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250th Birthday of Johann Georg Albrechtsberger
Johann Georg Albrechtsberger was born on February 3, 1736 in Klosterneuburg. At the age of 13 he entered the abbey school in Melk which he left in 1753 to take up philosophy at Vienna's Jesuit Seminary. There he met Michael Haydn and even established sociable contact with Haydn's famous brother Joseph. From approximately 1755 until 1757 Albrechtsberger worked as an organist in Raab. He worked in the pilgrimage church in Maria Taferl from 1757 until 1759. Afterwards Albrechtsberger went to Melk, where he worked as an organist until 1766. In 1772 Emperor Josef II appointed the 36-year-old to the position of Second Court Organist. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart recommended Albrechtsberger, who meanwhile advanced to First Court Organist, to be his successor as adjunct Music Director in St. Stephen's Cathedral. After the death of Leopold Hofmann, Albrechtsberger was appointed Music Director of St. Stephen's, a post which he held until his death on March 7, 1809. Two hundred seventy-nine church compositions, 278 pieces for keyboard instruments, 193 secular instrumental works - 4 of which symphonies - and organ, harp, and trumpet solo concerts are just an extract of Albrechtberger's extensive accomplishments. Indeed his greatest contribution lies in the knowledge he left behind for future generations. Historically he is considered the most important musical theorist at the transition from the Classical to the Romantic. Among Albrechtsberger's students was Beethoven. After studying under Joseph Haydn, Beethoven was sent to Albrechtsberger to continue his studies. The friendship that existed between the two remained intact even after Beethoven concluded his two-year education.
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