ALBRECHTSBERGER, JOHANN GEORG. – Musician, born on 3 February 1736 in Klosterneuburg. An eminent theorist, teacher, and composer, after holding several positions in various Austrian cities he became regens chori at the Carmelite convent in Vienna, court organist in 1772, and maestro di cappella at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna in 1782, where he died on 7 March 1809.
His musical output was very extensive, so much so that no fewer than 26 Masses, 6 oratorios, 4 symphonies, 28 trios and 42 string quartets, 38 quintets, numerous hymns, offertories, etc., have remained unpublished. Among the published works are organ preludes and fugues, 18 string quartets, trios, etc. His theoretical works are noteworthy, including a treatise on composition, also translated into French and English, Gründliche Anweisung zur Komposition (1790). In 1794 he became Beethoven’s teacher.