František Brixi

František Xaver Brixi (1732–1771) was a Czech classical composer of the 18th century. His first name is sometimes given by reference works in its Germanic form, Franz. Brixi was born in Prague, the son of composer Šimon Brixi. He received his musical education at the Piarist Gymnasium in Kosmonosy. His teachers included Václav Kalous, 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 (choir director) 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 (of the most varied type), 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.