HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

The Kopriva Family of Cítoliby

Karel Blazej Kopriva

1800 by unknown

Václav Jan Kopřiva was a late baroque Bohemian composer and organist born the son of a miller in Cítoliby (now in the Czech Republic) on 8 February 1708. Married to one Juditka Rozumová, Václav's first son, Jan Jáchym Kopřiva, arrived to Cítoliby on 17 March 1754 followed by a younger brother, Karel Blažej (bla-joi) Kopřiva, on 9 February of 1756, they also composers who performed at organ. Václav had studied under his godfather, Martin Antonín Kalina, before becoming organist at the Crusaders' Church in Citoliby. He wrote sacred music such as masses ad offertoriums. His son, Jan Jáchym, became a cantor in the church before assuming his father's position upon Václav's retirement. Jan Jáchym also wrote sacred music like masses.

Karel, who was the major talent between he and his brother, studied under Josef Seger in Prague, then became an organist at St. Jacob's Church in Cítoliby. In addition to sacred music Karel authored such as arias, fugues, organ concertos (7 of 8 lost) and nine symphonies (all lost). Karel died not yet thirty years age of tuberculosis on 15 May 1785 four years before his father on 7 June 1789. Jan Jáchym assumed Karel's position as teacher of the family of Count Arnošt Pachta, but soon died himself of tuberculosis on 17 August 1792. As it isn't known when samples of each of the Kopřivas below were composed, their stacking should not be considered chronological.