Leopold Jansa

Who was Leopold Jansa?

Leopold Jansa was a Bohemian violinist, composer, and teacher.

He was born in Wildenschwert, Austria-Hungary and died in Vienna. He took violin lessons as a child in his home town. He completed his education in Brünn. In 1817 he came to Vienna to study law. However, he soon took up composition lessons with Jan Václav Voříšek and Emanuel Förster.

He was a member of the Braunschweig orchestra in 1823, while in 1824 he joined the Vienna Court Orchestra. In 1834, he became music director and professor at University of Vienna. From 1834 to 1850, he participated in various String quartets. He took over from Ignaz Schuppanzigh, with Karl Holz and Joseph Linke from the Schuppanzigh Quartet, adding Karl Traugott Queisser. From 1845 to 1848 he directed quartet soirées at the hall of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde. In 1847-48 he taught violin at the Vienna Conservatory.

He lost his positions in Vienna as a result of his participation in a London concert in favour of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. He stayed in London as a music teacher, until 1868 when he was amnestied and returned to Vienna. He resumed his previous duties in 1871.