Pavel Josef Vejvanovský

One of them was the Bohemian master Pavel Josef Vejvanovský (1640 – 1693). Having received an education at the Jesuit university in Opava, he entered the service of Karl Liechtenstein-Castelcorno, Prince-Bishop of Olomouc. At that time, Moravia ravaged in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War and the Bishop was appointed with the commission of regenerating the region. He built a grand palace in Italian Renaissance style in the nearby town of Kroměříž and employed a large group of musicians drawn from all over Europe to play at his court and churches. In 1670, Vejvanovský became the trumpet player at the palatial orchestra, and was also in charge of the music at the St. Mauritius Church in Olomouc. In addition to his duties with music, he also maintained the Bishop's music library and served as the principal copyist of the collection, generating copies of hundreds of manuscripts. One of the most esteemed citizens and most highly paid musicians, he was responsible for over 150 secular and spiritual works: sonatas, serenades, ballets, masses, psalms, litanies among others. Contemporaries testify to Vejvanovský's performing virtuosity and his talent for playing chromatic passages on a natural trumpet, which is extremely difficult.