Karl Alois Johann-Nepomuk Vinzenz, Fürst Lichnowsky
Encyclopedia
HSH Karl Alois, Prince Lichnowsky (June 21, 1761 – April 15, 1814), was second Prince Lichnowsky
and a Chamberlain
at the Imperial Austria
n court. He is remembered for his patronage
of music and his relationships with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
and Ludwig van Beethoven
.
the eldest son of Count Johann Carl Gottlieb von Lichnowsky and his wife Carolina, née von Althann. Although Lichnowsky spent most of his time in Vienna, he was actually a prince of Prussia
, and his estates were located in Grätz, then in the Silesia
n province that Prussia had conquered
from Austria earlier in the century. The location is today called Hradec nad Moravicí
and is within the borders of the Czech Republic
.
In his youth (1776 to 1782) he was a law student, studying in Leipzig
and in Göttingen
. While in Göttingen he met Johann Nikolaus Forkel
, who later was to become famous for writing the first biography of J. S. Bach
. Lichnowsky at the time began to collect works by Bach in manuscript copies.. He also was a musician and a composer.
Lichnowsky was married (1788) to the former Maria Christiane Thun, the "beautiful" (Deutsch) daughter of Countess Wilhelmine von Thun.
He was a Mason
and a lodge brother of Mozart; see Mozart and Freemasonry
.
He died in Vienna on 15 March 1814.
.
He also lent Mozart money, which Mozart was unable to repay. This led the Prince to sue Mozart, and on 9 November 1791, a few weeks before Mozart died, the Lower Austria Court (Landrechte) decided the case in favor of the Prince, ruling that Mozart owed him the sum of 1,435 florins and 32 kreutzer, a substantial amount. The court issued an order to the Imperial court chamber (Mozart's employer) to attach half of Mozart's salary of 800 florins per year. The evidence of the lawsuit was uncovered (by Otto Mraz) only in 1991, and hence is not discussed in earlier Mozart biographies.
In 1796, the Prince traveled to Prague, this time taking Beethoven with him. The composer was on his way to Berlin.
In 1800, Lichnowsky gave Beethoven an annual allowance of 600 florins until such time as he found a regular appointment as a musician (this never happened). The stipend continued until 1806, when a furious quarrel erupted between the two, terminating their friendship: Beethoven, staying at Lichnowsky's country estate, had refused to play for visiting French officers. Later, arriving home in Vienna, Beethoven smashed a bust of the Prince.
In 1809, Lichnowsky, though still personally estranged from Beethoven, joined with two other aristocrats (Archduke Rudolph
and Prince Kinsky) in arranging a stipend for the composer. However, due to economic chaos (Napoleon had just occupied Vienna with his army), it was not possible to pay the stipend, and Beethoven later filed a lawsuit against Lichnowsky and Kinsky.
Seven of Beethoven's musical compositions, all before 1806, were dedicated to Lichnowsky:
Prince Lichnowsky
Lichnowsky -Freiherr und Edler Herr von Woschutz :* Franz Bernhard Lichnowsky, Freiherr und Elder Herr von Woschutz 1664-1747)* Franz Bernhard Lichnowsky, Graf Lichnowsky ...
and a Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
at the Imperial Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n court. He is remembered for his patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
of music and his relationships with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang 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...
and Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
.
Life
He was born in ViennaVienna
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...
the eldest son of Count Johann Carl Gottlieb von Lichnowsky and his wife Carolina, née von Althann. Although Lichnowsky spent most of his time in Vienna, he was actually a prince of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, and his estates were located in Grätz, then in the Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
n province that Prussia had conquered
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
from Austria earlier in the century. The location is today called Hradec nad Moravicí
Hradec nad Moravicí
Hradec nad Moravicí is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic located about 8 km south of Opava. It has cca 5,150 inhabitants. The town is dominated by a castle complex....
and is within the borders of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
In his youth (1776 to 1782) he was a law student, studying in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
. While in Göttingen he met Johann Nikolaus Forkel
Johann Nikolaus Forkel
Johann Nikolaus Forkel , was a German musician, musicologist and music theorist.-Biography:...
, who later was to become famous for writing the first biography of J. S. Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
. Lichnowsky at the time began to collect works by Bach in manuscript copies.. He also was a musician and a composer.
Lichnowsky was married (1788) to the former Maria Christiane Thun, the "beautiful" (Deutsch) daughter of Countess Wilhelmine von Thun.
