Josef Venantius von Wöss

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Josef Venantius von Wöss (born June 13, 1863 in Cattaro / Kotor , Crown Land of Dalmatia , today Montenegro , † October 22, 1943 in Vienna ) was an Austrian church musician, composer and publisher.

Photo by Max Fenichel (c. 1930s)

Life

Grave at the Hernalser Friedhof
Detail view of the grave

Josef Venantius von Wöss was the son of an Austrian captain and came to Vienna in 1866. He received his first piano lessons from his mother and his uncle Richard Löffler, from 1880–82 he studied at the Conservatory of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde with Franz Krenn and then worked as Kapellmeister and choirmaster. 1886–89 he worked as a music teacher at the military high school in Mährisch Weißkirchen . He then worked again in Vienna until 1907 as a proofreader at the Waldheim-Eberle music engraver. In 1892/93 Wöss taught harmony at the church music association school of the Votive Church . As an employee of the Universal Edition in Vienna from 1908 to 1931 he made countless piano reductions , including a. from Gustav Mahler's 3rd , 4th , 8th and 9th symphonies , Das klagende Lied and Das Lied von der Erde , for which he also wrote a thematic analysis.

He also worked as an organist and choirmaster at the Kalvarienbergkirche and the Redemptorist Church in Hernals as well as a music teacher and, in the 1899/1900 season, as conductor of the Vienna Singing Academy . From 1913 to 1934 he was editor of the church music magazine Musica divina . He was also a member of the Society for the Publication of Monuments of Music in Austria . In 1926 he was given the title of professor .

Wöss died in 1943 in his house at Hernalser Geblergasse 52, where a memorial plaque was also placed. His honorary grave is in the Hernalser Friedhof (group 58, row 14, number 1) in Vienna.

plant

As a composer, Wöss was a representative of Cecilianism . He composed 16 masses , two requiems and sacred songs. His church music was influenced by Anton Bruckner . The best-known masses are the Trinity Mass for mixed choir, wind instruments and timpani as well as the mass in honor of St. Cecilia for four-part choir and organ in E major, op.32 no.3. Examples of his sacred songs can be found in God's Praise ( Praise be to God , Herr Jesu Christ , GL 375; A song of thanks be to the Lord , GL 382).

He has also written symphonic works, around 150 songs and three operas :

  • The Lenzlügen or around a talisman (Text: Heinrich von Korff and E. Brasso; Elberfeld 1905)
  • Flaviennes Abenteuer (Text: Wilhelm Schriefer; Breslau 1910) and
  • Camilhan (text: Ferdinand von Ehrenfels; not listed).

Others

On January 12, 1900, Wöss organized a spiritual concert in the Great Music Club Hall with works by Mathilde Kralik von Meyrswalden , The Baptism of Christ based on a poem by Pope Leo XIII. for solo, choir and orchestra as well as the Christmas cantata for four solo voices, choir and orchestra.

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Wöss, Josef Venantius from
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian church musician, composer and publisher
DATE OF BIRTH June 13, 1863
PLACE OF BIRTH Cattaro , Crown Land of Dalmatia , today Montenegro
DATE OF DEATH October 22, 1943
Place of death Vienna