Wenzel Pichl
Encyclopedia
Wenzel Pichl was a classical Czech composer
of the 18th Century. He was also a violinist, music director and writer.
Pichl was born at Bechyně
, Bohemia
. His first musical training was at Bechyne with the cantor Jan Pokorný. He served as a singer between the years 1752-1758 at the Jesuit college at Březnice
. In Prague
, he was a violinist at the Jesuit seminary of Saint Wenceslaus and his studies while at the university were philosophy
, theology
and law
.
He was appointed to the post of first violinist of the Týn Church
in 1762 and studied counterpoint
with the organist
J. N. Seger. In 1765 he was engaged by the composer Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf as a violinist for the private orchestra
of Bishop Adam Patachich at Nagyvarad (now Oradea, Romania). The orchestra was dissolved in 1769 and Pichl became the music director for Count Ludwig Hartig in Prague.
In about 1770 he became first violinist of the Vienna court theatre and on the recommendation of the Empress Maria Theresa
, he became music director for the Austrian governor of Lombardy
at Milan
, Archduke Ferdinand d'Este. Pichl went to Italy
in 1777 and remained there until 1796 when the French invaded Lombardy, he then returned to Vienna where he stayed in the service of the archduke until his death (apart from a brief visit to Prague in 1802).
Wenzel Pichl died at Vienna
, Austria
, on 23 January 1805, as the result of a stroke while playing a violin concerto at the Palais Lobkowitz
. He was 63 years old.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of the 18th Century. He was also a violinist, music director and writer.
Pichl was born at Bechyně
Bechyne
Bechyně , is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located on the Lužnice River 20 km southwest of Tábor and has a population of 5,695 ....
, Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
. His first musical training was at Bechyne with the cantor Jan Pokorný. He served as a singer between the years 1752-1758 at the Jesuit college at Březnice
Breznice
Březnice is name of several locations in the Czech Republic:* Březnice , a town in Příbram District in the Central Bohemian Region...
. In Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, he was a violinist at the Jesuit seminary of Saint Wenceslaus and his studies while at the university were philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
.
He was appointed to the post of first violinist of the Týn Church
Church of Our Lady in front of Týn
The Church of Our Lady before Týn is a dominant feature of the Old Town of Prague, Czech Republic, and has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century...
in 1762 and studied counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
with the organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
J. N. Seger. In 1765 he was engaged by the composer Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf as a violinist for the private orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
of Bishop Adam Patachich at Nagyvarad (now Oradea, Romania). The orchestra was dissolved in 1769 and Pichl became the music director for Count Ludwig Hartig in Prague.
In about 1770 he became first violinist of the Vienna court theatre and on the recommendation of the Empress Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
, he became music director for the Austrian governor of Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
at Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Archduke Ferdinand d'Este. Pichl went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1777 and remained there until 1796 when the French invaded Lombardy, he then returned to Vienna where he stayed in the service of the archduke until his death (apart from a brief visit to Prague in 1802).
Wenzel Pichl died at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, on 23 January 1805, as the result of a stroke while playing a violin concerto at the Palais Lobkowitz
Palais Lobkowitz
Palais Lobkowitz, or Palais Dietrichstein-Lobkowitz, is a Baroque palace in Vienna, Austria. It was owned by the noble Lobkowitz family.Today it houses the theatre museum of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.- History :...
. He was 63 years old.
Selected works
- Six symphonies, opus 1 (two oboes, two clarinets, two horns, drums, strings. about 1778. "SEI SINFONIE A PIÙ STROMENTI. Dedicate A SUA ALTEZZA REALE IL SERENISSIMO ARCIDUCA FERDINANTO Principe Reale d'Ungeria e Boemia ... Da WENCESLAO PICHL. in attuale Servizio dell'Istessa Altezza Reale. OPERA PRIMA")
- Six string quartets, opus 2 (in A, C, F major, E minor, D major, and B♭. about 1779.)
- Three violin concertos, opus 3 (in D, G and B♭. 1779.)
- Six trios concertans, opus 7 (in C, F, B♭, E♭, A and D. 1783.)
- Three symphonies, opus 8 (in C, E♭ and D. 1784.)
- Six duos for violin and viola, opus 10 (in C, G, D, B♭, F, E♭. 1784.)
- Three quartets for flute, violin, viola, and violoncello, op. 12 (1787)
- Three string quartets, opus 13 (in A, B♭ and E♭. 1788.)
- Three symphonies, opus 15 (in D, B♭ and C. 1790.)
- Three duos, for violin and cello, opus 16 (Amadeus Edition edited by Bernhard Pauler, published in 2002)
- Twelve caprices for solo violin, opus 19
- Three sonatas for solo violin with accompaniment of violin or viola, opus 23
- Symphonies for orchestra opus 24
- Sei fughe con un preludio fugato : per un violino solo (may be opus 41 )
- Etude for the violin in the form of twelve caprices, opus 46 (about 1801)
- Koncert for String Bass and Orchestra in G major