Lavotta, Jânos

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Lavotta, Jânos

Lavotta, Jânos, Hungarian violinist and composer; b. Pusztafödemes, July 5, 1764; d. Tâllya, Aug. 11, 1820. After taking violin lessons with his father, he pursued the study of law in Bratislava and Pest; later he completed his music training in Bratislava and Vienna. He made tours as a violin virtuoso but his career was hampered by alcoholism. Lavotta was one of the creators of the Hungarian national style in the form of the classical verbunkos. Among his works were verbunko dances, German dances, polonaises, contredanses, and minuets.

Bibliography

G. Bernâth, L. élete (L.’s Life; Pest, 1857); S. Szilâgy, L.J. (Budapest, 1930).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Lavotta, Jânos

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