Hummel, Johann Nepomuk

1778-1837 

Distinguished Austrian pianist and composer; born at Presburg, where his father was director of the Imperial School of Military Music. His first instruction was from his father. When seven years old his family moved to Vienna where the father had been appointed chapelmaster of Schikaneder's Theatre. Here Mozart heard the boy play and became very much interested in him, taking him into his home and teaching him for two years. This great advantage was much appreciated by Hummel, who took keen enjoyment in meeting the distinguished people who came to the house. At the end of the two years Mozart gave a concert for the boy's debut and he made such a brilliant success that his father decided to take him on a tour. They visited Germany, Denmark, England and Holland. They spent about a year in London, where he studied under dementi. Hummel must have felt the decided difference from the informal instruction received from Mozart but, undoubtedly, he acquired much thoroughness from the logical methods of Clementi. Returning to Vienna in 1793 he studied composition under Albrechtsberger, also dramatic writing under Salieri. The great Haydn was attracted by him and gave him good advice and some instruction. Beethoven having come to Vienna to study, they became fellow-students and, later, rivals in their playing. Probably at this time Hummel wrote his four operas. From 1804 to 1811 he held the position of chapelmaster to Prince Esterhazy, in which he succeeded Haydn who had held it for thirty-eight years and only resigned it at the approach of old age. During the next five years he taught, composed and played in concerts. In 1816 he was appointed chapelmaster at Stuttgart and in 1820 he went to Weimar in the same capacity, which position he held until his death. None of these appointments prevented his concert tours, for he obtained frequent leave of   absence and was everywhere enthusiastically received. He appeared in St. Petersburg in 1822 and in Paris in 1825. Here he was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. The next year he appeared in Belgium and Holland, in 1827 at Vienna and in 1828 at Warsaw. He remained in London for a season as conductor of the German Opera Company at the King's Theatre. In 1833 he returned to Vienna, where he remained until his death. Hummel had many friendships and was warmly loved. During his lifetime he was the recipient of many princely favors. He published, in 1824, a famous book, the Piano School, in which he advocated a system of fingering which afterwards came into use. As a pianist he ranked among the best of his time. Though he did not always reach the emotions of his audience he charmed them with his brilliant technique and the exquisite finish of his performance. His compositions include dramatic, instrumental and church music. He was a thorough master of the art, having a sensitive sense of rhythm. He composed about one hundred and twentyfour works, many of which are lost. His Graduale and Qffertprium are used at the present time in Austria and Hungary. About six of his concertos and a few of his sonatas remain standard works and are still in demand. Of his compositions that still live are the third, A minor; the fourth, B minor; and the sixth, A flat, of his seven concertos; the D minor septet for piano, flute, oboe, horn, viola, cello and doublebass; the sonatas in F sharp minor; A flat, for four hands; and D; the rondos, Villageois, La bella capricciosa; and the Bagatelles.

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