LudwigRitter von Köchel | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Ludwig Ritter von Köchel, 1882 | |
| Born | Ludwig Alois Friedrich Köchel (1800-01-14)14 January 1800 |
| Died | 3 June 1877(1877-06-03) (aged 77) |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Köchel catalogue |
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LudwigRitter von Köchel (German:[ˈkœçəl];[Note 1] bornLudwig Alois Friedrich Köchel; 14 January 1800 – 3 June 1877) was an Austrianmusicologist, writer, composer,botanist, and publisher. He is best known for cataloguing the works ofMozart and originating the 'KV-numbers' by which they are known (KV forKöchel-Verzeichnis).
Ludwig Alois Friedrich Köchel was born in the town ofStein,Lower Austria. He studied law inVienna and graduated with a PhD in 1827. For fifteen years, he was tutor to the four sons ofArchduke Charles of Austria. Köchel was rewarded with aknighthood[Note 2] and a generous financial settlement, permitting him to spend the rest of his life as a private scholar. Contemporary scientists were greatly impressed by hisbotanical researches in North Africa, theIberian Peninsula, the United Kingdom, theNorth Cape, and Russia. In addition to botany, he was interested in geology andmineralogy, but also loved music, and was a member of theMozarteum Salzburg. He died of cancer at age 77 in Vienna.
In 1862 he published theKöchel catalogue, a chronological and thematic register of the works of Mozart. This catalogue was the first on such a scale and with such a level of scholarship behind it; it has since undergone revisions. Mozart's works are often referred to by their KV-numbers (cf.opus number); for example, the "Jupiter" symphony,Symphony No. 41, KV. 551. At the same time that Köchel was writing his catalogueOtto Jahn was making a comprehensive collection of Mozart works and writing a scholarly biography of Mozart.[1] When Jahn learned of Köchel's work he turned over his collection to him. Köchel dedicated his catalogue to Jahn.[2]
Moreover, Köchel arranged Mozart's works into twenty-four categories, which were used byBreitkopf & Härtel when they publishedthe first complete edition of Mozart's works from 1877 to 1910, a venture partly funded by Köchel.
He also catalogued the works ofJohann Fux.[3][4]
