Vaclav Jan Kopriva

Life

Kopriva was a son of the miller Vaclav Kopriva (1672–?), from the neighboring village Brloh, and his wife Juditka Rozumova (1677–?). He received his first musical education from his godfather Martin Antonin Kalina, who was a cantor and a representative of another important music family in Citoliby. He completed his studies in Prague, becoming an organist at the Crusaders' Church and studying with Franz Joseph Dollhopf.

Thereafter he worked as a cantor and organist in Citoliby. With his wife Terezia, he had two sons Karel Blazej Kopriva and Jan Jachym Kopriva, who both also became composers. His spiritual compositions have typical baroque characteristics and they employ pastoral poems and folksongs. His notable pupils include Jan Nepomuk Vent, Jan Adam Galina, Jakub Lokaj and both of his sons.

List of works