Jan (Johann) Nepomuk Hummel, the son of Josef Hummel, Director of the Imperial School of Military Music and Conductor of the Theater Orchestra, was born in Bratislava (Pressburg) on November 14, 1778. Initially introduced to the violin by his father, Jan quickly showed his passion for the pianoforte at a young age, leading to Mozart impressed with his playing and offering him lessons at the age of 7. A year later, Jan started his European tour, giving concerts across Bohemia, Germany, Denmark, and the British Isles, eventually receiving instruction from Clementi in London. He returned to Vienna at the age of 14 and began to study composition under the guidance of Albrechtsberger, with advice from Salieri. He eventually became Kappelmeister to Prince Esterhazy at Eisenstadt, but was dismissed in 1811 due to neglect of duties, leading to his return to Vienna and a career as a performer and conductor throughout Europe and Russia. In 1819, Jan settled in Weimar and was a close friend to Goethe, performing at the poet's events. A long-standing estrangement between Jan and Beethoven, lasting until Beethoven's death, eventually faded away.
