Johann Wilhelm Hässler

Johann Wilhelm Hassler ( born March 29, 1747 in Erfurt, † March 29, 1822 in Moscow ) was a German composer and organist.

Life

In addition to his training as a hosier, he received a musical education from his uncle Johann Christian Kittel. At the age of 15 years he worked first as an organist at Erfurt Barfüßerkirche and thus succeeded his uncle in this function. This was followed by concert tours on which he made ​​a name as a virtuoso pianist.

In 1780, he, with the support of the governor of Erfurt, Karl Theodor von Dalberg, the so-called winter concerts as a permanent institution. As part of this series of events, he also made the acquaintance of Goethe.

In 1790 he went to London, where he performed together with Joseph Haydn. His concert tours throughout Europe have led him to Riga, St. Petersburg and Moscow. In St. Petersburg, he was appointed by Empress Catherine the Great to the Imperial Russian conductor. Here he gave concerts and participated in the founding of a music publishing company, which it set a goal to publish the works of German classics and simultaneously animate contemporary Russian composers, also publicize their works in this way the general public.

Later he moved with his family to Moscow, where he worked for more than thirty years. He died there in 1822.

His work as a composer includes sonatas, cantatas, etudes and instrumental compositions, especially for piano.

Works

• Character piece op.27 no.2
• " 50 Pieces for Beginners " op.38
• 360 preludes in all keys Op 47 (1817 )
• " Etudes en Vingt- quatre Valses " op.49
• "Six Easy Sonatas "
• Cantata " Erfurt "
• Sonata for Harpsichord No.3 in D minor