Wenzel Trnka
Encyclopedia
Wenzel Trnka von Krzowitz (1739–1791; czech
: Václav Trnka z Křovic) was a physician, professor, and amateur composer of the 18th century.
in Bohemia
. In 1769, during his medical studies, the famous physician Gerhard van Swieten named him to serve as his assistant in the military hospital (Militärkrankenhaus). He received his doctorate 19 February 1770 with a treatise entitled "De morbo coaxio". In June of the same year he was appointed to a professorial chair in anatomy at the University of Nagyszombat. Trnka thus became one of five who first formed the medical faculty there. He continued his service when the university was moved, first to Buda
in 1777 and later to Pest, in 1784. He switched academic chairs twice, becoming the professor of general pathology in 1781 and of special pathology in 1786.
19th century sources describe Trnka's medical career as a distinguished one; for instance Baas (1876) lists him among the eminent physicians of the "older Vienna School". He was a prolific author.
Trnka composed music, but apparently composition was only a hobby for him, and he was not judged sufficiently important as a composer to merit an article in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
. According to Link, Trnka was a friend of the famous musical patron and organizer Gottfried van Swieten
, son of Gerhard.
He died in Pest 12 May 1791.
. Trnka's compositional specialization appears to have been canon
s, a form of music at the time often sung recreationally among friends. According to Link, at least 61 canons by Trnka survive, and all but one are to lyrics by the famous librettist Metastasio
. Mozart enjoyed singing canons with his friends (see Difficile lectu), and particularly liked canons with humorous scatological lyrics, of which he composed several himself (see Mozart and scatology
). In the present case, Mozart evidently took two canons by Trnka and gave them new lyrics, which he probably wrote himself. Trnka's "Tu sei gelosa, è vero" became Mozart's "Leck mir den Arsch fein recht schön sauber
" ("Lick me in the ass right well and clean"), and Trnka's "So che vanti un cor ingrato" became Mozart's "Bei der Hitz im Sommer ess ich" ("In the heat of summer I eat"). These works were mistaken as Mozart's compositions when his widow Constanze
sent them as part of a bundle of canons in 1800 to the publisher Breitkopf & Härtel
, who four years later duly published them as Mozart's work. They entered the standard Köchel catalogue as K. 233 and K. 234 (K6 382e).
The musicologist Albert Dunning anticipated Plath's findings: in his prefatory remarks to the 1974 Neue Mozart Ausgabe edition of the canons he suggested (based on stylistic grounds and the lack of primary sources) that the two canons (and one other) were not by Mozart.
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
: Václav Trnka z Křovic) was a physician, professor, and amateur composer of the 18th century.
Life
He was born 16 October 1739 in TáborTábor
Tábor is a city of the Czech Republic, in the South Bohemian Region. It is named after Mount Tabor, which is believed by many to be the place of the Transfiguration of Christ; however, the name became popular and nowadays translates to "camp" or "encampment" in the Czech language.The town was...
in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. In 1769, during his medical studies, the famous physician Gerhard van Swieten named him to serve as his assistant in the military hospital (Militärkrankenhaus). He received his doctorate 19 February 1770 with a treatise entitled "De morbo coaxio". In June of the same year he was appointed to a professorial chair in anatomy at the University of Nagyszombat. Trnka thus became one of five who first formed the medical faculty there. He continued his service when the university was moved, first to Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
in 1777 and later to Pest, in 1784. He switched academic chairs twice, becoming the professor of general pathology in 1781 and of special pathology in 1786.
19th century sources describe Trnka's medical career as a distinguished one; for instance Baas (1876) lists him among the eminent physicians of the "older Vienna School". He was a prolific author.
Trnka composed music, but apparently composition was only a hobby for him, and he was not judged sufficiently important as a composer to merit an article in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
. According to Link, Trnka was a friend of the famous musical patron and organizer Gottfried van Swieten
Gottfried van Swieten
Gottfried, Freiherr van Swieten was a diplomat, librarian, and government official who served the Austrian Empire during the 18th century...
, son of Gerhard.
He died in Pest 12 May 1791.
