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Benda, Franz (Frantisek)
Baptized: 22 November 1709, Stare Benatky
Died: 7 March 1786, Nowawes
Studied: Jesuit Seminary in Prague
Worked as: excellent violin performer and a teacher
Compositions: 17 symphonies, 17 violin concertos, hundreds of sonatas for various instruments (mainly violin), violin etudes, and several chamber music compositions

Benda, Georg (Anton) [Jiri Antonin]
Baptized: 30 June 1722, Stare Benatky
Died: 6 November 1795, Kostritz
Studied: Piarist high school in Kosmonos, Jesuit college in Jilcin
Worked as: kappelmaister to Duke Friderich III
Compositions: became famous and imitated for his melodramas:"Ariadne auf Naxos", "Medea", "Romeo and Juliet", he also composed church and instrumental music (30 symphonies, several harpsichord concertos, etc.)

Blodek, Vilem
Born: 3 October 1834, Prague
Died: 1 May 1874, Prague
Studied: German Piarist school in Prague, Prague Conservatory
Worked as: music teacher, concert pianist, conductor
Compositions: Opera "In the Well" (V studni) became one of the most popular Czech Operas of all time. His other compositions include many vocal and some instrumental works

Brixi, Frantisek Xaver
Baptized: 2 January 1732, Prague
Died: 14 October 1771
Studied: Piarist Gymnasium, Kosmonosy
Worked as: Organist in Prague, Kapellmeister, Choirmaster
Compositions: mostly sacred works, 100 masses, oratorios and cantatas

Dusek, Frantisek Xaver
Baptized: 8 December 1731, Choteborky
Died: 12 February 1799, Prague
Studied: Jesuit Gymnasium in Hradec Kralove, in Vienna with Wagenseil
Worked as: music teacher, pianist
Compositions: 40 symphonies, concertos for keyboard instruments, 20 string quartets and other works
For more information about Dusek follow this link:
Dusek's detailed bio from artaria.com

Dusik,[Dussek] Jan Ladislav
Born: 12 February 1760, Caslav
Died: 20 March 1812, Paris
Studied: Jesuit Gymnasium in Kutna Hora, New City Gymnasium in Prague, University of Prague
Worked as: Piano teacher and performer, Kappelmaister
Compositions: Mainly piano works, sonatas, concertos; also a large number of chamber works

Dvorak, Antonin (Leopold)
Born: 8 September 1841, Nelahozeves
Died: 1 May 1904, Prague
Studied: Prague Organ School
Worked as: principal viola player at the "Provisional Theater" orchestra, organist of St Adalbert's in Prague, Director of the National Conservatory of Music, New York
Compositions: 10 operas, the most notable are: Rusalka, Cert a Kaca, Jakobin, Dimitrij; 9 symphonies; Orchestral works such as Karneval, Slavonic Dances, etc.;Concertos for violin, cello, piano; Stabat Mater; Te Deum; from Chamber music most notable is the "American quartet" in F; several songs, song cycles, etc.
For more information about Dvorak follow these links:
Classical Net-Antonin Dvorak
Antonin Dvorak-Classical Music pages

Fibich, Zdenek
Born: 21 December 1850, Vseborice
Died: 15 October 1900, Prague
Studied: The Private Music Institute of Zikmund Kolesovsky, Leipzig Conservatory
Worked as: deputy conductor and choirmaster at the Provisional Theater, Choirmaster at the Russian Orthodox Church, dramaturg at the the National Theater
Compositions: three symphonies; several operas (Sarka, Hippodamia, The Tempest, Hedy); Symphonic poems, vocal works, and piano music all take a very important place in Czech classical music

Foerster, Josef Bohuslav
Born: 22 February 1859, Osenice
Died: 29 May 1951, Stara Boleslav
Studied: Prague Organ School
Worked as: Organist of St. Vojtech, Choirmaster, Critic for many Newspapers, Professor of piano at the Hamburg Conservatory, Professor of composition at Vienna Conservatory and Prague Conservatory
Compositions: five symphonies; six operas ("Eva" is the most famous one); two violin concertos; cello concerto;four string quartets; a wind quintet;two symphonic poems, compositions for voice; and many others

