Józef Elsner

Józef Antoni Franciszek Elsner (often, also, Józef "Ksawery" Elsner or Joseph Xaver Elsner) June 1, 1769 – April 18, 1854, was a Polish composer, music teacher and music theoretician, and a Freemason.

He taught Fryderyk Chopin and composed many symphonic, chamber, solo, and vocal-instrumental (about 120 religious) works, and 38 operas. ["Encyklopedia Polski", p. 154.]

Life

Józef Elsner was born in Grottkau (Grodków), near Breslau (Wrocław), Kingdom of Prussia on June 1, 1769. He was educated at Breslau's Dominican monastery school, St. Matthew's "Gymnasium", and a local Jesuit college. In 1832–37 he would compose nineteen religious pieces for Breslau Cathedral.

After completing his studies in Breslau (Wrocław) and after a period of time working with the Lviv theater, he went to Congress Poland and became the principal conductor at the National Theater in Warsaw. ["Encyklopedia Polski", p. 154.]

Elsner taught the famous Polish composers Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński and Fryderyk Chopin. Chopin dedicated to Elsner his celebrated "Op. 2, Variations on "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's Opera "Don Giovanni" in B-flat major" (1827) and his Piano Sonata No. 1 (the "Sonata in C minor, Op. 4", of 1828) — both composed while Chopin was studying with Elsner.

In 1799-1824 Elsner was the principal conductor at Warsaw's National Theater, where he premiered a number of his operas. Elsner also taught at the Warsaw Lyceum, housed in Warsaw's Kazimierz Palace.

In 1823–29 Elsner taught Chopin music theory and composition. At the time, Elsner wrote of Chopin in his diary: "Chopin, Frederic, third-year student, amazing capabilities, musical genius."

Elsner died at his estate in Elsnerów, now within the city limits of Warsaw, on April 18, 1854.

Works

Elsner's compositions included
* the operas, "Leszek Biały" (Leszek the White) and "Król Łokietek" (Władysław the Elbow-High);
*the oratorio, "Męka Pana Naszego Jezusa Chrystusa" (The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ);
*eight symphonies;
*polonaises, waltzes, marches;
*"Msza B-dur" (Mass in B-flat major) and "Msza F-dur" (Mass in F major); and
*"Nieszpory do NMP" (Vespers for the Most Sacred Virgin Mary).

Elsner was one of the first Polish composers to weave elements of Polish folk music into his works. ["Encyklopedia Polski", p. 154.]

He also wrote "Sumariusz moich utworów muzycznych" (Summary of My Musical Works, published 1957).

ee also

*List of Poles

Notes

References

*"Elsner, Józef," "Encyklopedia Polski", Kraków, Wydawnictwo Ryszard Kluszczyński, 1996, p. 154.