag · debut 2000, 2 years apart
19 wikis
Mozart Camargo Guarnieri
Brazil · Person
symphony
1 shared genre tag · debut 1998, same year
18 wikis
August Enna
Kingdom of Denmark · Person
symphony
1 shared genre tag · debut 2001, 3 years apart
17 wikis
Friedrich Gernsheim
Kingdom of Prussia · Person
symphony
1 shared genre tag · debut 1999, 1 year apart
17 wikis
Hans Gál
Austria · Person
symphony
1 shared genre tag · debut 1997, 1 year apart
17 wikis
Maurice Emmanuel
France · Person
symphony
1 shared genre tag · debut 1997, 1 year apart
22 wikis