Joseph Leopold Eybler was an Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

n composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

 known today perhaps more for his friendship with Mozart than for his own music.

Life

Eybler was born into a musical family. His father was a teacher, choir director and friend of the Haydn family. Joseph Eybler studied music with his father before attending Stephansdom

Stephansdom

St. Stephen's Cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, OP...

 (the cathedral school of St. Stephen's Boys College) in Vienna. He studied composition

Musical composition

Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...

 under Johann Georg Albrechtsberger

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger was an Austrian musician who was born at Klosterneuburg, near Vienna.He originally studied music at Melk Abbey and philosophy at a Benedictine seminary in Vienna and became one of the most learned and skillful contrapuntists of his age...

, who declared him to be the greatest musical genius in Vienna apart from Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...

. He also received praise from Haydn

Joseph Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...

 who was his friend, distant cousin and patron.

In 1792 he became choir director at the Karmeliterkirche (Carmelite Church) in Vienna. Two years later he moved to the Schottenkloster, where he remained for the next thirty years (1794-1824). Eybler also held court posts, including that of court Kapellmeister (chapel master) (1824-33). The Empress Marie Therese

Maria Teresa of Naples and Sicily

Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily was the eldest daughter of Ferdinand IV & III of Naples and Sicily and his wife, Marie Caroline of Austria...

 commissioned many works from him, including the Requiem in C minor (1803).

Friendship with Mozart

Through Joseph Haydn, Eybler met Mozart, who gave him some lessons and entrusted him with the rehearsal of his opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

 Così fan tutte

Così fan tutte

Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....

. Eybler also conducted some performances of Così fan tutte.

On May 30, 1790 Mozart wrote a testimonial for the young Eybler: "I, the undersigned, attest herewith that I have found the bearer of this, Herr Joseph Eybler, to be a worthy pupil of his famous master Albrechtsberger, a well-grounded composer, equally skilled at chamber music and the church style, fully experienced in the art of the song, also an accomplished organ and clavier player; in short a young musician such, one can only regret, as so seldom has his equal."

Mozart and Eybler remained friends to the end. As Eybler wrote: "I had the good fortune to keep his friendship without reservation until he died, and carried him, put him to bed and helped to nurse him during his last painful illness."

After Mozart's death, Constanze Mozart

Constanze Mozart

Constanze Mozart was the wife of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.-Early years:Constanze Weber was born in Zell im Wiesental. Her mother was Cäcilia Weber, née Stamm. Her father Fridolin Weber worked as a "double bass player, prompter and music copyist." Fridolin's half-brother was the father of composer...

 asked Eybler to complete her husband's Requiem

Requiem

A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...

. Eybler tried but could not complete the commission perhaps, it is thought, because of his great respect for the music of his friend Mozart. (Franz Xaver Süßmayr completed the task).

Last years

In 1833 Eybler had 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...

 while conducting Mozart’s Requiem and thereafter could not fulfill his duties at the Court. For his service to the Court, Eybler was raised to the nobility in 1835 and was known henceforth as Joseph Leopold, Edler

Edler

Edler was until 1919 the lowest title of nobility in Austria-Hungary and Germany, just beneath a Ritter, but above nobles without title who used only the preposition von before their surname. It was mostly given to civil servants and military officers, as well as those upon whom the second rank of...

 von Eybler. He died in 1846.

Works

Eybler's main compositions were sacred music, including oratorio

Oratorio

An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...

s, mass

Mass

Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...

es, cantata

Cantata

A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....

s, offertories, gradual

Gradual

The Gradual is a chant or hymn in the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations. In the Tridentine Mass it was and is sung after the reading or chanting of the Epistle and before the Alleluia, or, during penitential seasons, before the Tract. In the Mass of Paul VI...

s, and his requiem. His other works include an opera, instrumental music (especially his string quintet

String quintet

A string quintet is a musical composition for a standard string quartet supplemented by a fifth string instrument, usually a second viola or a second cello , but occasionally a double bass. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who favoured addition of a viola, is considered a pioneer of the form...

s), and songs.

Of special note may be the clarinet concerto (HV160) he wrote most probably for "Mozart's" clarinetist Anton Stadler

Anton Stadler

Anton Stadler was an Austrian clarinet and basset horn player for whom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote both his Quintet for Clarinet and Strings and Clarinet Concerto....

