Personendetails

Jan Nepomuk Hummel

Johann

Hummel, Jan Nepomuk (1778-1837), Slovak composer and pianist. Born in Pressburg (then part of the Kingdom of Hungary, now the Slovak capital Bratislava). A prodigious childhood talent he was taught by his father and by Mozart. He toured Europe with his father, including a visit to England. After returning to Vienna he became Kapellmeister to the Esterházy court, occupying the post for seven years. He was later occupied in Weimar and Salzburg. Hummel was recognized in his day as perhaps the continent’s most accomplished pianist. His output as a composer was substantial. His late-Classical, early-Romantic amalgam of creative style was characterized by its expressive and easy lyricism, an impressive, undemanding facility combined with subtle originality and modernity.