A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Albrechtsberger, Johann

by Franz Gehring

ALBRECHTSBERGER, Johann Georg. Contrapuntist and teacher of sacred music, composer and organist; born Feb. 3, 1736, at Klosterneuberg, near Vienna; died at Vienna, March 7, 1809. Seyfried has appended his biography to the complete edition of his works (Vienna, 1826, 1837). Albrechtsberger began life as a chorister at his native town and at Melk. At the latter place he was taken notice of by the Emperor Joseph, then Crown Prince; and on a later occasion, the Emperor passing through Melk renewed the acquaintance, and invited him to apply for the post of court organist on the first vacancy. Meantime Albrechtsberger studied bard under the direction of Emmerling. After being organist for twelve years at Melk, he obtained a similar post at Raab in Hungary, and then at Mariataferl. Here he remained instructor in the family of a Silesian count till he left for Vienna as Regens Chori to the Carmelites. In 1772 he was appointed court organist, and twenty years later director of music at St. Stephen's, where he at once commenced his career as a teacher. The number of his pupils was very large. Amongst the most celebrated are Beethoven, Hummel, Weigl, Seyfried, Eybler and Mosel. Nottebohm (Beethoven's 'Studien,' 1873) speaks in the highest terms of the instruction which he gave Beethoven. His compositions are computed by Seyfried as 261, of which only twenty-seven are printed. They are chiefly in possession of Prince Esterhazy Galantha. The finest is a Te Deum, which was not performed till after his death. His great theoretical work (not without defects) is entitled 'Grundliche Anweisung zur Composition,' (Leipsic, 1790; second edition 1818.) An English edition, translated by Sabilla Novello, is published by Novello, Ewer, and Co.

[ F. G. ]