. A recording of this concerto by Dieter Klöcker

Dieter Klöcker

Dieter Klöcker was a German clarinetist known for rediscovering many forgotten masters of the 18th century...

 is available on the Novalis music label.

Works list

HV 1 \ Missa Sancti Hermani in C major

HV 2 \ Missa Sancti Michaelis in C major

HV 3 \ Missa Sancti Ludovici in C major

HV 4 \ Missa Sancti Mauritii in C major

HV 5 \ Missa Coronationis Ferdinandi V Regis Hungariae in C major

HV 6 \ Missa Sancti Alberti in C major

HV 7 \ Missa in C major

HV 8 \ Missa Sancti Bennonis in C minor

HV 9 \ Missa Sancti Caroli in C minor

HV 10 \ Missa Sancti Joannis in C minor

HV 11 \ Missa Sancti Wolfgangi in D minor

HV 12 \ Missa Sancti Leopoldi in D minor

HV 13 \ Missa Sancti Ignatii in E flat major

HV 14 \ Missa Sanctae Andreae in E flat major

HV 15 \ Missa Sanctorum Apostolorum in E flat major

HV 16 \ Missa Sancti Clementis in E major

HV 17 \ Missa Sancti Josephi in F major

HV 18 \ Missa Sancti Maximiliani in F major

HV 19 \ Missa Sancti Rudolphi in F major

HV 20 \ Missa Sancti Raineri in F major

HV 21 \ Missa Sancti Sigismundi in F major

HV 22 \ Missa Sanctae Eleonorae in G major

HV 23 \ Missa Sancti Georgii in G major

HV 24 \ Missa Sanctae Sophiae in G major

HV 25 \ Missa pro Sabbato Sancto in G major

HV 26 \ Missa Sancti Ferdinandi in G minor

HV 27 \ Missa Sancti Thaddaei in A flat major

HV 28 \ Missa Sanctae Elisabethae in A minor

HV 29 \ Missa Sanctae Theresiae in B flat major

HV 30 \ Missa Sancti Francisci in B flat major

HV 31 \ Missa Sancti Theodori in B flat major

HV 32 \ Missa Sancti Antonii in B flat major

HV 33 \ Missa Sanctae Annae in B flat major

HV 34 \ Gloria & Incarnatus for Michael Haydn's Missa in D minor

HV 35 \ Kyrie ad Missam in Coena Domini in E minor

HV 36 \ Sanctus in C major

HV 37 \ Requiem in C minor

HV 38 \ Graduale: Quem tuus amor ebriat in C major

HV 39 \ Graduale: Cantate Domino in C major

HV 40 \ Graduale: Omnes de Saba venient in C major

HV 41 \ Graduale: Sperate in Deo omnis in C major

HV 42 \ Graduale: Domine Deus omnium creator in C major

HV 43 \ Graduale: Unam petii in C major

HV 44 \ Graduale: Per te Dei Genitrix in C major

HV 45 \ Graduale: Lauda Sion salvatorem in C major

HV 46 \ Graduale: Os justi meditabitur sapientiam in C minor

HV 47 \ Graduale: Nocte surgentes vigilemus omnes in D major

HV 48 \ Graduale: Ecce sacerdos magnus in D major

HV 49 \ Graduale: Te summe Jesu fontem amoris in D major

HV 50 \ Graduale: Tua est potentia in E flat major

HV 51 \ Graduale: Omni die dic Mariae laudes in E flat major

HV 52 \ Graduale: Pater noster in E flat major

HV 53 \ Graduale: Specie tua in F major

HV 54 \ Graduale: Christus factus est pro nobis in F major

HV 55 \ Graduale: Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore in F major

HV 56 \ Graduale: Non in multitudine est virtus tua Domine in F major

HV 57 \ Graduale: Alma redemptoris Mater in G major

HV 58 \ Graduale: Victimae paschali laudes in G major

HV 59 \ Graduale: Beata gens cuius est Deus in G major

HV 60 \ Graduale: Peccata dimittis in G major

HV 61 \ Graduale: Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis in G major

