A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Elsner, Joseph

by Mary Catherine Hamilton

ELSNER, Joseph, composer, born June 1, 1769, at Grodgrau, in Silesia, son of a carpenter who made harpsichords, harps, and other musical instruments. Being intended for the profession of medicine, he had no regular instruction in music beyond a few lessons in harmony from Förster, director of the theatre at Breslau, but early began to compose. A visit to Vienna enabled him greatly to improve himself by studying classical scores, and by intercourse with the best musicians of his time. In 1791 he was appointed first violin in the theatre at Brünn, and in the following year Capellmeister at Lemberg, where he wrote 5 operas, 4 symphonies, quartets, sonatas, etc. In 1799 he was appointed conductor of the theatre at Warsaw, and here he established himself for life, composing 22 operas in the Polish language within the space of 20 years. During a visit to Paris some of his compositions were performed at the Tuileries. With the assistance of Countess Zamoïska he started in 1815 a society at Warsaw for the encouragement of music, which resulted in the Conservatoire, of which he became the first director and professor of composition. This institution did good service before it was closed by the political troubles of 1830. In 1834 it was revived, with Soliva as director. Elsner continued to compose, chiefly sacred music, till 1844, when he wrote his 'Stabat Mater,' his right hand being paralysed. He died in 1854. He is an interesting example of a successful composer who learnt composition by composing. His works are legion—Operas, ballets, melodramas, cantatas, church music, symphonies, and instrumental pieces of all sizes and kinds. His operas, immensely popular in Poland, are light, and in the now old-fashioned style of Paër and Mayer. His part-writing is easy and natural, but without originality or variety, while his fugues are poor, and his church-music in general too dramatic. He wrote two treatises on the fitness of the Polish language for music. [App. p.627 "he was Chopin's master."]

[ M. C. C. ]