Wagenseil, Georg Christoph

1715-1777

 

Celebrated Austrian composer and organist; long held the post of Court composer. He was born at Vienna; studied clavier and organ under Woger, and composition with Fux and Palotta. In 1739 he was appointed Court composer, occupied this post until his death, in Vienna in the spring of 1777. From 1741 to 1750 he served also as organist to the Dowager Empress Elizabeth Christine, and was musicmaster to the Empress Maria Theresa and Princesses. His compositions for clavier were especially esteemed. He was a prolific composer, wrote church, dramatic and instrumental music and left much published and unpublished work. Among his compositions are Divertimenti for clavier, violin and violoncello; symphonies for clavier, two violins and violoncello; six violin sonatas with clavier, eighteen Divertimenti di cembalo.