Franz Xaver Chwatal


Franz Xaver Chwatal was a Czech pianist, composer and music teacher.

Life

Chwatal was born in Rumburk, Bohemia. He was the son of an organ builder, who gave him piano lessons as a child. From 1822 to 1832, he worked as a music teacher in Merseburg, where he created his first compositions. From 1835, he worked as a music teacher in Magdeburg. In the 1850s, he travelled with Christian Friedrich Ehrlich to the Institute für Gemeinschaftlichen Clavierunterricht.
He composed numerous pieces of music. However, these compositions have had a reputation as lighter, popular music. The German music critic Robert Schumann called them "Stübchenmusik".

Selected works

  • Historischer Notizkalender für Musiker und Musikfreunde
  • Methodisch geordnete Pianoforte-Schule
  • Praktische Elementar-Pianoforteschule
  • Alpenklänge. Miniatur-Bilder für das Pianoforte.
  • Nacht, o Nacht, du heilge Nacht, choral song with Wilhelmine von Chezy