Johann Dussek

[ Life | Photo Gallery | Home Page]

Johann Dussek Life

His father was the town organist, and at the age of five he began to study the piano and at age nine his father began to train him on the organ.

Then Dussek became a chorister in the Church at Iglau.

He was taught at the Jesuit college there, and finished his education at Kutenberg, where he became organist of the Jesuit church there.

Dussek then travelled to Prague, where he went to the University and graduated.

He considered entering church life, but he met an Austrian noble, Count Männer, who saw Dussek's musical abilities.

Count Männer took Dussek to Mechlin, where he performed his first piano recital.
In 1782 he travelled to Amsterdam, where he began teaching the piano and composing.

He achieved a great reputation locally, and the Stadtholder of The Hague called Dussek to instruct his children in music.

Dussek at this time composed twelve piano sonatas which were later found to be somewhat important.

At age twenty-two, Dussek had a great prestige as pianist, composer, and instructor.
He still, however, was not satisfied with his own abilites and thought he needed further training.

So he went to Hamburg to study under Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

He studied there for about a year, and Dussek left with a high level of musical education.

Dussek then went to Berlin, and gave a recital there which placed him among the greatest pianists in Europe.

Dussek made a tour of Europe, giving performances on the piano and an instrument known as harmonica.

He visited all the major cities of Deutschland, Russia, Poland, and France, where he performed before Marie Antoinette in 1786.

Then finally he travelled to Italia.

He was disgusted with the audience in Italia, however, so he went back to Paris in 1788.
With political unrest in Paris at a tremendously dangerous level, Dussek thought it best to leave.

Going to London, Dussek married and for the next twelve years lived in the English capital, becoming recognized as being of high level importance.

After his marriage he became a business partner with his father-in-law.

At first this was successful, then Dussek's bad habits and poor financial abilities wrecked the entire affair.
In 1800 Dussek was force to flee London to avoid debter's prison.

He went to Deutschland and then to Prague.
In 1803 he met Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, a great lover of music.

The two became great friends, and the Prince asked Dussek to live in Berlin and Magdeburg with the Prince's court.

When the Prince died in the Battle of Saalfield, Dussek composed his Élégie harmonique for piano, a very important work.

In 1807 Dussek went back to Paris, and became pianist to Talleyrand.
He had great honour in Paris, and was considered one of the greatest musicians of the day.

Dussek went to a house in St. Germain-en-Laye, to retire.
He died in this country home on March 20, 1812.

Haydn said that Dussek was a most upright and moral man: all described him as a good friend, and he was loved rather than envied or hated by other musicians.

Dussek is most famous for his works for piano.

But, as he was caught between Mozart and Beethoven, he is not recognized today.