Haba, Alois
Born: 21 June 1893, Vizovice
Died: 18 November 1973, Prague
Studied: Teacher's Training Institute in Kromeriz, Prague Conservatory
Worked as: Professor of composition (quarter-tone music) Prague Conservatory
Compositions: Haba's masterpiece is a 1/4 tone opera "The Mother" (Matka); Organ fugue on the theme H-A-B-A, ten fantasies for quarter-tone piano; thirteen string quartets, and many other works

Harant z Polzic a Bedruzic (Harant of Polzice and Bedruzice)
Born: ?, 1564, Klenove Castle
Died: beheaded as a leader of uprising, 21 June 1621, Prague
Studied: educated at the court of Archduke Ferdinand II at Innsbruck
Worked as: valet to to the Emperor Rudolf II
Compositions: Only a few works for three to eight voices have survived

Janacek, Leos
Born: 3 July 1854, Hukvaldy
Died: 12 August 1928, Moravska Ostrava
Studied: German College in old Brno, Czech Teacher's Institute, Prague Organ School, Leipzig Conservatory
Worked as: choirmaster, editor and chief contributor to "Hudebni Listy", teacher at the Old Brno Gymnasium, Organ School, Teacher's Institute
Compositions: ten operas (most popular are: Jenufa, Cunning little Vixen, The House of the Dead, Kata Kabanova); orchestral works include: Taras Bulba, Glagolitic Mass, Lachian Dances, Sinfonietta, etc. ; Several compositions for piano: In the Mists (v Mlhach), On the overgrown path, Moravian Dances; A few chamber music compositions (Youth), and also many folk music arrangements and choruses
For more information about Janacek follow these links:
Janacek Archive and Museum, Brno
Leosjanacek.com: A very extensive page made by Gavin Plumley
Janacek - Classical music pages

Jeremias, Otakar
Born: 17 October 1892, Pisek
Died: 5 March 1962, Prague
Studied: Prague Conservatory, private study with Novak
Worked as: cellist in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, director of the Music School in Ceske Budejovice, conductor of radio symphony orchestra, director of the National Theater in Prague
Composition: mainly vocal works, operas (Eulenspiegel), two symphonies, etc.

Jezek, Jaroslav
Born: 25 September 1906, Prague
Died: 1 January 1942, New york
Studied: Prague conservatory
Worked as: composer of and conductor of "Emancipated Theater" in Prague, founder-conductor of Czechoslovak Choral Group in New York
Compositions: Concerto for Piano and orchestra, Concerto for Violin and wind orchestra, many chamber works, songs, and film scores
For more information about Jezek follow this link:
Jaroslav Jezek - Kapralova society

Kozeluch, Leopold
Born: 26 June 1747, Velvary
Died: 7 May 1818, Vienna
Studied: law but later music with F.X. Dusek
Worked as: pianist, founder of a music publishing house, Court conductor and composer in Vienna
Compositions: almost exclusively secular music, eleven symphonies, twenty-two keyboard concertos, two clarinet concertos, sixty-three trios, thirty-one duos, six operas, fourty-nine keyboard sonatas, and many other works

Kramar, Frantisek (Krommer, Frantz)
Born: 27 November 1759, Kamenice u Trebice
Died: 8 January 1831, Vienna
Studied: violin and organ with his uncle
Worked as: organist in Turan, violinist in the orchestra of the Duke of Styrum, later a musical director; Kappelmaister at Pecs Cathedral and many other places, in 1818 he suceeded Kozeluch as the last offical composer of the Hubsburg Emperors
Compositions: Concertos for various wind instruments, violin and piano, leading composer of string quartets, many other chamber music pieces

Martinu, Bohuslav
Born: 8 December 1890, Policka
Died: 28 August 1959, Liestal, Switzerland
Studied: Prague Conservatory as a Violin student and later organist
Worked as: music teacher in Policka, second violinist of Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Composition chair at the Princeton University, Teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music
Compositions: about sixteen operas, six symphonies, Concertos and Sonatas for various instruments, Choral works (The opening of the wells), a large number of chamber music pieces, etc.
For more information about Martinu follow these links:
Bohuslav Martinu- Classical Net
Bohuslav Martinu- Official Site

