František Brixi

František Xaver Brixi ( born January 2, 1732 in Prague, † October 14, 1771 ibid. ) Was a Czech composer, organist and conductor.

Life

Brixi comes from a widely branched North Bohemian musical family, in particular, the organist and composer Jan Josef Brixi (1719-1762) and Viktorin Brixi (1716-1803), the Cistercians and choirmaster Václav Norbert Brixi (1738-1803) and especially FX Brixi father Simon Brixi (1693-1735), an eminent Prague composer and choirmaster, should be mentioned. Simon Brixi cousin Dorotea married in 1705 a January Jiří Benda and thus became the ancestress of the famous Czech musical family Benda, remained friends with the Brixi.

In the autobiography of a musician Martin Vogt (1781-1854) is also known as Father Sebastian Brixi, who worked as a choir director and organist in Regensburg, about 1794 in the monasteries of St. Emmeram and St. Paul ( at that time the Jesuit seminary ). Sebastian Brixi was as a teacher for the musical development of Martin Vogt of importance.

František Xaver Brixi was educated at Piaristen High School in Kosmonosy, the many Czech composers have outgrown. After his high school years he went to Prague, where he was serving in various churches. Because of his extraordinary musical talent, he was appointed on 1 January 1759 choirmaster at Prague's St. Vitus Cathedral. This important office in Prague musical life he held until his death.

Work

In the Czech music Brixi is an important figure in the period of transition from Baroque to Classical. Many elements of his music have been drawing attention to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and prepare the ground for the understanding and recording of Mozart's music in Prague. The Czech folk music exerted on the melody Brixi from such an impact that its freshness is preserved untarnished in many cases today. Vladimír Novák characterized Brixi style as follows: .. " ... Clear and serene melody, distinct and fresh rhythmic sense, simplified and at the same time impressive instrumentation and a movably guided Bass In his compositions we find elements of Czech folk music All of these factors had the dissemination Brixi of music during his lifetime on the whole territory of Bohemia and abroad result ... ". There are about 400 compositions in contemporary copies known, many of them in Bavaria, especially in Ottobeuren.

Works

• Three symphonies; several concerts for various instruments with orchestra; Organ music; Harpsichord music; Music for school plays; Music to comical spectacles;
• Church Music: Oratorio; cantatas; than 100 trade fairs; Motets, Graduale; Te Deum; Vespers.
• Brixi schoolmaster cantata, which, inter alia, the liturgical song parodies, is a masterstroke of musical humor.