A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stiastný, Bernard
STIASTNÝ, Bernard Wenzel, violoncellist, born at Prague in 1770. Little is known of him except that he was probably professor at the Conversatoire, to which he dedicated his work on the violoncello. It is remarkable for what may be almost called a treatise on the accompaniment of recitative as it was then practised, and which our own Lindley brought to such perfection as will probably never be heard again. He dedicates no less than 30 pages to this subject, of which 29 consist of examples of all the forms and harmonies then in use. He has however strangely omitted to figure the bass.
Stiastný, Jean, brother of the above, born at Prague in 1774. We know scarcely anything of his career. He seems to have studied harmony and the violoncello at Prague, under his brother, but he must have soon left that city as he is described on the title of his op. 3 as 'Violoncelle de S.A.R. le Grand Due de Frankfort.' According to Fétis he was musical director at Nuremberg in 1820, and from thence went to Mannheim. He is known to have been in London, and he dedicated two of his finest compositions to Lindley and Crosdill, as well as his three duets op. 8 to Sir W. Curtis. His last and perhaps finest work was published and probably written in London. He was also in Paris, where he arranged his op. 11 for cello and piano, and he has dedicated his op. 3 to the pupils of the Conservatoire. There exists a beautiful French edition of his six grand duets op. 1, and also of his two sonatas op. 2, the latter in score. I heard from one who knew him, that he was nervous and diffident in the highest degree, and this may account for his having left no mark or record of himself as a performer. But his compositions for the violoncello must render his name immortal, for though the list of his works only amount to 13, the originality and purity of them all entitle him to rank among the very first writers for the instrument. He is often called the Beethoven of the violoncello, nor can that be considered too high praise. A list of his works follows:—
Op. 1. 6 grand duets for 2 cellos, dedicated to his brother.
Op. 2. 2 sonatas for cello solo with accompaniment for a 2nd cello.
Op. 3. Divertissement for cello solo with accompaniments for tenor and 2nd cello.
Op. 4. 12 'Petites pièces pour violoncello et basse à l'usage de commençants.'
Op. 5. 6 pièces faciles for cello and bass.
Op. 6. 3 grand duets for 2 cellos.
Op. 7. Concertino for cello with accompaniments for flute, 2 tenors, cello, and contrabass, dedicated to Lindley, who said it was the finest piece ever written for the instrument. Played by the late Mr. Hancock.
Op. 8. 3 duets for 2 cellos.
Op. 9. 6 pièces faciles tor cello and bass.
Op. 10. Andante with variations for cello solo with accompaniments for flute, 2 violins, tenor, and cello, dedicated to Crosdill.
Op. 11. 6 solos for cello and bass.
Op. 12. Theme with variations and rondo with quartet accompaniment.
Op. 13. Grand trio for cello solo with accompaniment for tenor and 2nd cello published in London by Welsh & Hawes, but unknown on the Continent. The finale, a rondo in 6-8, begins as follows:—