Michna of Otradovice, Adam
Born: c1600, Jindrichuv Hradec
Died: 2 November 1676, Jindrichuv Hradec
Studied: Jesuit Gymnasium in Jindrichuv Hradec
Worked as: town organist in Jindrichuv Hradec
Compositions: Missa Sancti Venceslai, Magnificat, many hymnals and other church music

Myslivecek, Josef
Born: 9 March 1737, Horni Sarka
Died: 4 February 1781, Rome
Studied: Normalschule of the Dominicans of St. Jigli, Jesuit Gymnasium, counterpoint with Habermann and Seger
Worked as: church violinist, but later only as a composer
Compositions: One of the most popular composers of Italian opera seria: Medea, Romolo ed Ersilia, Il Bellerofonte, etc.; oratorios: Abramo ed Isacco, Adamo ed Eva, etc.; also a composer of instrumental and chamber music

Novak, Vitezslav
Born: 5 December 1870, Kamenice nad Lipou
Died: 18 July 1949, Skutec
Studied: Prague Conservatory, Prague University
Worked as: Professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory
Compositions: orchestral works include: The Storm, Pan, Toman and the Wood Nymph, Slovak Suite, Eternal Longing, etc.; other compositions include song cycles, choral compositions and works for piano

Ostrcil, Otakar
Born: 25 February 1879, Prague
Died: 20 August 1935, Prague
Studied: modern philosophy at the Prague University, composition with Zdenek Fibich
Worked as: Conductor at the Vinohrady Theater opera and later at the National Theater, teacher of conducting at the Prague Conservatory
Compositions: five operas (Vlasta's passing, Kunal's eyes, The bud, Jack's Kingdom), from orchestral music Suite in G, Impromptu, Symfonietta, Symphony in A are most significant; also composed several vocal works

Rejcha, Antonin (Reicha, Antoine)
Born: 26 February 1770, Prague
Died: 28 May 1836, Paris
Studied: violin and piano with his uncle, maybe composition lessons with Beethoven and Neefe, later Bonn University
Worked as: violin and flute player in the Hoffkapelle in Bonn, Professor of counterpoint and fugue at the Conservatory in Paris (students include Berlioz, Liszt, and Cesar Frank)
Compositions: mostly known for his wind and string chamber music, also wrote symphonies, concertos for string and wind instruments, piano solos, choral works, operas and many other compositions

Ryba, Jan Jakub
Born: 26 October 1765, Prestice
Died: 8 April 1815, Rozmital pod Tremsinem
Studied: singing, thoroughbass, piano, organ, and violin with his father; later cello, organ and theory at the Piarist Gymnasium in Prague
Worked as: school teacher (schoolmaster) and church choirmaster
Compositions: best known for his Czech Christmas Mass "Hej Mistre" also a composer of many other sacred works

Skroup, Frantisek
Born: 3 June 1801, Osice
Died: 7 February 1862, Rotterdam
Studied: Prague Classical Gymnasium
Worked as: assistant and later principal kapellmeister at the Estates Theater
Compositions: ten operas (Dratenik, Fidlovacka); opera Fidlovacka includes the song "Kde Domov Muj?" (Where is my home?) which became the Czech national anthem
To hear the Czech anthem click here (in .wav format)

Smetana, Bedrich
Born: 2 March 1824, Litomysl
Died: 12 May 1884, Prague
Studied: Premonstratensian Gymnasium in Plzen
Worked as: resident piano teacher to Count's Leopold Thun's family, principal conductor of the Prague's Provisional Theater
Compositions:operas: Branibori v Cechach (The Brandenburgers in Bohemia), Prodana Nevesta (The Bartered Bride), Dalibor, Libuse, Dve Vdovy (The Two Widows), Hubicka (The Kiss), Tajemstvi (The Secret), Certova stena (The Devil's Wall); orchestral: Ma Vlast (My Fatherland) includes Vysehrad, Moldau, Sarka, From Bohemian Fields and Groves, Tabor, Blanik; many other symphonic works; From chamber music String quartet "From my Life" in e minor is known the best; many compositions for piano solo and other works
For more information about Smetana follow these links:
Bedrich Smetana - Classical Music Pages
Bedrich Smetana at Tripod
To purchase a book about Smetana click here

