Georg Christoph Wagenseil

Full biography Georg Christoph Wagenseil

Georg Christoph Wagenseil (1715-1777) was an Austrian composer and organist of the late Baroque and early classical eras. He was born and raised in Vienna, Austria and was known for his virtuosic performances and composition style.

Wagenseil studied under Johann Joseph Fux, a renowned composer and music theorist of the Baroque era. He also received training on the keyboard during this time. Later in life, he became the court organist for the Duke of Bavaria and remained in this position for the rest of his career.

Wagenseil is recognized for his contributions to the development of Viennese classical music. He wrote primarily instrumental and vocal music, including operas, concertos, symphonies, and sonatas. His music was often performed in Vienna, where he had a significant impact on the music scene. He wrote one of the earliest concertos for trombone in 1763 and is considered to be one of the architects of Viennese Classicism.

While his music was highly regarded during his lifetime, Wagenseil’s works fell out of favor by the end of the 18th century and into the 19th century. He was eventually overshadowed by other composers of his time, including Wolfgang Mozart. In fact, the young Mozart learned his first musical piece, a scherzo, from Wagenseil at the age of five.

Today, Wagenseil’s music is still performed and studied by music scholars and enthusiasts around the world. His contributions to Viennese classical music have had a lasting impact and continue to be recognized and celebrated.