Wenzel Thomas Matiegka
Encyclopedia
Wenzel Thomas Matiegka was a Bohemia
n composer.
Matiegka was born in the town of Choceň
in a remote corner of the state of Bohemia, then part of the Habsburg Monarchy
, under the Habsburg ruler Joseph II
.
Upon completion of his primary studies, he continued his musical education under Abbe Gelinek, becoming accomplished on the pianoforte while reading Law at the University of Prague
.
After legal employment in the service of Count Kinsky, one of Beethoven
's original sponsors, Matiegka moved to Vienna
while in his late twenties, during the first years of the 19th century. There he was quickly acknowledged as a guitarist, composer and teacher of the piano.
His ready acceptance in the musical circles of Vienna was evident by those to whom he dedicated several of his chamber works. Schubert
, as a young man, added a cello part to his Notturno, op. 21 for the important patron of music, Count Esterhazy
, an enthusiastic cellist to whom Matiegka's original music was dedicated. Indeed the work was attributed to Schubert for many years.
Matiegka married and settled in the suburb of Leopoldstadt
where he was also Kapellmeister
until his death. He was survived, in penury, by his wife and six children, none of whom took up a musical career.
His output, as it is known to this day, includes 33 guitar works including solo works, transcriptions, chamber music, and lied
er as well a dozen liturgical works for small orchestra, voice and organ.
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...
n composer.
Matiegka was born in the town of Choceň
Chocen
Choceň is a town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has c. 9,100 inhabitants.First written document mentions this place in 1227. In 1562 building of large Choceň Castle started....
in a remote corner of the state of Bohemia, then part of the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, under the Habsburg ruler Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
.
Upon completion of his primary studies, he continued his musical education under Abbe Gelinek, becoming accomplished on the pianoforte while reading Law at the University of Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
.
After legal employment in the service of Count Kinsky, one of 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...
's original sponsors, Matiegka moved to 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...
while in his late twenties, during the first years of the 19th century. There he was quickly acknowledged as a guitarist, composer and teacher of the piano.
His ready acceptance in the musical circles of Vienna was evident by those to whom he dedicated several of his chamber works. Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
, as a young man, added a cello part to his Notturno, op. 21 for the important patron of music, Count Esterhazy
Esterházy
The House of Esterházy was a Hungarian noble family in Hungary beginning in the Middle Ages. From the 17th century they were among the great landowner magnates of the Kingdom of Hungary, during the time it was part of the Habsburg Empire and later Austria-Hungary.-History:The Esterházys arose...
, an enthusiastic cellist to whom Matiegka's original music was dedicated. Indeed the work was attributed to Schubert for many years.
Matiegka married and settled in the suburb of Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt is the 2nd municipal District of Vienna . There are inhabitants over . It is situated in the heart of the city and, together with Brigittenau , forms a large island surrounded by the Danube Canal and, to the north, the Danube. It is named after Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor...
where he was also Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
until his death. He was survived, in penury, by his wife and six children, none of whom took up a musical career.
His output, as it is known to this day, includes 33 guitar works including solo works, transcriptions, chamber music, and lied
Lied
is a German word literally meaning "song", usually used to describe romantic songs setting German poems of reasonably high literary aspirations, especially during the nineteenth century, beginning with Carl Loewe, Heinrich Marschner, and Franz Schubert and culminating with Hugo Wolf...
er as well a dozen liturgical works for small orchestra, voice and organ.
Sheetmusic
- Sheetmusic Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Denmark
- Boije Collection The Music Library of Sweden