Joachim’s Contract in Hanover, 1852
Theatermuseum Hannover, Prinzenstraße 9, 30159 Hannover
Personalakte Joseph Joachim, S. 11-12- recto and verso
Contract
welcher zwischen dem Herrn Flügel-Adjudanten,
Hauptmann Grafen von Platen, als Chef des
Königlichen Orchesters und dem Herrn Concertmeister
Joseph Joachim abgeschlossen ist.
§1
Der Herr Concertmeister Joseph Joachim
wird unter Vorbehalt einer beiden Contrahenten
zu jeder Zeit freistehenden Dienstkündigung, in
Folge deren dieser Contract nach sechs Monaten,
vom Tage der Kündigung angerechnet, als er-
loschen zu betrachten ist, als Concertmeister bei
dem hiesigen Königlichen Orchester angestellt und
erhält dafür einen, in vierteljährigen Raten
bei Königlicher Hofstaats-Casse zahlbaren Gehalt
von jährlich
=Tausend Thaler Courant=
§2.
Der Herr Concertmeister steht neben dem Capell-
meister und Musik-Director lediglich unter den
unmittelbaren Befehlen des Chefs des Königlichen
Orchesters.
§3.
[2]
§3.
Der Herr Concertmeister hat in dieser seiner
Eigenschaft in allen Hof- Concerten, den von
der Theater-Intendanz oder dem Chef des König-
lichen Orchesters unternommenen Concerten,
ausschließlich die Direktion der Instrumental-
Musik mit den dazu nöthigen Proben, (nicht der
Gesangssachen welche dem Capellmeister gebührt.)
Sollte derselbe durch besondere Umstände in
einzelnen Fällen wünschen von der Direction.
entbunden zu sein, oder durch Krankheit daran
verhindert worden, so bestimmt der Chef des
Königlichen Orchesters wer die Direction zu über-
nehmen hat, ob der Capellmeister oder der Mu-
sik- Director.
§4.
Der Herr Concertmeister verpflichtet sich,
in der großen Oper und den dazu nöthigen
Proben mitzuspielen und in Folge dieser Ver-
pflichtung dem jedesmaligen Dirigenten, sei
es der Capellmeister oder der Musik-Director,
unbedingt Folge zu leisten. [Daneben liegt
es ihm jedoch ob, seine Aufmerksamkeit auf
eine gleichmäßige Streichart und schöne Ton-
[3]
bildung des Quartetts zu richten und nöthi-
gen Falls seine bessere Ansicht gelten zu
machen.] Bei Behinderung der Opern-Di
rigenten hat der Herr Concertmeister die Di-
rection der Oper selbst zu übernehmen.
§5.
Der Herr Concertmeister verpflichtet sich
ferner, sowohl in den Concerten als auch im
Theater ein Solo auf seinem Instrumente vor-
zutragen, so oft es von ihm verlangt wird.
§6.
Sich nicht von Hannover zu entfernen, ohne
zuvor den nöthigen Urlaub von dem Chef des
Königlichen Orchesters erhalten zu haben.
§7.
Auf den besonderen Wunsch des Herrn
Concertmeisters wird demselben außer den ge-
wöhnlichen Sommer-Ferien (Mitte Juny bis
Ende August) im Laufe des Theaterjahres ein
zweimonatlicher Urlaub zugestanden, jedoch nicht
in den eigentlichen Concert-Monaten, und ver-
pflichtet sich der Herr Concertmeister überdem, an
den beiden Allerhöchsten Geburtstagen auf Ver-
langen hier anwesend zu sein.
[4]
§8.
Behuf der Theilnahme des Herrn Concert-
meisters an den hier etwa stattfindenden
Concerten fremder Künstler, ist jederzeit die
Erlaubniß des Chefs des Königlichen Orchesters
einzuholen.
§9.
Zu gegenseitiger Sicherheit ist dieser Con-
tract in doppelter Ausfertigung von beiden
Theilen vollzogen und gegenseitig ausgewechselt.
So geschehen Hannover, den November 1852.
Gf Platen-Hallermund
Paraphrase Translation
Contract
between Captain Count von Platen, Aide‑de‑Camp to the Court and Head of the Royal Orchestra, and Concertmaster Joseph Joachim.
§1
Concertmaster Joseph Joachim is appointed Concertmaster of the Royal Orchestra in Hanover. Either party may terminate this appointment at any time, in which case the present agreement shall expire six months after notice of termination has been given. For his services he shall receive an annual salary of one thousand thalers courant, payable quarterly from the Royal Court Treasury.
