The Long LineThe Long Line Explore Nine Centuries of Music Jan Ladislav Dussek

Jan Ladislav Dussek

Czech composer and pianist

Jan Ladislav Dussek (baptised Jan Václav Dusík, with surname also written as Duschek or Düssek; 12 February 1760 – 20 March 1812) was a Czech classical period composer and virtuoso pianist. He was an important representative of Czech music abroad in the second half of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Some of his more forward-looking piano works have traits often associated with 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 to Milan, and was celebrated for his technical prowess. During a nearly ten-year stay in London, he was instrumental (sic) in extending the size of the pianoforte, and was the recipient of one of John Broadwood's first 6-octave pianos, CC-c4. Harold Schonberg wrote that he was the first pianist to sit at the piano with his profile to the audience, earning him the appellation "le beau visage." All subsequent pianists have sat on stage in this manner. He was one of the best-regarded pianists in Europe before Beethoven's rise to prominence.

His music is marked by lyricism interrupted by sudden dynamic contrasts. As well as his many compositions for the piano, he also composed for the harp: his music for that instrument contains a great variety of figuration within a largely diatonic harmony, avoids chromatic passages. His music is considered standard repertoire for all harpists, particularly his Six Sonatas/Sonatinas and especially the Sonata in C minor. Less well known to the general public than that of his more renowned Classical period contemporaries, his piano music is highly valued by many teachers and not infrequently programmed. Franz Liszt has been called an indirect successor of Dussek in the composition and performance of virtuoso piano music. His music remained popular to some degree in 19th-century Great Britain and the USA, some still in print, with more available in period editions online.

Read more about this composer on Wikipedia.

