Josef Gasser (composer)

Josef Gasser (born March 24, 1873 in Lienz , † January 10, 1957 in Neustift near Brixen ) was an Austrian composer and church musician .

Life

Gasser began his musical studies in Neustift. Later he trained as a primary school teacher in Innsbruck . There he met Vinzenz Goller , whom Gasser counted among his friends from then on. After practicing his profession for four years, he decided to attend the music academy in Regensburg with Goller .

After graduating, Gasser worked for ten years as an organist and choirmaster in Kaltern . In 1910 he moved to Innsbruck, where he worked as choir regent at Wilten Abbey . In 1923 Gasser retired to the Neustift monastery near Brixen until his death . He let the musical life in the monastery flourish again and composed numerous works. In the monastery Gasser worked as a choir director, organist and as a singing and instrumental teacher for the local boys' choir. It is also thanks to him that star singing was revived in Neustift.

plant

Gasser devoted himself primarily to choral music . He wrote masses , for example the famous Missa solemnis in E minor and the Te Deum (first performance at the 800th anniversary of the Neustift monastery) and motets for the Brixen cathedral choir. His Advent , Christmas , Epiphany and Mary songs were also well received. An opera with the title "Die Banditen" was also written by Gasser .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Short biography of Josef Gasser ( Memento from May 7, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
2. ↑ ^{a b} Portrait of Josef Gasser ( Memento from 23 August 2007 in the Internet Archive )
3. ^ Chronicle of the Neustift Male Choir ( Memento from May 12, 2008 in the Internet Archive )