LEIHMANN, ANTONÍN (1808-1879)

Antonín Leopold Leihmann was a Czech composer, teacher and multi-instrumentalist. From a local perspective an excellent musician, Liehmann tutored young Dvořák during his time in Zlonice and provided him with the basics in music theory, and also taught him the piano, organ and violin. He played a significant part in persuading Dvořák’s father to send his son Antonín to study at the organ school in Prague. Dvořák had great respect for his teacher and, after his death, he initiated a benefit concert in support of the construction of a memorial to Antonín Liehmann. 

Dvořák took organ, piano and violin lessons from his German-language teacher Antonín Liehmann. Liehmann also taught the young boy music theory and introduced him to the composers of the time; Dvořák had much regard for Liehmann despite his teacher’s violent temper. Liehmann was the church organist in Zlonice and sometimes let Dvořák play the organ at services.