Franz Nikolaus Novotny

Who was Franz Nikolaus Novotny?

Franz Nikolaus Novotny was an Austrian organist and composer of Bohemian descent at the Esterházy court in Schloss Esterházy in Eisenstadt.

Novotny's grandfather had served at the court as a bass singer; his father, Johann Novotný, a pupil of Gregor Werner, was also a court organist. Franz Nikolaus succeeded his father in that post on 30 August 1765, having before worked in the court treasury. He composed mainly church music and his work was esteemed by Joseph Haydn.