Jan Křtitel Kuchař

Jan Křtitel Kuchař, or also German: Johann Baptist Kucharz (March 5, 1751 in Choteč – February 18, 1829 in Prague) was a Czech organist, mandolinist, harpsichordist, music composer, operatic conductor, and teacher.[1]

Life and career

Soon after his birth, Kuchař's parents moved to Mlázovice, where he lived out his childhood. He achieved basic music knowledge in Vrchlabí with the organist Alex Thám. Later he studied at the Jesuit seminary in Hradec Králové and Jičín.[1] He was a student of the organist Josef Seger in Prague.[1] From 1772 he acted as organist in the Kostel sv. Jindřicha v Praze (Church of St. Jindrich in Prague). In Prague, he also began teaching music for the noble Hartig, Buquoy and Příchovský families. He was active in the teaching of singing, piano, organ, and composition.

Kuchař was among the first to recognize the genius of W. A. Mozart and started to propagate it. In the year 1786, he most likely played in the Stavovské divadlo at the premiere of The Marriage of Figaro and in January 1787 he became acquainted with Mozart on his Prague visit. On October 28 in the same year, he played together with Mozart on harpsichord at the premiere performance of Don Giovanni.[2] He wrote piano excerpts from both operas, as well as from the opera Così fan tutte. In addition, he composed recitatives for an Italian version of The Magic Flute.

In 1790, Kuchař left the church after being nominated as organist of the Monastery at Strahov, in the Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie (Church of the Assumption), on September 1.

He accepted the offer and played organ at the Strahov monastery. He continued to teach mandolin, organ and the theory of music. He also began to perform stand-alone concerts and his reputation soon spread, for in 1791 he was appointed conductor of the opera, Prague, and he officiated there for many years, during which time several of his own works met with success. It was while he was conductor of the Prague opera that he first met and became intimately associated with Mozart. He was a friend of the great composer during his residence in Prague, and at the first performance of Don Giovanni, October 29, 1787, Kucharz played the mandolin in the orchestra, accompanying the serenade Deli Vieni, while Mozart conducted.[1]

The influence of Mozart, who in 1787 improvised on the Strahov organ, is perceptible in Kuchař's music and it also led Kuchař to Freemasonry in Prague. From 1791, he performed as harpsichordist of the Pražská operní společnost (Prague Opera Society). On September 6, 1791, he likely played at the premiere of Mozart's opera La clemenza di Tito. In this period he composed a series of organ and chamber compositions, especially for the Strahov choir.

Music historian Philip J. Bone called Kuchař "a consummate artist on the mandolin and an esteemed teacher" and said his pupils numbered many of the most aristocratic members of society. Kuchař remained conductor of the opera until 1800 when he resigned.[1]

Works

Despite his contemporary success, he is not a notable composer of Classical period. However a few organ works include hints of early Romanticism.

Among his compositions are organ concertos, piano sonatas, and various sonatas and other pieces for the mandolin.[1] His most known works are two organ concertos, concert fantaisies, fugues, toccatas and others.

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References
  1. Philip J. Bone, The Guitar and Mandolin, biographies of celebrated players and composers for these instruments, London: Schott and Co., 1914.
  2. Braunstein, Joseph (1969). Mandolin Music, Beethoven, Hummel (Media notes). New York: Nonesuch Records. Retrieved 24 May 2019. And Mozart, in Act II of Don Giovanni, wrote a part full of sixtolet runs, broken chords, and arpeggios for the Don's canzonetta; he knew that this would require a very proficient player, and he also knew that such a man would be at his disposal in Prague, where Don Giovanni was first produced (1787). This was Johann Baptist Kucharz
See also: Kuchař
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