Seventeen ninety-one marked the appointment of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as the unpaid assistant to Leopold Hofmann. While Mozart anticipated succeeding the ailing composer at the Cathedral of St. Stephan, Hofmann outlived his junior colleague, maintaining his professional position as Kapellmeister until his own death two years later at the age of fifty-five in Vienna.
Early Musical Education
Born in Vienna in 1738, Leopold Hofmann entered the chapel of the Empress Elisabeth Christine as a chorister at the age of seven. During this period, his foundational training involved choral direction under František Tůma. His formal education progressed to include instruction in composition, harpsichord, and violin, with notable guidance from Georg Christoph Wagenseil and Giuseppe Trani.
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Hofmann began his professional career in 1758, serving as a musician at St. Michael's. He moved to St. Peter's Church in 1764 to work as a choral director, earning a promotion to the position of Kapellmeister in 1766. His administrative responsibilities expanded in 1769 when he became an instructor to the royal family. In 1772, he secured the role of Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of St. Stephan. He pursued the directorship of the Imperial Chapel in 1774 following the death of Florian Leopold Gassmann, but the appointment went to Giuseppe Bonno.
Compositional Output and Legacy
Hofmann produced a diverse body of work that has been catalogued by Allan Badley and George Cook Kimball. His compositions include numerous symphonies, concertos for various instruments, and choral works such as the Requiem in C minor and the Missa Sancti Aloysii in D major. Among his other publications are sonatas for three instruments and a divertimento for flute and bassoon. Modern scholarship and discography, including recordings from Naxos Records, continue to preserve his contributions to the classical repertoire.
Fast facts
- Born: 1738, Vienna
- Died: 1793, Vienna
- Major Post: Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of St. Stephan
- Musical Training: Studied with Georg Christoph Wagenseil and Giuseppe Trani
- Professional Titles: Composer, conductor, chapelmaster, organist, choir director, violinist
- Notable Association: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart served as his assistant
- Catalogue Authority: Allan Badley
Questions readers ask
Did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart succeed Hofmann?
No, although Mozart held an unpaid position as assistant to Hofmann starting in May 1791 with the expectation of succeeding him, Hofmann survived Mozart.
What types of music did Hofmann compose?
His catalog consists of symphonies, concertos, sonatas for various instruments, and sacred choral works including motets and masses.
Achievements
- Genres: symphony
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