Antonín Kraft was a Czechoslovakian cellist and composer.
Background
Kraft was born in the Bohemian town Rokycany of German Bohemian ethnics family which had assimilated into Czechoslovakian. He received early musical education on the cello from his father before going to university in Vienna to study law.
Career
He soon obtained a position in the Imperial Hofkapelle. In 1778 he was appointed cellist in Prince Nikolaus Esterházy"s orchestra, where he met and studied composition with Haydn. He played in the Grassalkovich court and from 1796 was employed in Prince Lobkowicz"s orchestra.
He died on 28 August 1820 in Vienna.
Kraft was considered one of the greatest cellists of his time and both Haydn"s Cello Concerto Number. As a composer, he wrote cello sonatas (six for cello with bass published as Op 1 and 2) and a cello concerto (Op 4).
He also wrote various duos: for violin and cello (Op 3), for cello and double bass and for two cellos (Op 5 and 6).
Membership
After Esterházy died in 1790, he went to Vienna and became a founding member of the Schuppanzigh Quartet, where he helped establish the traditions of string quartet playing.