HV 62 \ Graduale: Dominus in Sina in sancto in G major

HV 63 \ Graduale: Tu Domine Pater noster in G major

HV 64 \ Graduale: Benedictus es in A flat major

HV 65 \ Graduale: Ave Maria gratia plena in A major

HV 66 \ Graduale: Cantate Domino in A major

HV 67 \ Graduale: Magnificate Dominum mecum in B flat major

HV 68 \ Graduale: Exaltate Dominum Deum in B flat major

HV 69 \ Graduale: Iste est qui ante Deum in B flat major

HV 70 \ Graduale: Justus ut palma florebit in B flat major

HV 71 \ Graduale: Bone Deus amor Deus in B flat major

HV 72 \ Graduale: Populum humilem salvum in B flat major

HV 73 \ Graduale: Alleluia confitemini Domino in B flat major

HV 74 \ Graduale: Reges Tharsis et Saba in D major (doubtful)

HV 75 \ Graduale: Domine cor mundum (doubtful, maybe composed by Oehlinger)

HV 76 \ Offertory: Nos populus tuus in C major

HV 77 \ Offertory: Jubilate Deo in C major

HV 78 \ Offertory: Tui sunt coeli et tua est terra in C major

HV 79 \ Offertory: Confirma hoc Deus in C major

HV 80 \ Offertory: Ascendit Deus in C major

HV 81 \ Offertory: Tres sunt qui testimonium in C major

HV 82 \ Offertory: Audite vocem magnam dicentem in C major

HV 83 \ Offertory: Surrexit vere tumulo in C major

HV 84 \ Offertory in C major (text missing)

HV 85 \ Offertory: Terra tremuit et quievit in C minor

HV 86 \ Offertory: Si consistent adversum me castra in C minor

HV 87 \ Offertory: Timebunt gentes nomen tuum Domine in C minor

HV 88 \ Offertory: Domine si observaveris iniquitates in C minor

HV 88 \ Offertory: Haec est dies qua candida in D major

HV 90 \ Offertory: Summe Deus te semper laudum in D major

HV 91 \ Offertory: Jubilate Deo omnis terra in D major

HV 92 \ Offertory: Fremit mare cum furore in D minor

HV 92 \ Offertory: Laus sit Deo in excelsis in D major

HV 94 \ Offertory: Tremit mare in D minor

HV 95 \ Offertory: Lux est orta in E flat major

HV 96 \ Offertory: Ad te o summa bonitas in E flat major

HV 97 \ Offertory: Levavi oculos meos in E major

HV 98 \ Offertory: Ad te levavi animam meam in F major

HV 99 \ Offertory: Confitebor Domino in F major

HV 100 \ Offertory: O Maria virgo pia in G major

HV 101 \ Offertory: Domine Deus salutis meae in G major

HV 102 \ Offertory: Lauda Sion salvatorem in G major (incorrectly attributed to Eybler; correctly: Michael Haydn

Michael Haydn

Johann Michael Haydn was an Austrian composer of the classical period, the younger brother of Joseph Haydn.-Life:...

s Offertory Lauda Sion, MH 215)

HV 103 \ Offertory: Tecum principium in die virtutis tuae in G major

HV 104 \ Offertory: Levavi in montes oculos meos in G minor

HV 105 \ Offertory: Confitebor tibi Domine in A major

HV 106 \ Offertory: Laudate pueri Dominum in B flat major

HV 107 \ Offertory: Reges Tharsis et insulae munera in B flat major

HV 108 \ Offertory: Magna et mirabilia sunt opera in B flat major

HV 109 \ Offertory: Emitte spiritum tuum in B flat major

HV 110 \ Antiphon: Regina coeli laetare in C major

HV 111 \ Antiphon: Regina coeli laetare in D major

HV 112 \ Antiphon: Salve Regina in F major

HV 113 \ Antiphon: Salve Regina in G major

HV 114 \ Te Deum in C major (1807)

HV 115 \ Te Deum in C major (1814)

HV 116 \ Te Deum in C major (1824)

HV 117 \ Te Deum in C major

HV 118 \ Te Deum in D major (1800)

HV 119 \ Te Deum in D major (1819)

