Józef Stefani (1800–1876)
Józef Andrzej Stefani (1800–1876) was a Polish composer, violinist, conductor, and educator. His musical education began under his father and continued with Józef Elsner at the School of Music and Dramatic Arts, followed by studies at the Institute of Music and Declamation in Warsaw. He started his career as a chorister at the National Theatre and later served as an instrumentalist and conductor, leading the orchestra in ballet performances.
As an educator, he worked at various Warsaw music institutions, including the Singing School at the Grand Theatre, as well as in general education schools, where he taught music and singing and conducted school choirs. In 1860–1861, he held the position of inspector at the Warsaw Institute of Music.
Stefani was particularly valued as a composer of dances, both instrumental and vocal, as well as ballet music, often collaborating with other composers or arranging existing works. His music for the ballet Wesele krakowskie w Ojcowie (The Cracovian Wedding in Ojców), inspired by Krakowiacy i Górale by Jan Stefani, gained the greatest popularity. However, his operettas were not well received Lekcja botaniki (The Botany Lesson) was withdrawn after its premiere, and Trwoga wieczorna (Evening Dread) faced criticism.
A significant aspect of his work was his educational and patriotic contributions. In 1861, his Requiem was performed during the funeral of five victims of a patriotic demonstration. He also created textbooks for young pianists and singers, as well as compositions intended for amateur performers, including religious masses, oratorios, cantatas, secular songs, and piano dances.
Stefani bequeathed his works to the Library of the Warsaw Music Society, where many of his manuscripts have been preserved, awaiting detailed musicological study. He was buried at Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw.
