Dušek, Duschek, Dussek František Xaver, Franz Xaver, baptised 8 December 1731 Chotěborky (near Jaroměřa), †12 February 1799 Prague, Czech pianist, composer, and teacher. Dušek’s parents were subjects of Count J.K. von Špork, who enabled the boy to study at the Jesuit gymnasium in Hradec Králové and to learn composition and organ playing from F.V. Habermann in Prague, followed by three years of study under G.Ch. Wagenseil in Vienna. In 1770, Dušek settled permanently in Prague and began working as a pianist and teacher. His students included L.A. Koželuch, J.N. Vitašek, V. Mašek, and Josefína Hambacher, a singer whom Dušek married in 1776.
Dušek’s works refer to the Vienna school. He wrote symphonies, trios, string quartets, concertos, sonatas, and other works for piano, often of a didactic nature. He was an outstanding teacher who trained many renowned Czech pianists. Leading representatives of Prague’s artistic and intellectual life were regular visitors to the Dušeks’ home. Dušek and his wife were particularly close friends with W.A. Mozart, who probably composed the operas Don Giovanni and La clemenza di Tito at their summer home (called Bertramka).
Literature: V.J. Sýkora František Xaver Dušek. Život a dílo, Prague 1958 (contains a thematic catalogue of Dušek’s compositions); E. Gross Background and Problems for a Historical and Critical Edition of the String Quartets of F. X. Duschek, “Miscellanea musicologica” 6, 1972; M. Kabelková Hudebni archiv a kapela hraběte Jana Josefa Filipa Pachty, “Hudební věda” 28 (1991) No. 4; A. Żórawska-Witkowska Muzyka na dworze i w teatrze Stanisława Augusta, Warsaw 1995; T. Volek Duschek, Franz Xaver, in: Die Musik in Geschichte, Kassel 2001; M. Poštolka Dušek, František Xaver, in: The New Grove Dictionary od Music and Musicians, London 2001; D.E. Freeman Mozart in Prague, Minneapolis 2021.
Editions (selection):
Presto and Minuetto for piano, «Musica Antiqua Bohemica» XVII, 1954
Parthia (partita) for instrumental ensemble, «Musica Antiqua Bohemica» XXXV, 1958
four hand piano pieces, in: Album čtyrručních skladeb stárých českých mistrů, Prague 1960
7 string quartets, ed. E. Gross, Sydney 1972
6 Parthii for wind instruments, ed. M. Klement, «Musica viva historica XXXIX», Prague 1979
4 symphonies, ed. V. Altner, in: The Symphony 1720–1840, vol. B XII, New York, London 1984
Complete sonatas for keyboard, ed. V. Spurný, Kassel, Basel, London, etc. 201
Compositions:
during the composer’s lifetime, the following works were published, among others:
Sonata per il clavicembalo, Prague 1771
