Johann Friedrich Alberti

Full biography Johann Friedrich Alberti

Johann Friedrich Alberti was a German composer and organist who lived during the Baroque era, born on August 8, 1642, in Lobenstein, Thuringia. He was the son of Johann Alberti, also an organist and composer, and Johann Sebastian Bach's great-uncle. Alberti was primarily known for his keyboard music, particularly his works for the organ.

Alberti's early training in music came from his father, and he later pursued more formal studies at the University of Leipzig. During his time at the university, he was a student of Johann Schelle, a well-known musician of his time, and a prominent figure in the German music scene.

Alberti's most significant contribution to music was his development of a new keyboard technique, known as the "Alberti bass," which consists of broken chords played in a specific pattern that creates a continuous accompaniment to the melody. This technique became quite popular and was widely used by other composers, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Alberti's compositional output was quite modest, comprising mainly keyboard works such as fugues, preludes, and toccatas, as well as vocal music. One of his most famous works was a collection of keyboard pieces titled "Harmonische Seelenlust," which features a wide range of styles and techniques.

Alberti died on June 14, 1710, in Zeitz, Saxony-Anhalt, at the age of 67. Despite his relatively small output, his contributions to the development of keyboard music proved to be quite substantial, and his influence can be seen in the work of many later composers. Today, his works continue to be studied and performed by musicians and music lovers alike, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in German Baroque music.