Johann Baptist Moser

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Johann Baptist Moser (born November 25, 1799 in Vienna ; † December 6, 1863 there ) was an Austrian folk singer .

He was born the son of a junk dealer. His real family name was Müller. He originally wanted to become a teacher, but because of the lack of funds for training, he entered service with a rulership and traveled to some European countries. He learned languages ​​in the process and after his return made his living as a language teacher. Inspired by the harpists ' performances , he began to write couplets with which he performed himself.

He called himself a folk singer, appeared seriously dressed and raised entrance fees instead of collecting hats, as was customary up to now. Above all, however, he replaced the harp with the piano as an accompanying instrument and caricatured people in his folk, poetic-humorous texts full of puns and thus reformed the harpist. He embarrassingly avoided any nonsense and was therefore also accepted by upper-class circles. His numerous scenes, called "Conversations", in which mostly three types (the clever, the stupid and the frotzler) can be found as the forerunners of later cabaret conferences , enjoyed great popularity. A selection of them appeared together with his couplet texts from 1842 in 20 small volumes as “The Viennese People's Life in Comical Scenen”. The most popular scenes were "The Conversation in the Paradeisgartel", "The Conversation in the Versatzamte".

JB Moser was valued by many important contemporaries, such as Duke Max in Bavaria (the father of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth) or Ignaz Franz Castelli , the poet and founder of the Vienna Animal Welfare Association, and was one of the most important personalities of the Viennese Biedermeier period . Noteworthy are his tours, which he u. a. led to Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Trieste, as well as his charity events for the benefit of fellow citizens in need. Moser enjoyed great popularity during his lifetime. Today it is almost completely forgotten and only through some of its couplets z. For example: "The world is a comedy house", "Dessert-Gstanzeln", "Der Herr von Hecht" and above all known for his text on "Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka" by Johann Strauss .

For twenty years he was accompanied by success. After 1848, however, its popularity declined; he died embittered and impoverished of pneumonia . About 50 years after his death, he was given a grave of honor at the Vienna Central Cemetery .

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SURNAME Moser, Johann Baptist
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian folk singer
DATE OF BIRTH November 25, 1799
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH December 6, 1863
Place of death Vienna