Johann Gänsbacher

Gansbacher's music consisted primarily of sacred vocal music and was highly conventional; nevertheless, his musicianship was well-received and held with high esteem. His most important instrumental composition was the Concertino for clarient and orchestra. As a boy, and as the son of a choirmaster, Gansbacher sang in Sterzing, Innsbruck, Hall, and Bolzano. He attended the University of Innsbruck where he studied philosophy, law, and paid for his tuition by giving music lessons. By 1801 he was in Vienna to continue his music studies and fortunately was received and patronized by Count Firmian. Important connections aided his endeavors with lessons from Abbe Vogler and Albrechtsberger, and friendships with Weber and Meyerbeer. Gransbacher was the Kapellmeister of the Prague theatre in 1813, helped to found the Musikverein in Innsbruck, and in 1824 was the Kapellmeister of St Stephen's Catheral in Vienna. The application for some of these positions were in part at the instigation of Weber. Interestingly, Gansbacher was one of the pallbearers for the funeral of Beethoven. ~ Keith Johnson