A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Wagenseil, Georg

by Carl Ferdinand Pohl

WAGENSEIL, Georg Christoph, born Jan. 15, 1715, in Vienna, where he died March 1, 1777.^[1] He studied the clavier and organ with Wöger, and the science of composition with Fux and Palotta, the former of whom recommended him for a Court scholarship in 1736, and as Court composer in 1739, a post which he retained till his death. He was also organist to the Dowager Empress Elizabeth Christine from 1741 to her death in 1750, and music-master to the Empress Maria Theresa and the Imperial Princesses, with a life-salary of 1500 florins. Among his pupils were Steffan, then Court Capellmeister, and Leopold Hoffmann, afterwards Capellmeister of the Cathedral. When Mozart, a little boy of 6, was playing before the Court in 1762, he enquired 'Is not Herr Wagensell here? he knows all about it,' and when the latter came forward, he said, 'I am playing a concerto of yours; you must turn over for me.' In old age Wagenseil suffered from sciatica, which confined him to his room, and nearly lost the use of his left hand from gout. Nevertheless when Burney visited him he managed to play several of his compositions 'in a masterly manner, and with great fire.'^[2] In his day he was a favourite composer for the clavier with both amateurs and artists. He modelled his church music after Hasse and Scarlatti, his dramatic music after Leo, and his instrumental after Rameau. Of the latter many pieces were engraved in Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Vienna. There are several MS. works of his in the Court Library, and in the Archives of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna, both vocal (cantatas, Italian arias, etc,) and instrumental (trios, quartets, divertimenti, symphonies, etc.). Operas by him are also mentioned. Of permanent value are 'Suavis artificiose elaboratus, etc.' in 6 parts (Bamberg, 1740); 'Tre Divertimenti per Cembalo' (Vienna, 1761); 'Divertissement musical,' 6 sonatas for clavecin, op. 1 (Nuremberg, Haffner); and 4 nos., each containing 'VI Divertimenti da Cembalo,' dedicated to his pupils the Archduchesses Mariana, Marie Cristina, Elizabeth, and Amalia (all 1760), finely engraved on copper by Giorgio Nicolai for Agostino Bernardi the Viennese publisher. The theme of Handel's 'Harmonious Blacksmith' is often said to be taken from one of Wagenseil's pieces, but it has not yet been identified.

[ C. F. P. ]

1. He was thus in his 63rd year at the time of his death, and not 92 as Gerber states (vol. i.), and after him Fétis. Neither was he 85, at Burney supposed when be visited him in 1772.
2. Present 'State of Music in Germany,' p. 230.