Kotzeluch, Johann Anton

1738-1814

Bohemian church musical director .nd dramatic and church composer. He was born at Welwarn, and began his musical career as a chorister at St. Veit's Church. He studied at Prague, became choirmaster at Welwarn and Rakonitz, then returned to Prague and took up the study of composition under Segert, later continuing his education at Vienna with Gluck, Gassmann and Hasse. When he went back to Prague he became choirmaster of the Kreuzherrn, and then chapelmaster of the Metropolitan Church, or cathedral, a position which he held the rest of his life. He wrote churchmusic; oratorios; and operas; but very few of his works were published.