He was a composer and musician born in Klosterneuburg, Austria, whose musical career started when he was seven as a choirboy at St. Martin’s in Klosteneuburg. Here he was taught thoroughbass and had a small organ built specially for him. He further studied philosophy in a Benedictine seminary in Vienna and music at Melk Abbey and he studied composition with a court organist in 1755.
He worked as an organist in Raab and then Maria Taferl and in 1757 returned to Melk Abbey as Thurnermeister. He became a court organist in Vienna and twenty years later in 1792 he would take the position of Kapellmeister at St. Stephen’s Cathedral at the request of his predecessor, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
He became acclaimed as a theorist and he taught many pupils that would later see success such as Ignaz Moscheles, Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven had originally come to Berlin to study with Haydn but when he became disillusioned with the treatment he was given he went to Albrechtsberger after he had been recommended.
Of his over 261 compositions only 27 have been published and they include sonatas, fugues, preludes and string quartets with much of his vocal and choral work still remaining only in manuscript form in the Gesselschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna.
As a theorist he wrote a treatise on composition, which is held in high regard by musicologists, and a three volume collection of his writings on harmony.
He died in Vienna aged 73.
Recordings
Concertino for Trumpet in E flat Major
ASMF – Neville Marriner; John Wilbraham, trumpet – D. G. B0005042-02
Harp Concerto in C major
Budapest Strings, Andrea Vigh, harp – Capriccio 10 586
Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Nicanor Zabaleta, harp – DG 439 693
Partita in F major
Budapest Strings, Andrea Vigh, harp – Capriccio 10 586
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Georg_Albrechtsberger
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01270a.htm
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/1692113-Johann-Georg-Albrechtsberger
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/johann-georg-albrechtsberger-mn0001513859/biography