He was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and a lodge brother of Mozart; see Mozart and Freemasonry
Mozart and Freemasonry
For the last seven years of his life Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a Mason. The Masonic order played an important role in his life and work.-Mozart's lodges:...
.
He died in Vienna on 15 March 1814.
Relation with Mozart
In 1789 he traveled to Berlin, taking Mozart along with him. For details of the trip, see Mozart's Berlin journeyMozart's Berlin journey
One of the longest adulthood journeys of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a visit, beginning in Spring 1789, to a series of cities lying northward of his adopted home in Vienna: Prague, Leipzig, Dresden, and Berlin.-Departure:...
.
He also lent Mozart money, which Mozart was unable to repay. This led the Prince to sue Mozart, and on 9 November 1791, a few weeks before Mozart died, the Lower Austria Court (Landrechte) decided the case in favor of the Prince, ruling that Mozart owed him the sum of 1,435 florins and 32 kreutzer, a substantial amount. The court issued an order to the Imperial court chamber (Mozart's employer) to attach half of Mozart's salary of 800 florins per year. The evidence of the lawsuit was uncovered (by Otto Mraz) only in 1991, and hence is not discussed in earlier Mozart biographies.
Relation with Beethoven
Lichnowsky was one of the most significant aristocratic supporters of Beethoven. In an 1805 letter the composer called him "one of my most loyal friends and promoters of my art."In 1796, the Prince traveled to Prague, this time taking Beethoven with him. The composer was on his way to Berlin.
In 1800, Lichnowsky gave Beethoven an annual allowance of 600 florins until such time as he found a regular appointment as a musician (this never happened). The stipend continued until 1806, when a furious quarrel erupted between the two, terminating their friendship: Beethoven, staying at Lichnowsky's country estate, had refused to play for visiting French officers. Later, arriving home in Vienna, Beethoven smashed a bust of the Prince.
In 1809, Lichnowsky, though still personally estranged from Beethoven, joined with two other aristocrats (Archduke Rudolph
Rudolf von Habsburg-Lothringen
Rudolf Johannes Joseph Rainier von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke and Prince Imperial of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia was a Cardinal, an Archbishop of Olomouc, and a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine....
and Prince Kinsky) in arranging a stipend for the composer. However, due to economic chaos (Napoleon had just occupied Vienna with his army), it was not possible to pay the stipend, and Beethoven later filed a lawsuit against Lichnowsky and Kinsky.
Seven of Beethoven's musical compositions, all before 1806, were dedicated to Lichnowsky:
- The three piano trios, Opus 1Piano Trios Nos. 1 - 3, Opus 1 (Beethoven)Ludwig van Beethoven's Opus 1 is a set of three piano trios , first performed in 1793 in the house of Prince Lichnowsky, to whom they are dedicated. The trios were published in 1795.Despite the Op...
(1793) - The "Nine variations for piano on 'Quant'è più bello' from Giovanni PaisielloGiovanni PaisielloGiovanni Paisiello was an Italian composer of the Classical era.-Life:Paisiello was born at Taranto and educated by the Jesuits there. He became known for his beautiful singing voice and in 1754 was sent to the Conservatorio di S. Onofrio at Naples, where he studied under Francesco Durante, and...
's opera La Molinara," for piano solo, WoOWoOWoO is an acronym/abbreviation, derived from the German musical catalog phrase . WoO is a catalogue prepared in 1955 by Hans Halm and Georg Kinsky, listing all of the compositions of Ludwig van Beethoven that were not originally published with an opus number, or survived only as fragments.The...
69 (1795) - The Piano sonata in C minor, Opus 13, "Pathétique"Piano Sonata No. 8 (Beethoven)Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, commonly known as Sonata Pathétique, was written in 1798 when the composer was 27 years old, and was published in 1799. Beethoven dedicated the work to his friend Prince Karl von Lichnowsky...
(1798) - The Piano sonata in A flat, Opus 26Piano Sonata No. 12 (Beethoven)Ludwig van Beethoven composed his Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat major, Op. 26 in 1800–1801, around the same time as he completed his First Symphony...
(1801) - The Second SymphonySymphony No. 2 (Beethoven)Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in D major was written between 1801 and 1802 and is dedicated to Prince Lichnowsky.-Background:...
(1802)
External links
- "’. . .owing to indebtedness of 1,435 Gulden 32 Kreuzer’: A new document on Mozart’s financial plight in November 1791" A translation of Walther Brauneis's original 1991 article.