Johann Friedrich Alberti
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich Alberti (11 January 1642, Tönning
, Schleswig
– 14 June 1710, Merseburg
, Saxony-Anhalt
) was a German composer and organist.
He received his musical training in Leipzig
from Werner Fabricius and in Dresden
from Vincenzo Albrici
. Then he worked as an organist in Merseburg cathedral until his departure in 1698 caused by the paralysis of his right hand because of a stroke
. His pupil Georg Friedrich Kauffmann succeeded him as a princely Saxon townsman and cathedral organist at the court of the Saxon duke and Merseburg Cathedral. His name survives today because of his preference of writing left hand parts to be played in consecutive notes, rather than as block chords, which is still known to musicians as an "Alberti Bass".
Alberti's works include chorale preludes, 35 choral arrangements, 12 ricercati (lost) and various sacred works.
Tönning
Tönning is a town in the district of Nordfriesland in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. During the Great Northern War, Tönning was besieged twice.-Geography:...
, Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
– 14 June 1710, Merseburg
Merseburg
Merseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
, Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
) was a German composer and organist.
He received his musical training in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
from Werner Fabricius and in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
from Vincenzo Albrici
Vincenzo Albrici
Vincenzo Albrici was an Italian composer.Vincenzo was born as the son of singer who settled from Marche in Rome. In 1641 he became a student on Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum under Giacomo Carissimi. In 1647 he was paid as an organist in the Santa Maria in Vallicella...
. Then he worked as an organist in Merseburg cathedral until his departure in 1698 caused by the paralysis of his right hand because of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. His pupil Georg Friedrich Kauffmann succeeded him as a princely Saxon townsman and cathedral organist at the court of the Saxon duke and Merseburg Cathedral. His name survives today because of his preference of writing left hand parts to be played in consecutive notes, rather than as block chords, which is still known to musicians as an "Alberti Bass".
Alberti's works include chorale preludes, 35 choral arrangements, 12 ricercati (lost) and various sacred works.
List of selected works
- Der du bist drei in Einigkeit
- Gelobet seist du
- Herzlich lieb hab' ich dich, O Herr
- O lux beata Trinitas
- Te Deum
Sources
- German Wikipedia article