§2
The Concertmaster is, alongside the Kapellmeister and the Music Director, directly answerable only to the Head of the Royal Orchestra.
§3
In this capacity the Concertmaster has sole responsibility for directing the instrumental music, including all necessary rehearsals, at Court concerts and at concerts given by the Theatre Directorate or by the Head of the Royal Orchestra. This does not include vocal matters, which fall within the remit of the Kapellmeister. Should the Concertmaster, in particular cases, wish to be released from conducting duties for special reasons, or be prevented from carrying them out owing to illness, the Head of the Royal Orchestra shall decide whether the Kapellmeister or the Music Director is to take over the direction.
§4
The Concertmaster undertakes to play in grand opera performances and in all necessary opera rehearsals, and in this connection to follow without reservation the instructions of the conductor in each case, whether this be the Kapellmeister or the Music Director. At the same time, he is expected to oversee the string principals, ensuring unified bowing and beautiful tone, and, where necessary, to assert his better judgment. If the regular opera conductors are unavailable, the Concertmaster shall himself assume the direction of the opera.
§5
The Concertmaster further undertakes to perform as a soloist on his instrument, both in concerts and in the theatre, whenever he is called upon to do so.
§6
The Concertmaster shall not leave Hanover without first obtaining the necessary permission from the Head of the Royal Orchestra.
§7
At the Concertmaster’s express request, he shall, in addition to the customary summer recess (from mid‑June to the end of August), be granted a further two months’ leave during the theatre season, though not in the main concert months. He further undertakes, if summoned, to be present in Hanover on the two Royal birthdays.
§8
For the Concertmaster’s participation in any concerts given here by visiting artists, prior permission must in every case be obtained from the Head of the Royal Orchestra.
§9
For their mutual security this contract has been drawn up in duplicate, signed by both parties, and each party has received one copy.
Done at Hanover, November 1852.
Gf Platen‑Hallermund
More literal translation
Contract
concluded between Captain Count von Platen, Aide-de‑Camp to the Court, as Head of the Royal Orchestra, and Concertmaster Joseph Joachim.
§1
Concertmaster Joseph Joachim is appointed as Concertmaster of the Royal Orchestra here, subject to the reservation that either of the contracting parties may terminate his service at any time, in consequence of which this contract is to be regarded as having lapsed six months from the date of notice of termination, and he shall receive for this a salary of
=One thousand thalers courant=
per year, paid in quarterly instalments from the Royal Court Treasury.
§2
The Concertmaster stands, alongside the Kapellmeister and Music Director, solely under the direct orders of the Head of the Royal Orchestra.
§3
In this capacity the Concertmaster has, in all Court concerts and in concerts undertaken by the Theatre Intendancy or by the Head of the Royal Orchestra, the exclusive direction of the instrumental music, including the necessary rehearsals (not of vocal matters, which fall to the Kapellmeister).
Should he, in individual cases, wish, owing to special circumstances, to be relieved of the direction, or be prevented from carrying it out by illness, then the Head of the Royal Orchestra decides who is to take over the direction, whether the Kapellmeister or the Music Director.
§4
The Concertmaster undertakes to play in the grand opera and in the necessary rehearsals for it, and in consequence of this obligation to obey unconditionally the conductor in each case, whether this be the Kapellmeister or the Music Director.
[At the same time, however, it is incumbent upon him to direct his attention to an even bowing style and a beautiful tone production of the quartet, and, where necessary, to assert his better judgment.]
In the event of the opera conductors being prevented, the Concertmaster is to take over the direction of the opera himself.
§5
The Concertmaster further undertakes to perform a solo on his instrument, both in concerts and in the theatre, whenever this is required of him.
§6
[He undertakes] not to absent himself from Hanover without first having obtained the necessary leave from the Head of the Royal Orchestra.
§7
At the special request of the Concertmaster, he shall, in addition to the usual summer holidays (mid‑June to the end of August), be granted a further two months’ leave during the theatre year, though not in the principal concert months, and the Concertmaster further undertakes to be present here, on request, on the two Most Highest birthdays.
§8
For the Concertmaster’s participation in any concerts by visiting artists that may take place here, permission must in every case be obtained from the Head of the Royal Orchestra.
§9
For mutual security, this contract has been executed in duplicate by both parties and exchanged between them.
Thus done at Hanover, in November 1852.
Gf Platen‑Hallermund
