Jan Ladislav Dussek (baptized Václav Jan Dusík, his surname was written also Duschek or Düssek; February 12, 1760 in Čáslav – March 20, 1812 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye) was a Czech composer and pianist. He was an important representative of Czech music abroad in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century. In some of his piano writing, Dussek anticipated features of musical Romanticism.
Dussek was one of the first piano virtuo...
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Jan Ladislav Dussek (baptized Václav Jan Dusík, his surname was written also Duschek or Düssek; February 12, 1760 in Čáslav – March 20, 1812 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye) was a Czech composer and pianist. He was an important representative of Czech music abroad in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century. In some of his piano writing, Dussek anticipated features of musical Romanticism.
Dussek was one of the first piano virtuosos to travel widely throughout Europe. He performed at courts and concert venues from London to Saint Petersburg and Milan, and was celebrated for his technical prowess. During a nearly ten-year stay in London, he was instrumental in extending the size of the pianoforte, and was the recipient of one of John Broadwood's first 6-foot (1.8-meter) pianos.
Neither his playing style nor his compositions, however, had any notable lasting impact. While it has been suggested that Franz Liszt was a successor to Dussek in the realm of piano virtuosity,...
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