Works

The Long LineThe Long Line
  • 3 Sonatas, op. 14
  • 6 Piano Sonatinas, op. 20
  • A che congiuri
  • Concerto for Harp and Orchestra in E-flat major, op. 15
  • Concerto for Harp and Orchestra in E-flat major, op. 15: I. Allegro
  • Concerto for Harp and Orchestra in E-flat major, op. 15: II. Larghetto teneramente
  • Concerto for Harp and Orchestra in E-flat major, op. 15: III. Rondo: Allegro molto
  • Concerto for Two Pianos in B-flat major, op. 63
  • Concerto for Two Pianos in B-flat major, op. 63: I. Allegro moderato
  • Concerto for Two Pianos in B-flat major, op. 63: II. Larghetto sostenuto
  • Concerto for Two Pianos in B-flat major, op. 63: III. Allegro moderato
  • Dolce speme, del ciel dono
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 10: Con spirito
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 11 "Chansonette": Allegretto con sentimento
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 12 "Rondeau sur la retraite espagnol": Allegro moderato
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 1: Allegro non troppo
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 2: Andante sostenuto
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 3 "Rondeau a la Turque": Molto allegro
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 4: Molto allegro
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 5 "Air russe varié": Andantino moderato assai
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 6 "Polonaise": Allegretto moderato
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 7: Allegro vivace
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 8 "Air anglais varié": Andante moderato
  • Douze études mélodiques, op. 16 no. 9 "Rondeau sur un air écossais": Allegro
  • Duo concertante in B-flat major, op. 69 no. 1
  • Duo concertante in B-flat major, op. 69 no. 1: I. Allegro con fuoco
  • Duo concertante in B-flat major, op. 69 no. 1: II. Marche funebre. Andante moderato
  • Duo concertante in B-flat major, op. 69 no. 1: III. Menuetto. Tempo di Ballo quasi andante
  • Duo concertante in E-flat major, op. 69 no. 2
  • Duo concertante in E-flat major, op. 69 no. 2: I. Allegro maestoso
  • Duo concertante in E-flat major, op. 69 no. 2: II. Les Souvenirs. Larghetto affettuoso
  • Duo concertante in E-flat major, op. 69 no. 2: III. Allegro con brio
  • Duo concertante in F major, op. 69 no. 3
  • Duo concertante in F major, op. 69 no. 3: I. Allegro moderato
  • Duo concertante in F major, op. 69 no. 3: II. Larghetto espressivo
  • Duo concertante in F major, op. 69 no. 3: III. Rondo. Allegretto ma moderato
  • Duo for Two Pianos in F major, op. 11
  • Duo for Two Pianos in F major, op. 11: I. Allegro con espressione
  • Duo for Two Pianos in F major, op. 11: II. Romance. Larghetto
  • Duo for Two Pianos in F major, op. 11: III. Rondò. Allegro
  • Duo in F major, op. 26
  • Duo in F major, op. 26: I. Allegro
  • Duo in F major, op. 26: II. Larghetto
  • Duo in F major, op. 26: III. Rondo. Allegretto
  • Fantasia and Fugue, op. 55
  • Fantasia and Fugue, op. 55: Fantasia
  • Fantasia and Fugue, op. 55: Fugue
  • Harp Sonata in B-flat major, op. 34 no. 2, C. 148
  • Harp Sonata in B-flat major, op. 34 no. 2, C. 148: I. Allegro con spirito
  • Harp Sonata in B-flat major, op. 34 no. 2, C. 148: II. Rondo
  • Harp Sonata in E-flat major, op. 34 no. 1, C. 147
  • Harp Sonatina no. 5
  • Harp Sonatina no. 5: I. Larghetto
  • Harp Sonatina no. 5: II. Rondo. Allegretto
  • Keyboard Sonata in G major, C. 40
  • Keyboard Sonata in G major, C. 40: I. Larghetto col espressione
  • Keyboard Sonata in G major, C. 40: II. Allegro
  • L'Adieu
  • La Consolation, op. 62
  • Leggiarde ninfe
  • Notturno concertant, op. 68
  • Notturno concertant, op. 68: I. Andantino
  • Notturno concertant, op. 68: II. Tempo di menuetto
  • Or che un istante
  • Piano Concerto in B-flat major, op. 22 / Craw 97
  • Piano Concerto in B-flat major, op. 22 / Craw 97: I. Allegro non troppo
  • Piano Concerto in B-flat major, op. 22 / Craw 97: II. Larghetto non tanto
  • Piano Concerto in B-flat major, op. 22 / Craw 97: III. Rondo: Allegro non tanto (Introduction: Andreas Staier)
  • Piano Concerto in C major, op. 29, C 125
  • Piano Concerto in C major, op. 29, C 125: I. Allegro moderato
  • Piano Concerto in C major, op. 29, C 125: II. Larghetto sostenuto
  • Piano Concerto in C major, op. 29, C 125: III. Rondo
  • Piano Concerto in E-flat major, op. 3, C 33
  • Piano Concerto in E-flat major, op. 3, C 33: I. Allegro maestoso
  • Piano Concerto in E-flat major, op. 3, C 33: II. Andantino
