Ignatz von Held

Biographies compiled by Mårten Falk, with gratitude. Held, Ignaz von (composer, born at Hohenbruck in Bohemia in 1766, died at Břesc-Litewski in Russia in 1816). Son of a doctor and brother of Johann Theobald Held. In the school of his birthplace, where he studied, instruction was also given in music, for which the boy displayed great talent. Held soon became an alto altar choirboy in the Teinkirche in Prague, and then in Hradec Kralove, where he attended the Humanities classes; at the same time he studied wind and string instruments. When 17 years old he lost his father, who on the deathbed recommended to the children to seek their fortune abroad. Thus commenced the journey of the young man. In 1783 he went to Poland, where he was hospitably received by a relative close to him. His language and musical talents helped him. He then went on to St. Petersburg. In the aftermath of the Turkish war, he entered Prince Potemkin’s regiment, marched with him to the Crimea, fought Oczakov in the storm, and became lieutenant-in-chief. After Potemkin ‘s death he took service with the king. He then joined the Polish army, became Major in a few years, received the nobility and then the chamberlain key. But when Poland ceased to be an independent state, his luck turned; he was captured by the Russians in one of the unfortunate battles that were fought in Poland. He lost his belongings and remained in detention until the time of Emperor Paul, who on his accession to the throne gave freedom to imprisoned Poles. Now without office, without fortune, deprived of all means of subsistence, he resorted to the art that he so zealously pursued in his youth. He played the English guitar, and the piano. Fortune was favourable to him, he came to Moscow, and soon became a much sought-after music teacher in the most distinguished houses. Now he threw himself into composition, found publishers who gladly accepted his work and paid him well. Meanwhile, when he applied for a permanent position, he received by intercession of the Grand Duke Constantina, Port Inspectorate to Pernau, but was transferred to St. Petersburg in 1808, where he was appointed to the Imperial Russian Council, and where he died at Břesc-Litewski, only fifty years old. As a composer, Held has made a name for himself in Russia. His compositions, especially sonatas for pianoforte, choirs, marches, polonaises, variations and salon pieces, betray grace, and in particular his polonaises are praised for their faithful reproduction of the national character, which this piece of music should not be without. In 1798, Held published his Method for the Russian seven string guitar (only the 1802 edition remains). This is the earliest known publication for the Russian guitar. Whether Held actually invented the instrument – making a blend of the Spanish guitar and the English guitar that he had played since his youth – or if he learned the new instrument while arriving in Russia, is not known. His Method was very influential and was later revised by Semion Aksionov. The Method contains several well crafted pieces such as rondo, several polonaises and a Sonatina. Source: Dlabacz (Gottfried Joh.) , General. histor. Artist’s Encyclopedia for Bohemia and partly also for Moravia and Silesia (Prague 1815, Haase , small 4 °.) Vol. I, division 599. Source for the portrait of Held: An