A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Gänsbacher, Johann
GÄNSBACHER, Johann, Capellmeister of the Cathedral at Vienna, born May 8, 1778, at Sterzing in the Tyrol. At 6 years old he was a chorister in the village church of which his father was choirmaster. Later he learnt the organ, piano, cello, and harmony at Innspruck, Halle, and Botzen. In 1795 he entered the University of Innspruck, but on the formation of the Landsturm in 96 served as a volunteer, and won the gold 'Tapferkeits-medaille.' In 1801 he was in Vienna, studied under Vogler and Albrechtsberger, and was recommended as a teacher by Haydn, Gyrowetz, and distinguished patrons. He next accompanied Count Finnian to Prague, and devoted himself entirely to composition. In 1809 he was at Dresden and Leipzig, revisited his home, and in the following year settled for a time in Darmstadt to renew his studies under Vogler. Weber and Meyerbeer were his fellow-pupils, and the three formed a lasting friendship. Weber especially retained a sincere affection for him, took him to Mannheim and Heidelberg, where Gänsbacher assisted in his concerts, and at a later time proposed to him to compete for the vacant post of Court Capellmeister in Dresden. Meantime Gänsbacher lived alternately in Vienna, where he became acquainted with Beethoven, and Prague, where he assisted Weber with his 'Kampf und Sieg.' He also served in the war of 1813, went to Italy as captain in military service, and was even employed as a courier. This unsettled life at length came to a satisfactory end. At the time that Weber was suggesting his settling at Dresden, the Capellmeistership of the cathedral at Vienna fell vacant by the death of Preindl (Oct. 1823); Gänsbacher applied for it, was appointed, and remained there for life. He died July 13, 1844, universally respected both as a man and an artist. As a composer he belongs to the old school; his works are pleasing but betray by their solidity the pupil of Vogler and Albrechtsberger. His compositions number 216 in all, of which the greater part are sacred,—17 masses, 4 requiems, 2 Te Deums, offertories etc. He wrote also a symphony, several serenades, marches, and concerted pieces; pianoforte pieces with and without accompaniment; songs accompanied by various instruments; music to Kotzebue's 'Die Kreuzfahrer'; a Liederspiel, etc. Two requiems, 2 masses, and several smaller church works were published by Spina and Haslinger; 3 terzettos for 2 soprani and tenor (op. 4) by Schlesinger; Schiller's 'Erwartung' by Simrock; and sonatas and trios by various publishers. A song of his is given in Ayrton's 'Sacred Minstrelsy.'
His son Dr. Joseph, born 1829, is now a valued teacher of singing in Vienna, and professor at the Conservatoire.