  • Piano Concerto in E-flat major, op. 3, C 33: III. Rondo. Allegro
  • Piano Concerto in E-flat major, op. 70, C 238
  • Piano Concerto in E-flat major, op. 70, C 238: I. Allegro brillante ma non troppo
  • Piano Concerto in E-flat major, op. 70, C 238: II. Adagio ma non troppo lento
  • Piano Concerto in E-flat major, op. 70, C 238: III. Rondo. Allegro moderato
  • Piano Concerto in F major, op. 14, C 77
  • Piano Concerto in F major, op. 14, C 77: I. Allegro
  • Piano Concerto in F major, op. 14, C 77: II. Adagio
  • Piano Concerto in F major, op. 14, C 77: III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato
  • Piano Concerto in G major, op. 1 no. 3, C 4
  • Piano Concerto in G major, op. 1 no. 3, C 4: I. Allegro
  • Piano Concerto in G major, op. 1 no. 3, C 4: II. Rondo. Allegro
  • Piano Concerto in G minor, op. 49 / Craw 187
  • Piano Concerto in G minor, op. 49 / Craw 187: I. Allegro
  • Piano Concerto in G minor, op. 49 / Craw 187: II. Adagio
  • Piano Concerto in G minor, op. 49 / Craw 187: III. Rondo: Allegro non troppo
  • Piano Quartet in E-flat major, C. 197
  • Piano Quartet in E-flat major, C. 197: I. Allegro affettuoso
  • Piano Quartet in E-flat major, C. 197: II. Larghetto quasi andante
  • Piano Quartet in E-flat major, C. 197: III. Allegretto moderatissimo
  • Piano Sonata in B‐flat major, op. 23
  • Piano Sonata in B‐flat major, op. 23: II. Pastorale. Allegretto moderato con espressione
  • Piano Sonata in C minor, op. 35 no. 3
  • Piano Sonata in C minor, op. 35 no. 3: I. Allegro agitato assai
  • Piano Sonata in C minor, op. 35 no. 3: II. Adagio patetico ed espressivo
  • Piano Sonata in F minor "L'invocation", op. 77
  • Piano Sonata in F minor "L'invocation", op. 77: I. Allegro moderato ma energico
  • Piano Sonata in F minor "L'invocation", op. 77: IV. Rondo: Allegro moderato
  • Piano Sonata in F-sharp minor, op. 61 "Elégie harmonique"
  • Piano Sonata no. 11 in B-flat major, op. 35 no. 1
  • Piano Sonata no. 12, op. 35 no. 2
  • Quintet in F minor, op. 41
  • Quintet in F minor, op. 41: I. Allegro non troppo
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: I. Kyrie I
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: II. Christe
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: III. Kyrie
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: IX. Credo
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: V. Gloria
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: VI. Qui tollis
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: VIII. Cum sancto
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: XI. Et resurrexit
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: XII. Et in spiritum
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: XIX. Dona nobis pacem
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: XV. Sanctus
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: XVII. Hosanna
  • Solemn Mass in G Major, C. 256: XVIII. Agnus Dei
  • Sonata for Flute, Cello and Piano, op. 65
  • Sonata for Flute, Cello and Piano, op. 65: II. Larghetto con un poco di moto
  • Sonata for Flute, Cello and Piano, op. 65: III. Rondo. Moderato assai
  • Sonata in A-flat major "Le Retour a Paris": I. Allegro non troppo ed espressivo
  • Sonata in A-flat major "Le Retour a Paris": II. Molto adagio con anima ed espressivo
  • Sonata in A-flat major "Le Retour a Paris": III. Tempo di menuetto. Scherzo quasi allegro
  • Sonata in B major, C. 120: I. Allegro moderato
  • Sonata in B major, C. 120: II. Rondo. Allegretto moderato
  • Sonata in B major, C. 5
  • Sonata in B major, C. 5: II. Andantino grazioso con variazioni
  • Sonata in B-flat major, op. 24 no. 3
  • Sonata in B-flat major, op. 24 no. 3: II. Larghetto con Variazioni
  • Sonata in B-flat major, op. 24, C 96
  • Sonata in B-flat major, op. 24, C 96: I. Allegro con spirito
  • Sonata in B-flat major, op. 31 no. 1
  • Sonata in B-flat major, op. 31 no. 1: I. Allegro
  • Sonata in B-flat major, op. 31 no. 1: II. Adagio non troppo
  • Sonata in C major, C. 118: II. Adagio
  • Sonata in C major, C. 54
  • Sonata in C major, C. 54: I. Largo maestoso – Allegro molto
  • Sonata in C major, C. 54: II. Andante sostenuto
  • Sonata in C major, C. 7: I. Allegro spiritoso
  • Sonata in C major, op. 14 no. 1, C. 71
  • Sonata in C major, op. 14 no. 1, C. 71: I. Allegro
  • Sonata in C major, op. 31 no. 3: II. Scotch Air: "Auld Robin Gray". Larghetto con expressione
  • Sonata in D major, C. 121: I. Allegro vivace
  • Sonata in D major, C. 121: II. Allegretto grazioso