Cianchettini was immersed in the musical field from birth. Her father, Jan Dussek, was an organist and composer who taught her piano and voice. She shared her musical fame with her two brothers, Jan Ladislav Dussek, a pianist and composer, and Franz Benedikt Dussek, a composer, violinist, cellist, and pianist. During her life, Cianchettini composed at least fifteen known musical works, including two concertos, three sonatas, variations, and short pieces based on well-known tunes. A majority of her works are written for solo keyboard, though she did write a piano duet and a piano sonata that features either flute or violin (however, this flute/violin part appears to have been lost). In the Freedman collection are copies of her “Hungarian Quick Step: A Military Rondo for the Piano Forte, with or without the Additional Keys” and “Three Favorite National Airs, Arranged as Rondos for the Piano Forte.” The two have been sewn together as one artifact. In addition to composing, Cianchettini was a singer, pianist, harpist, and teacher.
By 1799, after having established herself as a musician in Bohemia, Cianchettini had arrived in London, England. Her brother J. L. Dussek and Sophia Corri, his wife, were already well-established musicians in the area. There, she met her husband, Francesco Cianchettini, a music dealer and publisher. The two married and lived in London. In 1799, the Cianchettinis had a son, Pio Cianchettini, who became a pianist and composer. In June 1800, Cianchettini gave her debut piano performance in London at a concert for her own benefit. She continued to perform her own works in concert from 1801 to1807. Little information exists about her life or musical activity after this time.
“Sophia Corri-Dussek” painted by Henri-Pierre Danloux (1753-1809), obtained from Wikipedia, Public Domain.
“Jan Ladislav Dussek” painted in 1800 by Wilhelm Arndt (1750-1813), obtained from Wikipedia, Public Domain.
