Leopold Hofmann

Leopold Hofmann (also Ludwig Hoffman, Leopold Hoffman, Leopold Hoffmann) (1738–1793) was an Austrian composer of classical music. Hofmann was born on 14th August 1738, the son of a highly-educated civil servant, and at the age of seven became a chorister in the chapel of the Empress Elisabeth Christine, where his choral director and teacher was very likely František Tůma. He was also a student later on of Georg Christoph Wagenseil. His studies included at various points violin, harpsichord and composition. In 1758 Hofmann secured what may have been his first appointment, as "musicus" at St Michael's. He is known to have become choral director at St Peter's Church in 1764 and, in 1766, Kapellmeister. In 1769 he became a teacher to the royal family. The position of Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of St. Stephan, a post he acquired in 1772, was among his next responsibilities. At this time he declined the directorship of the Imperial Chapel, but did apply there two years later in 1774, failing in his application. (Giuseppe Bonno became director of the Imperial Chapel instead, which had become open on the death of Florian Leopold Gassmann.) Hofmann kept his post as Cathedral Kapellmeister until he died on 17th March 1739. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.