Jan Ladislav Dussek

Jan Ladislav Dussek (baptized Václav Jan Dusík, his surname was written also Duschek or Düssek; February 12, 1760 in Čáslav – March 20, 1812 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye) was a Czech composer and pianist. He was an important representative of Czech music abroad in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century. In some of his piano writing, Dussek anticipated features of musical Romanticism.

Dussek was one of the first piano virtuosos to travel widely throughout Europe. He performed at courts and concert venues from London to Saint Petersburg and Milan, and was celebrated for his technical prowess. During a nearly ten-year stay in London, he was instrumental in extending the size of the pianoforte, and was the recipient of one of John Broadwood's first 6-foot (1.8-meter) pianos. He was cited by Harold Schonberg as the first pianist to sit at the piano with his profile to the audience, earning him the appellation "le beau visage." Ever since, all pianists have sat on stage in this manner. Until the rise of Beethoven, he was one of the very most prominent pianists in Europe.

His music is lyrical, and features sudden dynamic contrasts. He composed much music for the piano and is a very important composer of music for the harp. In his harp music, he carefully contrasts the use of different intervals, and creates great variety of figuration within a largely diatonic harmony. He skillfully avoids dangerous chromatic passages and his music is eminently playable. His concertos are dynamic and exciting. His music is considered standard repertoire for all harpists, particularly his Six Sonatas/Sonatinas and the Sonata in C Minor. His music is prominently featured in collections of classical piano music, and play a part in the pedagogy of many teachers and the recital repertoire as a result. His music is noteworthy for its combination of Bohemian traditions with Italianate touches. It has been suggested that Franz Liszt was an indirect successor to Dussek in the realm of piano virtuosity. His music continued to be somewhat popular in 19th-century Great Britain and in the United States as well, and is still found in publishers catalogs. Much more is becoming available as period editions of his music are found online in websites, making a much more thorough knowledge of his output now possible.