Gottfried von Preyer


Gottfried von Preyer was an Austrian composer, conductor and teacher.

Biography

Preyer was born in Hausbrunn and studied with Simon Sechter from 1828 to 1834. He became professor of harmony and composition at the University of Music and [Performing Arts, Vienna|Vienna Conservatory] in 1839, and from 1844 to 1849 he was director of the conservatory. He was organist of St. Stephen's [Cathedral, Vienna|St. Stephen's Cathedral] in Vienna for 57 years.
He founded children's hospital Gottfried von Preyer'sches Kinderspital bearing his name.
He died in Vienna, aged 94. Preyer attributed his long career to his teetotalism and vegetarian diet.

Works

Preyer composed over 600 pieces of sacred and secular music, only a few of which were printed: 4 requiems, 5 Te Deums, around 25 masses, hymns and responsories, organ works, symphonies, string quartets and songs. The oratorio Noah and the operas Walladmor, Die Freymannshöhle and Amaranth are well known. His compositions of sacred music are still part of the standard repertoire of church music today

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