Composer. Born Antonin Rejcha in Prague, he was initially tutored in music by his uncle, composer and cellist Josef Reicha, and made his performing debut at 15 as flutist of the Hofkapelle Orchestra in Bonn, Germany. He later studied in Vienna with Salieri and Albrechtsberger. In 1808 he settled in Paris. Reicha's importance as a composer rests on the 25 woodwind quintets he wrote between 1811 and 1820; together they formed one of the first comprehensive explorations of woodwind technique, and are still performed today. Their style is very much in the Haydnesque Classical mode. He also produced seven operas but only one, "Sappho" (1822), had a modest success. As professor of counterpoint and fugue at the Paris Conservatory from 1818 until his death, Reicha's students included Berlioz, Liszt, Gounod, and Franck. His books "Cours de composition musicale" (1818), "Traite de haute composition musicale" (2 volumes, 1826), and "Art du compositeur dramatique" (4 volumes, 1833) had a wide influence on 19th Century French music. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1831.
Composer. Born Antonin Rejcha in Prague, he was initially tutored in music by his uncle, composer and cellist Josef Reicha, and made his performing debut at 15 as flutist of the Hofkapelle Orchestra in Bonn, Germany. He later studied in Vienna with Salieri and Albrechtsberger. In 1808 he settled in Paris. Reicha's importance as a composer rests on the 25 woodwind quintets he wrote between 1811 and 1820; together they formed one of the first comprehensive explorations of woodwind technique, and are still performed today. Their style is very much in the Haydnesque Classical mode. He also produced seven operas but only one, "Sappho" (1822), had a modest success. As professor of counterpoint and fugue at the Paris Conservatory from 1818 until his death, Reicha's students included Berlioz, Liszt, Gounod, and Franck. His books "Cours de composition musicale" (1818), "Traite de haute composition musicale" (2 volumes, 1826), and "Art du compositeur dramatique" (4 volumes, 1833) had a wide influence on 19th Century French music. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1831.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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