HUMMEL, JOHANN-NEPOMUK, a composer and performer on the pianoforte highly distinguished during the present century, was born at Presburg in 1778. At a very early age he received instructions in music from his father, a master at the military institution of Wart berg, and evinced so decided a talent that, when he had scarcely com pleted his seventh year, be was sent to Vienna, and placed under Mozart, who, though he had a natural repugnance to teaching, took so promising a genius into his house as a pupil, where he remained two years, and imbibed much of the knowledge and laid the foundation of that floe taste which at a later period of life were developed in so striking and profitable a manner. In his tenth year he set out on a visit to the principal cities of Germany, Denmark, and Holland, and reached London in 1791, where be was much noticed, and bad the honour to perform at Buckingham House before the royal family.
At the expiration of six years Hummel returned to Vienna, pursued the study of composition uuder Albrechtsberger, and further improved himself by friendly intercourse with Salieri. In 1803 he engaged in the service of Prince Esterhazy ; and a few years after, when the Imperial Theatre fell into the hands of some noblemen, with that wealthy and powerful prince at their head, Hummel took an active part in the management, and produced several successful operas. In 1811 he withdrew from the prince's establishment, and wholly dedicated the next five years to the lucrative branches of his profession.
In 1816 he became Kapellmeister to the King of Wiirtemberg, in whose service he remained till the year 1818, when he engaged him self in the same capacity to the Grand-Duke of Weimar, which appointment he rctaiued to the close of his life. But his duties at tho
court of Weimar were not of a nature to prevent his frequent journeys to other countries. In 1321 he made a very profitable visit to St.
Petersburg and Moscow, and two years after to Amsterdam. In April 1830 M. Hummel arrived in Loudon, and immediately gave a concert at the HanovereSquare Room, which was so crowded, and his perform ance of his own compositions made so great a sensation, that it was followed by two other concerts in May and June, which were as fully attended as the first. This success induced him to return in the spring of the following year, when he also gave three concerts; but trusting too much to his individual exertions, they proved rather less attractive- than those of the preceding season. Iu 1833 he repeated his visit to London, and a single concert convinced him that his popu larity had deserted him: he was no longer new, and had no connectieu to supply the want of that novelty for which in our fashionable circles there is so insatiable a thirst. M. Hummel returned to Weimar, and had the order of the White Eagle conferred ou him. He died of water on the chest, in October 1837, leaving a widow and two sons amply provided for by a good fortune acquired by his talents and accumulated by his prudeuce. M. Hummel's compositions are very numerous. Of his operas, 'Mathilde von Guise' is the best; and in his two masses—in n minor and E flat—are clever and charming movements. But his reputation will rest on his pianoforte works : some of these will not soon be forgotten, particularly his beautiful and masterly concerto in s miner.