František Brixi


František Xaver Brixi was a Czech classical composer. He was the son of composer Šimon Brixi.

Life

Brixi was born on 2 January 1732 in Prague, the son of composer Šimon Brixi. He received his musical education at the Piarist gymnasium in Kosmonosy. His teachers included, a significant composer himself.
In 1749, Brixi left Kosmonosy and returned to Prague, where he worked as an organist at several churches. In 1759, he was appointed regens chori and Kapellmeister of St. Vitus Cathedral, thus attaining, at age 27, the highest musical position in the city; this office he held till his early death. He wrote some 290 church works, cantatas and oratorios, chamber compositions, and orchestral compositions. He was a prolific composer of music for the liturgy, and wrote more than 100 masses, vespers and motets, among others. He also composed secular music such as oratorios and incidental music, concertos and symphonies. His organ concertos, which have been recorded several times each, are his best-known pieces today.
Brixi died of tuberculosis in Prague in 1771, at the age of 39.

Style and influence

Brixi was an important composer at the junction between the Baroque and Classical periods. Brixi's style is distinguished from that of his contemporaries by its fresh melodic writing, vivacious rhythm and lively bass lines, and from that of his predecessors by its simple yet effective instrumentation.
Brixi's music made Prague's people receptive for Mozart's music.

Compositions

Brixi composed 500 works, in which sacred music dominated. None of his compositions were published during Brixi's lifetime.
Source:Missa di Gloria in D major Missa integra in D minorMissa brevis in C major for soloists, choir orchestra and organMissa aulica in C majorMissa pastoralis in C majorMissa pastoralis in D majorMissa solemnis in D major for soloists, choir, orchestra and organMissa Dominicalis in C major
  • 8 Organ Concertos
  • Viola Concerto in C major
  • Sinfonia in D major
  • Oratorio Opus patheticum de septem doloribus Beatae Mariae Virginis
  • Oratorio Crux morientis Jesu Christi
  • Oratorio Filius Prodigus
  • Oratorio Judas Iscariothes – Oratorium pro die sacro Parasceves Litanie de seto BenedietoConfiteor tibi DomineBitevní sinfonie
  • Fuga in A minor
  • Pastoral in C majorPreludium In C major
  • ''Regina coeli''