The Mozart misattribution
Trnka emerged into public view in 1988 when it was revealed by Wolfgang Plath that he was the composer of two minor works previously attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
. Trnka's compositional specialization appears to have been canon
Canon (music)
In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration . The initial melody is called the leader , while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower...
s, a form of music at the time often sung recreationally among friends. According to Link, at least 61 canons by Trnka survive, and all but one are to lyrics by the famous librettist Metastasio
Metastasio
Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi, better known by his pseudonym of Metastasio, was an Italian poet and librettist, considered the most important writer of opera seria libretti.-Early life:...
. Mozart enjoyed singing canons with his friends (see Difficile lectu), and particularly liked canons with humorous scatological lyrics, of which he composed several himself (see Mozart and scatology
Mozart and scatology
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart displayed scatological humor in his letters and a few recreational compositions. This material has long been a puzzle for Mozart scholarship...
). In the present case, Mozart evidently took two canons by Trnka and gave them new lyrics, which he probably wrote himself. Trnka's "Tu sei gelosa, è vero" became Mozart's "Leck mir den Arsch fein recht schön sauber
Leck mir den Arsch fein recht schön sauber
Leck mir den Arsch fein recht schön sauber is a canon for three voices in B-flat major, K. 233/382d, long thought to have been composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart during 1782 in Vienna.-Authenticity:...
" ("Lick me in the ass right well and clean"), and Trnka's "So che vanti un cor ingrato" became Mozart's "Bei der Hitz im Sommer ess ich" ("In the heat of summer I eat"). These works were mistaken as Mozart's compositions when his widow Constanze
Constanze Mozart
Constanze Mozart was the wife of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.-Early years:Constanze Weber was born in Zell im Wiesental. Her mother was Cäcilia Weber, née Stamm. Her father Fridolin Weber worked as a "double bass player, prompter and music copyist." Fridolin's half-brother was the father of composer...
sent them as part of a bundle of canons in 1800 to the publisher Breitkopf & Härtel
Breitkopf & Härtel
Breitkopf & Härtel is the world's oldest music publishing house. The firm was founded in 1719 in Leipzig by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf . The catalogue currently contains over 1000 composers, 8000 works and 15,000 music editions or books on music. The name "Härtel" was added when Gottfried...
, who four years later duly published them as Mozart's work. They entered the standard Köchel catalogue as K. 233 and K. 234 (K6 382e).
The musicologist Albert Dunning anticipated Plath's findings: in his prefatory remarks to the 1974 Neue Mozart Ausgabe edition of the canons he suggested (based on stylistic grounds and the lack of primary sources) that the two canons (and one other) were not by Mozart.
Works (partial)
- (1775) Historia febrium intermittentium, omnis aevi observata et inventa illustriora medica ad has febres pertinentia complectens [on malaria]. Vienna: Ehelen.
- (1777) Commentarius de Tetans. Vienna. [on tetanus]
- (1778) De diabete commentarius. Vienna: Aug. Bernardi. [on diabetes]
- (1781) Historia Leucorrhoeae omnis aevi Observata Medica Continens. http://www.argosybooks.com/shop/argosy/79096. [on leukorrhea]
- (1781) Geschichte der Wechselfieber oder Sammlung der vornehmsten medicinischen Beobachtungen und Erfindungen zur Erläuterung und Cur der Wechselfieber. Helmstädt : Kühnlin. [German translation of Historia febrium intermittentium]
- (1783) Historia ophthalmiæ : omnis ævi observata medica continens. Vienna: Rud. Græfferum.
- (1785) Historia cardialgiae. Vienna: I.D. Horlingianus. http://www.rootenbergbooks.com/shop/rootenberg/1957.html
- (1787) Historia rachitidis. Vienna: R. Graefferum. [on rickets]
- (1788) Historia tymphanitidis omnis aevi observata medica continens. Vienna: Joan. Dav. Hörling. [on flatulence]
- (1789) Geschichte der englischen Krankheit. Leipzig: Böhme. Translation of Historia rachitidis. http://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/receive/jportal_jparticle_00004471
- (1794-1795) Historia haemorrhoidum omnis aevi observata medica continens . ("The history of hemorrhoids, containing the medical observations of all ages on that subject")