Georg Gebel (the younger)

Full biography Georg Gebel (the younger)

Georg Gebel (the younger) was a German composer who lived in the 18th century. Born in Grossenhain, Saxony, in 1709, he was the son of a musician and composer who shared the same name. He received his earliest musical training from his father and later studied in Dresden with Johann David Heinichen, a prominent composer of the time.

Gebel was a prolific composer who wrote in a variety of genres, including opera, oratorio, cantata, and chamber music. He was particularly known for his vocal music, which often featured intricate counterpoint and expressive melodies. His works were admired by his contemporaries, including Johann Sebastian Bach, who regarded him as a talented composer.

Throughout his career, Gebel held several prestigious positions, including court composer at the courts of Weissenfels and Dessau and the Thomaskantor in Leipzig. His most significant accomplishment during his time as Thomaskantor was the composition of the St. Matthew Passion.

Despite his accomplishments, Gebel's music fell out of favor in the years following his death in 1753. His reputation was overshadowed by the works of other composers of the period, such as Bach and Handel.

In recent years, however, there has been renewed interest in Gebel's music. Modern recordings of his works have served to reintroduce his music to the public, and his compositions are once again admired for their beauty and complexity.