HV 120 \ Te Deum in B flat major

HV 121 \ Hymn: Veni sancte spiritus in C major

HV 122 \ Hymn: Alleluia in C major

HV 123 \ Hymn: Tristes erant apostoli in C minor

HV 124 \ Hymn: Iste confessor in D minor

HV 125 \ Hymn: Ecce quo modo moritur justus in F major

HV 126 \ Hymn: Coelestis urbs Jerusalem in F major

HV 127 \ Hymn: Exultet orbis gaudiis in F major

HV 128 \ Hymn: Tantum ergo in F major

HV 129 \ Hymn: Veni sancte spiritus in G major

HV 130 \ Hymn: Jesu nostra redemptio in G major

HV 131 \ Hymn: Asperges me Domine

HV 132 \ De profundis clamavi in G minor

HV 133 \ Laudate Dominum in A minor

HV 134 \ Miserere in D minor

HV 135 \ Litaniae in F major

HV 136 \ Tibi aeterno Deo haec cantica in G major

HV 137 \ Die vier letzten Dinge

HV 138 \ Die Hirten bei der krippe zu Bethlehem

HV 139 \ Dich Schöpfer sanfter Harmonie

HV 140 \ Il sacrifizio

HV 141 \ Die Macht der Tonkunst

HV 142 \ Der Zauberschwert

HV 143 \ Overture to Der Zauberschwert for piano in B flat major

HV 144 \ Lied: Ein Weibchen das den ganzen Tag in C major

HV 145 \ Lied: Es liebt sich so traulich in E flat major

HV 146 \ Lied: Ich bin in den Blühmond der Rosen in F major

HV 147 \ Lied: Von Millionen eine allein in G minor

HV 148 \ Lied: Ich will nichts von Liebe wissen in G major

HV 149 \ Lied: Sogleich empfand ich beym Erblicken in B flat major

HV 150 \ Lied: Von der treue Arm umwunden in E minor

HV 151 \ Scena ed aria for Coriolan

HV 152 \ Scena ed quartetto for Coriolan

HV 153 \ Vanne torna altro...Combattero da forte in D major

HV 154 \ Dov'è la sposa mia...Svenami pur in E flat major

HV 155 \ Sposa d'Emireno tu sei...L'ombra incerta in E flat major

HV 156 \ Die Familie des T.C. Gracchus

HV 157 \ Ouverture in C minor, Op. 8

HV 158 \ Symphony in C major

HV 159 \ Symphony in D major

HV 160 \ Clarinet Concerto in B flat major

HV 161 \ Divertimento für die Faschingsdienstag in D major

HV 162 \ 12 Minuets with trios for orchestra

HV 163 \ 12 Minuets with trios for orchestra

HV 164 \ 12 Minuets for orchestra

HV 165 \ 12 Minuets with trios for orchestra

HV 166 \ 12 Minuets with trios for orchestra

HV 167 \ 12 Minuets for orchestra

HV 168 \ 8 Minuets with trios for orchestra

HV 169 \ 8 Minuets with trios for orchestra

HV 170 \ 7 Minuets with trios for orchestra

HV 171 \ 5 Minuets with trios for orchestra (2 are lost)

HV 172 \ 13 German Dances for orchestra

HV 173 \ 12 German Dances for orchestra

HV 174 \ 12 German Dances with trios for orchestra (lost)

HV 175 \ 12 German Dances for orchestra (lost)

