Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

March 29, 1747 in Erfurt, Germany

Death

:

March 29, 1822 in Moscow, Russia

Period

:

Classical

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Johann Wilhelm Hassler was a German composer and organist who lived from 1747 to 1822. He was born in Erfurt, Germany, and showed an early aptitude for music. His father, Johann Christoph Hassler, was a musician and organist, and he began teaching his son music at a young age. Hassler's musical education continued when he was sent to study with Johann Gottfried Walther, a prominent composer and organist in Weimar. Under Walther's tutelage, Hassler learned the art of composition and became proficient on the organ. After completing his studies with Walther, Hassler returned to Erfurt and began working as an organist. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled musician and was soon appointed as the organist at the Predigerkirche in Erfurt. Hassler's career as a composer began to take off in the 1770s. He wrote a number of works for the organ, including preludes, fugues, and chorale settings. He also composed music for the church, including cantatas and motets. One of Hassler's most famous works is his "Organ Concerto in D Major." This piece showcases Hassler's skill as an organist and composer, and it has become a staple of the organ repertoire. Hassler's music was well-received during his lifetime, and he was highly regarded as a composer and organist. He was appointed as the court organist in Weimar in 1786, and he held this position until his death in 1822. In addition to his work as a composer and organist, Hassler was also a teacher. He taught music at the University of Erfurt, and he had a number of students who went on to become successful musicians in their own right. Hassler's legacy as a composer and organist has endured to this day. His music continues to be performed and recorded, and he is remembered as one of the great composers of the classical era.

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