Leopold Hofmann

Leopold Hofmann (also Ludwig Hoffman, Leopold Hoffman, Leopold Hoffmann; 14 August 1738 – 17 March 1793) was an Austrian composer of classical music. Biography Hofmann was the son of a highly educated civil servant, and at the age of seven became a chorister in the chapel of the Empress Elisabeth Christine, where his choral director and teacher was very likely František Tůma. He was also a student later on of Georg Christoph Wagenseil and Giuseppe Trani (violin). His studies included at various points violin, harpsichord and composition. In 1758 Hofmann secured what may have been his first appointment, as “musicus” at St. Michael’s. He is known to have become choral director at St. Peter’s Church in 1764 and, in 1766, kapellmeister. In 1769 he became a teacher to the royal family. The position of kapellmeister at the Cathedral of St. Stephan, a post he acquired in 1772, was among his next responsibilities. At this time he declined the directorship of the Imperial Chapel, but did apply there two years later, in 1774, failing in his application. (Giuseppe Bonno became director of the Imperial Chapel, which had become open upon the death of Florian Leopold Gassmann.) On 9 May 1791, at