Josepha Barbara Auernhammer

Josepha Barbara Auernhammer (25 September 1758 – 30 January 1820) was an Austrian pianist and composer. Biography Auernhammer was born in Vienna, the eleventh of fifteen children born to Johann Michael Auernhammer and Elisabeth (nee Timmer). Of the fifteen children, only three lived past the age of thirty. Auernhammer studied with, among others, Leopold Anton Kozeluch, and Mozart, who dedicated a number of works to her and with whom she performed a number of works that required four hands. On 27 June 1781, Mozart wrote of her: “Almost every day after dinner I am at H: v: Auernhammer’s - The Miss is a monster! - plays delightfully though, however, she lacks the genuine fine and lilting quality of cantabile; she plucks too much.” That year, Mozart dedicated his Violin Sonatas K. 296 and K. 376–80 to her. Auernhammer became a much-admired concert pianist and teacher throughout Vienna. She corrected the printing of several sonatas by Mozart, and her piano playing together with Mozart was described enthusiastically by Abbé Stadler. During a house concert in Vienna Passauerhof on 23 November 1781, she played Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos, K. 448 and the Double Concerto, K. 365. Further