A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Friberth, Karl

FRIBERTH, Karl, born 1736 at Wullersdorf in Lower Austria, where his father was school-master; came early to Vienna, and studied singing under Bonno and composition under Gassmann. He had a fine tenor voice, and sang at St. Stephen's, at Prince Hildburghausen's concerts, and in Italian operas at court. In 1759 he was engaged by Prince Esterhazy, and while in his service formed an intimate friendship with Haydn, in whose operas he sang. He himself wrote several librettos. In 1768 he married Maria Magdalena Spangler, a singer in the Prince's company, and removed with her in 1776 to Vienna, where he was appointed Capellmeister to the Jesuits and to the Minorites. During a visit to Italy, Pope Pius VI, 'on account of his services to music,' made him a knight of the Golden Spur—the order to which Gluck and Mozart also belonged. Friberth was an active member of the 'Tonkünstler-Societät,' and took Haydn's part warmly in the discussions there. As a composer he restricted himself almost entirely to church music. He died Aug. 6, 1816, universally respected both as a man and an artist. In the museum of the 'Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde' at Vienna, there is a portrait of him in oils, showing a fine head and expressive countenance.

[ C. F. P. ]