Celebrating A King Maker

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger was born this day, February 3, 1736. He was Austrian, and he is noted as one of the most skilled contrapuntists of his day. Ah! What is that, do you say!? Well, he used COUNTERPOINT to its finest degree in his compositions.
And, what is Counterpoint? It is the relationship between two or more voices that are harmonically interdependent, but independent in contour and rhythm. There is a bit of back-and-forth, a calling and an answering, but between melody and harmony. It creates a pleasing, if sometimes surprising or dissonant, sound. It brings sophistication and richness, and it occurs with voice or through instruments.

He was a musical "King Maker" of sorts, assisting some of the eventual greats with their compositions, including Johann Hummel, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (Mozart's son), and Ludwig van Beethoven! When Beethoven arrived in Vienna in 1792 to study with Joseph Haydn, he became angry that his work was not given correct attention. Haydn recommended his friend Albrechtsberger, with whom Beethoven then studied harmony and counterpoint. Well, you see where that led!! Ha Ha!

Though he died in 1809, Albrechtsberger leaves behind many important works, including his famous concerto for alto trombone and orchestra in B-flat major. Give it a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZM2eQW42TY&feature=related

And, funnily enough, he also composed for the mouth harp, or jew's harp, as it is commonly called!