Jakub Šimon Jan Ryba (surname also Poisson, Peace, Ryballandini, Rybaville;[1] 26 October 1765 – 8 April 1815) was aCzech teacher andcomposer ofclassical music. His most famous work is theCzech Christmas Mass "Hey, Master!" (Česká mše vánoční "Hej mistře!").
Ryba was born inPřeštice nearPlzeň. His father was a schoolteacher, which was a very poorly paid occupation at the time. In 1780 Ryba went toPrague, where he studied at thePiaristgymnasium. His teacherCassianus Hanel taught him music. Ryba was a very good student and he soon started to compose. He dreamt of being a famous composer. In 1784 his father ordered him to work as a teacher inNepomuk. Ryba reluctantly obeyed, but he was soon fired. After wandering for a few months, he received a message that his mother had died. After a long illness, he moved toMníšek pod Brdy. Being popular among local inhabitants for performing music, he was quite happy there, but after some hesitation he accepted a schoolteacher position inRožmitál pod Třemšínem.
The school prospered under his supervision, but he had constant conflicts with the local pastor and council. His frequent requests for funds for repairs of the school building were usually rejected. In 1796, he wrote his most famous work,Czech Christmas Mass "Hey, Master!" (named by him asMissa solemnis Festis Nativitatis D. J. Ch. accommodata in linguam bohemicum musicam), also as a consequence of a reconciliation with the local pastor. This work continues to be frequently performed at Christmas time in Bohemia.
An insufferable lack of money, the hostility of his superiors and total exhaustion led him to commit suicide at Voltuš nearRožmitál pod Třemšínem.[2] On April 8, 1815, Ryba attended morning mass. Later, he was found in a dense forest with his throat cut with a razor. He hadEssay on Peace of Soul bySeneca the Younger, his favourite author, with him. He was buried at a plague cemetery near Rožmitál pod Tremšínem.
His works mainly include manypastorellas andmasses, but few compositions beyond theCzech Christmas Mass are performed regularly today.
(all texts are in Czech)
