Dittersdorf had composition lessons from Giuseppe Bonno in his
native Vienna and served as a violinist in the orchestra of the
Prince of Sachsen-Hildburghausen, followed by a position in the
imperial theatre. There followed a period as Kapellmeister to
the Bishop of Grosswardein, where, in 1762, he succeeded Michael
Haydn. In 1769 he became Kapellmeister to the Prince-Bishop of
Breslau, at this period acquiring the patent of nobility that
added to the name of Ditters the honorific von Dittersdorf. Conditions
in Johannisberg, the seat of the Prince-Bishop, deteriorated in
the political circumstances of the time, and on the death of his
employer in 1795, he moved with his family to join the household
of a nobleman in Bohemia.
Dittersdorf wrote a large number of stage works. The earlier Italian works written for Johannisberg were followed by a series of Singspiel primarily for Vienna, and eleven further such works in 1793 and 1794 for Duke Friedrich-August of Brunswick-Oels. These, all in all, mark an important stage in the development of the form.
Dittersdorf made his due contribution to oratorio in four such works. He wrote settings of the Mass and other liturgical works, as well as cantatas and arias for church use. His secular vocal works are few.
In orchestral music Dittersdorf may be compared in some respects to his near contemporary Joseph Haydn. His 120 listed symphonies include a set of six giving musical expression to the Metamorphoses of Ovid and another 'nel gusto di 5 nazioni' (in the taste of five nations). His concertos, rather less in number, include eighteen for violin, five for viola, one for cello and one for double bass, as well as a double concerto for viola and double bass.
Chamber Music
The chamber music of Dittersdorf, with all the clarity of classical style, includes string quartets and quintets, divertimenti and compositions for groups of wind instruments.
