Franz Biebl

Full biography Franz Biebl

Franz Xaver Biebl (1 September 1906 – 2 October 2001) was a German composer of classical music. He is best known for his choral compositions, which were often written for all-male ensembles. Biebl was born in Pursruck, Germany and studied music at the State Academy of Music in Munich.

Biebl began his career as a church musician, serving as Choir Director at the Catholic church of St. Maria in München-Thalkirchen from 1932-1945. He then taught choral music at schools in Germany until 1958, when he moved to Austria to become a professor of choral music at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg.

Biebl's compositions are characterized by their intricate harmonies and rich textures. His best-known work is the Ave Maria, which he wrote in 1964 for a firemen's choir competition. The piece features a double-choir arrangement and is often performed by all-male ensembles, such as the Chanticleer vocal ensemble.

Aside from his choral works, Biebl composed a number of other pieces for various instruments and ensembles, including organ music, chamber music, and orchestral works. However, his choral music remains his most enduring legacy. He died in 2001 in Upper Bavaria, Germany at the age of 95.

Biebl's musical legacy continues to inspire musicians and listeners around the world. His Ave Maria has become one of the most popular choral pieces of all time, and his contributions to the choral music repertoire have earned him a place among the most important composers of the 20th century.