Silvius Leopold Weiss

== Early life and travels ==

== Early life and travels ==

Silvius Leopold Weiss was born on 12 October 1687,{{sfn|Legl|2020|p=696}}{{efn|Numerous sources claim a birth year of 1686, following an engraving by Folin, but a contemporary encyclopaedia entry by [[Luise Gottsched]] and some primary sources support 1687. However, no baptism registry entry is known.{{sfn|Legl|2017|pp=120–124}}}} probably in [[Grodków|Grottkau]] (now {{lang|pl|Grodków}}, Poland) in the [[Duchy of Nysa|Duchy of Neisse]] ({{lang|pl|Nysa}}), a territory ruled by the [[Bishop of Wrocław|Prince-Bishop of Breslau]] as Prince of Neisse and Duke of Grottkau.{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=1–2}} It is also possible that he was born in [[Wrocław|Breslau]] ({{lang|pl|Wrocław}}), where his sister Juliana Margaretha was baptised in the Lutheran [[St. Elizabeth's Church, Wrocław|St. Elizabeth's Church]] in 1690.{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=1–2}}{{sfn|Legl|2020|p=696}} His parents were Johann Jacob Weiss, a lutenist, and Anna Margaretha, whose last name is not known.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=2}}{{sfn|Legl|2020|p=696}} Silvius, Juliana and their younger brother {{ill|Johann Sigismund Weiss|de}} learned playing the lute from their father.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=2}} The family was very likely Protestant.{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=2,6}}

Silvius Leopold Weiss was born on 12 October 1687,{{sfn|Legl|2020|p=696}}{{efn|Numerous sources claim a birth year of 1686, following an engraving by Folin, but a contemporary encyclopaedia entry by [[Luise Gottsched]] and some primary sources support 1687. However, no baptism registry entry is known.{{sfn|Legl|2017|pp=120–124}}}} probably in [[Grodków|Grottkau]] (now {{lang|pl|Grodków}}, Poland) in the [[Duchy of Nysa|Duchy of Neisse]] ({{lang|pl|Nysa}}), a territory ruled by the [[Bishop of Wrocław|Prince-Bishop of Breslau]] as Prince of Neisse and Duke of Grottkau.{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=1–2}} It is also possible that he was born in [[Wrocław|Breslau]] ({{lang|pl|Wrocław}}), where his sister Juliana Margaretha was baptised in the Lutheran [[St. Elizabeth's Church, Wrocław|St. Elizabeth's Church]] in 1690.{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=1–2}}{{sfn|Legl|2020|p=696}} His parents were Johann Jacob Weiss, a lutenist, and Anna Margaretha, whose last name is not known.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=2}}{{sfn|Legl|2020|p=696}} Silvius, Juliana and their younger brother {{ill|Johann Sigismund Weiss|de}} learned to play the lute from their father.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=2}} The family was very likely Protestant.{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=2,6}}

A child prodigy, Weiss performed for [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor]] in the seventh year of his life, probably in 1694.{{sfn|Legl|1998|p=54}}{{sfn|Reilly|Smith|Crawford|2001}} Very little is known about his early life.{{sfn|Legl|2020|p=696}} At some point before 1706, he entered the service of [[Charles III Philip]] of [[Palatinate-Neuburg]], who resided in Breslau and in nearby [[Brzeg|Brieg]] ({{lang|pl|Brzeg}}).{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=3}} In 1706, he travelled first to Berlin and then to [[Kassel]] and [[Kleve]] with the retinue of [[Frederick I of Sweden|Frederick I]], heir apparent of [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel|Hesse-Kassel]].{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=3–4}} For the month of April, he stayed at the court of [[Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine]], the brother of Charles III Philip, in Düsseldorf, and wrote his earliest known composition, Sonata 7 in C minor.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=4}} On his return to Breslau, Johann wrote to his brother, thanking him for the opportunity to listen to the virtuoso lutenist and expressing his pleasure and contentment.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=4}}{{sfn|Legl|2000|p=36}}

A child prodigy, Weiss performed for [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor]] in the seventh year of his life, probably in 1694.{{sfn|Legl|1998|p=54}}{{sfn|Reilly|Smith|Crawford|2001}} Very little is known about his early life.{{sfn|Legl|2020|p=696}} At some point before 1706, he entered the service of [[Charles III Philip]] of [[Palatinate-Neuburg]], who resided in Breslau and in nearby [[Brzeg|Brieg]] ({{lang|pl|Brzeg}}).{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=3}} In 1706, he travelled first to Berlin and then to [[Kassel]] and [[Kleve]] with the retinue of [[Frederick I of Sweden|Frederick I]], heir apparent of [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel|Hesse-Kassel]].{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=3–4}} For the month of April, he stayed at the court of [[Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine]], the brother of Charles III Philip, in Düsseldorf, and wrote his earliest known composition, Sonata 7 in C minor.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=4}} On his return to Breslau, Johann wrote to his brother, thanking him for the opportunity to listen to the virtuoso lutenist and expressing his pleasure and contentment.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=4}}{{sfn|Legl|2000|p=36}}