Brentner, Joseph (EN)

Brentner, Brenntner, Johann Joseph Ignaz, *3 November 1689 Dobřany, †28 June 1742 Dobřany, Czech composer. He received his education from the Jesuits, and from 1703 he also belonged to the Latin congregation at the Jesuit gymnasium in Jindřichův Hradec. Later, he worked in Prague, where he published four collections of compositions between 1716 and 1720. He spent the last years of his life in his hometown; his life ended prematurely, as a result of drowning.

In vocal-instrumental music (of which masses, litanies, psalm arrangements, antiphons, offertories, motets and arias have survived), Brentner represents the advanced concertarto style of the late Baroque. His instrumental compositions consist mainly of concertos (including six published as Op. 4) and partitas.

Literature (selection): V. Kapsa Horae pomeridianae Jana Josefa Ignáce Brentnera, “Hudební věda” 2001 No. 3–4; V. Kapsa Bassani – Brentner – Villicus: hudební repertoár dvou rukopisných sborníků z piaristického kláštera v Podolínci, “Musicologica slovaca” 2012 No. 2; V. Kapsa Die Musik in der St. Nikolauskirche auf der Prager Kleinseite in der ersten Hälfte des 18. Jahrhunderts, “Musicologica Brunensia” 2014 No. 1; V. Kapsa Joseph Brentner. A Catalogue of His Works, access: https://brentner.katalog-skladeb.cz.