Stamitz, Jan Vaclav (Johann Wenzel)
Baptized: 19 June 1717, Havlickuv Brod
Died: 27 March 1757, Mannheim
Studied: Jesuit Gymnasium in Jihlava, Prague University
Worked as: first as a violinist and later as a director of instrumental music at the Mannheim court
Compositions: the most important works are his symphonies (about seventy), other works include: trio sonatas, concertos for various instruments, and some vocal works
For more information about Stamitz follow this link:
Stamitz's detailed bio from artaria.com

Stich-Punto, Jan Vaclav (Giovanni)
Born: 28 September 1746, Zehurice
Died: 16 February 1803, Prague
Studied: horn with Hampel, Matejka, and Handek
Worked as: Horn player at various courts (Meinz, count Thun, prince of Hechingen), violinist/conductor at "Theatre des Varietes Amusantes" in Paris
Copositions: 11 horn concertos, cantatas, and some chamber music

Suk, Josef
Born: 4 January 1874, Krecovice
Died: 29 May 1935, Prague
Studied: Prague Conservatory
Worked as: second violinist in the "Czech Quartet" professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory
Compositions: symphonic works: Asrael, A Summer Fairy-Tale, Maturity, Epilogue, and Incidental music to "Raduz a Mahulena"; several compositions for piano and some chamber music

Tomasek, Jan Vaclav
Born: 17 April 1774, Skutec
Died: 3 April 1850, Prague
Studied: Jihlava Gymnasium, Prague Old Town Gymnasium, University of Prague
Worked as: teacher of violin and composition
Compositions: piano compositions (Eclogues, Dithyrambs, and Rhapsodies), various songs on German texts, and some chamber and orchestral music

Ullmann, Viktor
Born: 1 January 1898, Tesin
Died: October 17 1944, Auschwitz
Studied: Prague Conservatory with Haba, and in Vienna with Schoenberg
Worked as: conductor at the New German Theater in Prague, director of opera house in Usti
Compositions: While in concentration camp in Terezin he has composed several works: Sonatas for piano, several songs for voice(s) and piano, string quartet, and the opera "Der Keiser von Atlantis"; he is also an author of many other compositions published before WW II

Vanhal, Jan Krtitel
Born: 12 May 1739, Nove Nechanice
Died: 20 August 1813, Vienna
Studied: organ with Erban, composition with Dittersdorf
Worked as: organist in Opocno, choirmaster in Hnevceves, teacher in Vienna
Compositions: about hundred symphonies, hundred quartets, ninety-five church compositions, ninety printed collections of chamber and keyboard music

Vejvanovsky, Pavel Josef
Born: circa 1633, Hukvaldy
Died: ? 21 Setember 1693, Kromeriz
Studied: Jesuit college in Opava
Worked as: trumpeter and kappelmaister for Karl Lichtenstein, director of the choir at the collegiate church of St. Morice
Compositions: wrote mainly for trumpet, other works include masses, motets, offertories, vesperae, and Litanies

Vorisek, Jan Vaclav
Born: 11 May 1792, Vamberk
Died: 19 November 1825, Vienna
Studied: Prague Classical Gymnasium, University of Prague
Worked as: conductor of the Gesellshaft der Musikfreunde
Compositions: The most representative works are: Violin Sonata op.5, and Symphony op.24 in D Major

Zelenka, Jan Dismas
Born: 16 October 1679, Lounovice
Died: 22 December 1745, Dresden
Studied: Jesuit College Clementinum in Prague
Worked as: double bass player in the royal orchestra in Dresden, for a short period of time also a kappelmeister
Compositions: Mainly sacred works: Masses, Oratorios, and many others
For more information about Zelenka follow these links:
Jan Dismas Zelenka - Classical Net

For bibliography click here