Interesting Eighteenth Century Composers, Vol. II

By Daniel Zimmermann

The following composers are treated: Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek, Jan August Vitásek, Josef Seger, Karel Blažej Kopřiva, Šimon Brixi, František Xaver Brixi, Bohuslav Matĕj Černohorský, Felix Benda, Josef Triebensee, František Xaver Dušek, Josef Bárta, Jan Ladislav Dussek, Josef Reicha, Anton Reicha, Vojtêch Matyáŝ Jirovec, Jakub Šimon Jan Ryba, Vincent Houška, Leopold Koželuch, Jan Křtitel Kuchař, Jan Zach, Francesco Antonio Rosetti, František Xaver Pokorný, Florian Leopold Gassmann, Josef Fiala, Jan Václav Stich, Ludwig Wenzel Lachnith, Jiří Družecký, Joseph Beer Jean-Baptiste Krumpholz, Wenzel Krumpholz, Václav Pichl, Johann Baptist Wanhal, Josef Mysliveček, Wenzel Thomas Matiegka, Antonín Kammel, Jan Křtitel Jiří Neruda, František Jiránek, Václav Trnka z Křvic, Antonín Kraft, Nikolaus Kraft, Jan Dismas Zelenka, František Kramář, Pavel Vranický, Antonín Vranický, Franz Seraphin Lauska, Ferdinand Kauer, and Anton Zimmermann. Every effort has been made to provide accurate biographical details. The analyses of their music are personal impressions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Zimmermann
• Release date: May 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005085896

Daniel Zimmermann

Daniel Zimmermann was born in Merrill, Wisconsin, and grew up in Hustisford, Wisconsin. He was graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin. His valedictory concerned the ancient philosopher Plotinus. Special honors were third place in an Eta Sigma Phi Greek composition contest and the Doctor Ott award. He was also graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. After serving as pastor for several years, he became a free lance writer. Because of the outstanding success of his Spanish poetry in Mexico, his biography was included in Who's Who in the Midwest. He is also a former member of American Mensa. He is married to Merian, nee Ecot. The couple is residing in the Philippines. Daniel Zimmermann is the author of short stories and poetry. He also writes non-fiction, especially on literature, history, Christianity, and botany.

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Interesting Eighteenth Century Composers, Vol. II

By Daniel Zimmermann

Introductory Comment

I shall use current Czech geography to explain the location of eighteenth century Bohemian and Moravian cities and towns,

The Czech Republic is divided into various regions, which more or less correspond to the states of the U.S. Two regions are in the middle of the country: Central Bohemia and Vysočina.

The capital city Prague has a little territory that is completely surrounded by Central Bohemia. I imagine that this territory more or less corresponds to the District of Columbia in the U.S.

Going clockwise, the regions of Plzeň, Karlovy Vary, and Ustí nad Labem share a border with Germany, and Liberec shares borders with both Germany and Poland.

The regions of Hradec Králové, Pardubice, and Olomouc share a border with Poland, and the region of Moravia-Silesia shares borders with both Poland and Slovakia. Zlin shares a border with Slovakia, and South Moravia shares borders with both Slovakia and Austria. Finally, South Bohemia shares borders with both Austria and Germany.

In the eighteenth century, the kingdom of Bohemia occupied over half the region currently in the Czech Republic. The Margraviate of Moravia occupied the current regions of South Moravia and Zlin, almost the entire region of Olomouc, about half the region of Vysočina, and part of the Moravia-Silesia Region.

The foregoing is based on Internet maps. They may not be one hundred percent accurate, but they give you a good idea of the political situation in the eighteenth century.

Resident Bohemian Composers

Online sources correctly call these men Czech composers, but for the eighteenth century, I prefer to use the term Bohemian or Moravian.

Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774-1850)

Tomášek worked in Prague, where he became very influential. According to Prague Concert Life, the renowned critic Hanslick called him the Dalai Lama or musical Pope of Prague.

He was a piano teacher. He first taught himself how to play; then he began to teach others. Eduard Hanslick was one of his pupils.

He studied violin and singing with P.J. Wolf.

He wrote three string quartets and perhaps other music before the eighteenth century drew to a close.

Later he adorned some of Goethe’s poems with music. He also was one of the many composers who composed a variation on Diabelli’s famous waltz. Besides, he composed operas, masses, and plenty of piano music. Interestingly, one of his operas is Sakuntala, undoubtedly based on Kalidasa’s intriguing work.

We currently are able to enjoy a recording of his Requiem in c-minor. Also recorded are his Missa Solemnis (Op. 81), his Eclogue No. 1 in B-flat major (Op. 35), his Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major (Op. 18), etc.

Jan August Vitásek (1770-1839)

Jan August was blessed with a father who was able to give him musical instruction. He also studied with František Xaver Dušek and Leopold Kozeluch.

In his early adult life, he worked for the Lobkowitz and Nostitz families. At this time, he became acquainted with Mozart.

In 1814 he became the music director of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. His predecessor was none other than his former teacher Leopold Kozeluch.

His sacred music includes masses, requiems, hymns, graduals, and offertories. David, his only opera, is based on a Biblical theme. However, he also wrote secular music: concertos, symphonies, string quartets and quintets, sonatas, songs, etc. He also wrote one of the variations published by Diabelli.

If any earthly music resembles the angelic choirs that we shall enjoy in heaven, it is the Hymnus Pastoralis of Vitásek. There are three different recordings on the Internet. There is also an excellent version for flute and harp arranged by Mike Magatagan. He calls it Pastoral-Graduale.

His other recorded works are also beautiful, but the Hymnus Pastoralis surpasses them all.

Josef Seger (1716-1782)

Josef Seger taught many Czech musicians. Among his pupils were Karel Blažej Kopřiva, Jan Křtitel Kuchař, Jan Antonín Koželuh, Václav