Georg Joseph Vogler

Born June 15, 1749, in Wurzburg; died May 6, 1814, in Darmstadt. German composer, music theorist, conductor, and organist; Catholic priest.

Vogler studied in Bologna under G. B. Martini and in Padua under F. A. Vallotti. He traveled a great deal and exhibited a keen interest in the music of various peoples, including those of eastern nations. In 1775 he moved to Mannheim, where he founded a school of music. In 1784 he became chief Kapellmeister in Munich. From 1786 to 1788 and from 1794 to 1799, Vogler served as Kapellmeister in Stockholm. In 1788 he visited St. Petersburg. In 1807 he became Kapellmeister to the grand duke of Darmstadt.

Vogler gave organ concerts, and he constructed a portable organ known as the orchestrion. He was the composer often operas and two ballets, as well as symphonies, overtures, vocal works, concerti for piano and orchestra, and other instrumental works. He also wrote treatises on music theory and guides to counterpoint. Among Vogler’s many pupils were C. M. von Weber and G. Meyerbeer.