HV 176 \ 8 German Dances with trios for orchestra

HV 177 \ Contredanze con 6 alternativi for orchestra

HV 178 \ 3 Contredances for orchestra

HV 179 \ Eccossè con 6 alternativi for orchestra

HV 180 \ Dances for orchestra

HV 181 \ Polonaise for orchestra in C major

HV 182 \ String Sextet in D major

HV 183 \ String Quintet Op. 5 in E flat major

HV 184 \ Viola d'amore Quintet in D major

HV 185 \ Viola d'amore Quintet in D major

HV 186 \ String Quintet in D major

HV 187 \ String Quintet Op. 6 No. 2 in A major

HV 188 \ String Quintet Op. 6 No. 1 in B flat major

HV 189 \ Flute Quintet in D major

HV 190 \ String Quartet Op. 1 No. 1 in D major

HV 191 \ String Quartet Op. 1 No. 2 in C minor

HV 192 \ String Quartet Op. 1 No. 3 in B flat major

HV 193 \ String Quartet Op. 10 No. 1 in E flat major

HV 193a \ String Quartet Op. 2 in E flat major

HV 194 \ String Quartet Op. 10 No. 2 in A major

HV 194a \ String Quartet Op. 3 in A major

HV 195 \ String Quartet Op. 10 No. 3 in C major

HV 195a \ String Quartet Op. 4 in C major

HV 196 \ Variations "Augustin" for string quartet in G major

HV 197 \ String Trio Op. 2 in C major

HV 198 \ Piano Trio Op. 4 in E flat major

HV 199 \ Sonata for piano & violin Op. 9 No. 1 in C major

HV 200 \ Sonata for piano & violin Op. 9 No. 2 in F major

HV 201 \ Sonata for piano & violin Op. 9 No. 3 in B flat major

HV 202 \ Sonata for piano & violin in E flat major

HV 203 \ Sonata for 2 cellos Op. 7 No. 1 in G major

HV 204 \ Sonata for 2 cellos Op. 7 No. 2 in D minor

HV 205 \ 12 Minuets for piano

HV 206 \ 12 German Dances with trios for piano

HV 207 \ 12 German Dances with trios for piano

HV 208 \ 12 Minuets with trios for piano

HV 209 \ 12 German Dances for piano

HV 210 \ 8 German Dances with trios for piano

HV 211 \ 12 Dances for piano

HV 212 \ 9 Dances for piano "Alexander's Favorit"

HV 213 \ 10 Variations for piano in F major

HV 214 \ 12 Variations for piano in A major

HV 215 \ 12 Variations for piano

HV 216 \ 3 Marches for piano

HV 217 \ 12 Lieder

HV 218 \ Lied: Auf Weihnacht in E major

HV 219 \ Lied: Klagtöne in A flat major

HV 220 \ Lied: Das Wohltun (lost)

HV 221 \ Lied: Von allen Sterblichen auf Erden (lost)

HV 222 \ Studies for voice & continuo

HV 223 \ Lied: Getröstetes Heimweh in E major

HV 224 \ Lied: Danklied an Gott in E major

HV 225 \ Lied: Ich will vertrauen in F major

HV 226 \ Auf Brüder auf in B flat major

HV 227 \ Des Volkes Wunsch in C major

HV 228 \ Canon: Frau Mutter schönen Namenstag in G major

HV 229 \ Canon: Des Lebens sich zu freuen in B flat major

HV 230 \ Canon: Wann i a Räuscherl hab in B flat major

HV 231 \ Canon: Wohin du reisest, sei glücklich

HV 232 \ Choral: Hymne an Gott in E major

HV 233 \ Choral: Abendlied an einen Freund in A minor

HV 234 \ Choral: Leichengesang in A flat major

HV 235 \ Ode an Joseph Haydn vom Fräulein Gabriele von Baumberg in C major

HV 236 \ Ode an Joseph Haydn vom Fräulein Gabriele von Baumberg in A minor

HV 237 \ Choral: Freimaurerkantate in F major

HV 238 \ Choral: Aus dem blühenden Vereine (fragment)

HV 239 \ Choral: Zufriedenheit mit Wenigen in B flat major

HV 240 \ Es töne dann in rascher Saiten Sturme in D major

HV 241 \ Arrangement of Mozart's requiem in D minor

HV 242 \ Arrangement of Haydn's Gott erhalte Franz for orchestra in G major

HV 243 \ Choral after Haydn's Schöpfung (lost)

HV 244 \ Arrangement of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater in F minor

HV 245 \ Arrangement of Weigl's overture to Nachtigal und Rabe for piano in F major

HV 246 \ Sketches of a Kyrie and a Gloria for a Mass

HV 247 \ Mythological Ballet in E flat major (fragment)

HV 248 \ String Trio in E flat major (fragment)

HV 249 \ Choral: Laßt uns ihr Brüder in F major (fragment)

HV 250 \ Choral: Der Wanderer in C major (fragment)

Sources

• Entry for Eybler in The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, 1994, Oxford University Press, Inc.
• Program notes by Cordula Timm-Hartmann for Eybler's String Quintet and String Trio, 2005 recording by the Quintett Momento Musicale (MDG 603 1321-2)
• Joseph Eybler String Quintet Op.6 No.1 Sound-bites and short bio
• Article on Eybler in Mozart Forum by Gary Smith

External links