Musicologica Olomucensia

From the music historical point of view, it is simply true, even today, that Johann Ludwig Dussek (Jan Václav Dusík) - or however his name was written in any one of several languages - was a Czech, German, French, English, less or only moderately significant composer. But it´s not that simple. Objections as to the lack of seriousness of Dusík´s work as opposed to the presumed importance of the compositional efforts of other composers can be shown to be without basis when we compare individual compositions by him with the works of other composers. This study presents (among other information) several reasons why we can regard any such dismissal of him as being influenced by ideology-induced blindness, knowing full well, that this sort of thing was more easily identifiable in the past than in the present time. This study endeavours to expand the body of available knowledge about this composer, without attempting to draw any decisive conclusions.