(b Klosterneuburg, 3 Feb 1736; d Vienna, 7 March 1809). Austrian composer, teacher, theorist and organist. He served as organist in provincial localities including Melk Abbey (1759-65), then settled in Vienna, and from 1772 held posts at the Carmelite church and in the court orchestra. In 1791 he became assistant to the Kapellmeister at St Stephen's Cathedral, Leopold Hofmann, succeeding him in 1793. His prolific output (over 600 works) includes oratorios, church music and many instrumental works, of which the earliest (mainly divertimentos) are the most modern and original. His music of 1772 onwards reflects his growing interest in fugues: these appear in chamber works for various combinations (many entitled ‘sonata’) as well as in sacred vocal works. Though widely famous as an organist, Albrechtsberger was even more influential as a teacher and theorist. His pupils included Beethoven (1794-5), and his composition treatise Gründliche Anweisung zur Composition (1790) was especially popular.

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