Pechácek, Franz Xaver

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Pecháček, Franz Xaver

Pecháček, Franz Xaver, Austrian violinist and composer; b. Vienna, July 4,1793; d. Karlsruhe, Sept. 15, 1840. He studied with his father, Franz Martin Pechácek (1763–1816), who was also a composer. After an appearance before the Viennese court when he was only 8, he received training in violin with Johann Kletzinsky and Schuppanzigh and in composition with Aloys Förster (1805–09). From 1809 to 1822 he was a member of the orch. at the Theatre an der Wien, and concurrently pursued a successful solo career. He subsequently served as concertmaster in Württemberg (1822–26) and Karlsruhe (from 1826). In addition to many virtuoso violin pieces, he also wrote 3 overtures and a quartet.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire