Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz (born May 12, 1805 in Kraków; died November 2, 1881 in Dresden) was a Polish composer, guitar virtuoso, and publisher.
Bobrowicz was born in Kraków. His parents came from Kowno. Since they belonged to the nobility, Bobrowicz later also published under the name de Bobrowicz. His father was a member of the “Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde” (Society of Friends of Music) in Kraków and was at times responsible for organizing its concerts.
Bobrowicz began playing the guitar at just three years old. It is presumed that he went to Vienna from 1816 to 1818 to receive guitar lessons from Mauro Giuliani and composition lessons from Carl Czerny (a student of Ludwig van Beethoven and teacher of Franz Liszt) or Johann Nepomuk Hummel (who temporarily served as court chapel master for Prince Esterházy, making him the direct successor of Joseph Haydn).
Bobrowicz was also active as a teacher, concert performer, and composer. In his concerts, however, he generally did not play his own works, but rather classics by Paganini, Giuliani, Hummel, or Moscheles, often in arrangements by Giuliani.
In 1858, Bobrowicz moved to Dresden, where he worked as a publisher and died of a stroke in 1881 at the age of 76.
Op. 6 was published in 1826 as his first printed work. Like many of his compositions, it is a theme with virtuoso variations. However, many of his works have been lost and remain unknown.
His pieces are heavily influenced by the technique and virtuosity of Mauro Giuliani. Later, he was also influenced by the works of Chopin. He arranged several of Chopin’s mazurkas for the guitar.
