Joseph Anton Steffan

1726-1797

Born in the Czech town of Kopidlno in what was then the Holy Roman Empire the son of a schoolmaster and the church organist. It was his father who first taught him music although when the Prussian army marched into town in 1741 the fifteen year old Joseph fled to Vienna.

He must have already shown sign of promise because here he found patronage from the Lord of Kopidlno, Count Šlik who arranged for his Kapellmeister, Hummel, to teach him the violin while Wagenseil, the court composer taught him violin and composition.

He succeeded to the role of Kapellmeister at the court of Count Slik although the date is not certain.

He became a renowned performer on the harpsichord and his reputation as a teacher was such that in 1766 he was appointed piano teacher to both the princesses Maria Carolina (later Queen of Naples) and Maria Antonia (later Queen of France).

He left the court in 1775 although why is not clear. He continued to make a living from composing and performing. However he faded from public view and the circumstances of his death are not known.

He did however, leave behind him a very substantial collection of published music including singspiels, symphonies, over 50 concerti,and dozens of other chamber pieces.

Suffice it to say his work is hardly if ever performed today.