Koželuh (Kozeluch, Kotzeluch), Leopold (Jan Antonín)

Koželuh (Kozeluch, Kotzeluch), Leopold (Jan Antonín), Bohemian pianist, teacher, and composer, cousin of Johann Antonín (Jan Evangelista Antonín Tomáš) Koželuh (Kozeluch, Koscheluch); b. Welwarn, June 26, 1747; d. Vienna, May 7, 1818. He began his musical studies in Welwarn, then had instruction with his cousin and with RX. Dusek in Prague. He also studied law but turned to a career in music after the success he attained with his ballets and pantomimes. In 1778 he went to Vienna, where he established himself as a pianist, teacher, and composer; also was active as a music publisher. In 1792 he was appointed Kammer Kapellmeister and Hofmusik Compositor, succeeding Mozart, holding this position until his death. Although Beethoven referred to him contemptuously in a letter of 1812 as “miserabilis,” Koželuh was an excellent pianist. He composed about 50 solo sonatas, 22 piano concertos, 28 syms., about 80 piano trios, and other pieces of chamber music. His stage works included operas, ballets, and pantomimes, but little of this music is extant; his only extant opera is Gustav Wasa (c. 1792).

Bibliography

G. Löbl, Die Klaviersonate bei L. Kozeluch (diss., Univ. of Vienna, 1937); M. Pošstolka, Leopold KoželuhŽivot a dilo (a study of his life and music with summary in Eng. and Ger.; Prague, 1964); C. Flamm, L. KoŽeluch: Biographie und stilkritische Untersuchung der Sonaten für Klavier, Violine und Violoncello (diss., Univ. of Vienna, 1968).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire