Joseph Drechsler (26 May 1782 – 27 February 1852) was an Austrian organist, teacher, composer and conductor; in Vienna he was organist and choirmaster at several churches, and theatre conductor and composer of incidental music.
Drechsler was born in Wällisch Birken, (Vlachovo Březí, now in the Czech Republic), son of a teacher. He was a choirboy inPassau and inVornbach Abbey, where he studiedbasso continuo with the organist Dionys Grotz. He studied law and theology in Prague. He moved to Vienna in 1807, being invited byKarl Friedrich Hensler to direct the orchestra of theTheater in der Leopoldstadt; he turned down this offer and remained in Vienna as a music teacher. In 1810 he wasrépétiteur and from 1812 assistant director at theRoyal Court Theatre.[1][2][3]
For a while he was theatre conductor at Pressburg (Bratislava) and Baden. In Vienna he was from 1814 organist at theServite Church, and from 1816 choirmaster atSt Anne's Church. From 1823 until 1845 he was choirmaster at theUniversity Church and theCourt Church [de].[2][3]
At the same time, from 1821 he was theatre conductor at theTheater in der Josefstadt, and in 1824 he succeededFranz Volkert as theatre conductor at theTheater in der Leopoldstadt, remaining until 1830. He composed incidental music for these theatres, notably forFerdinand Raimund'sDas Mädchen aus der Feenwelt oder Der Bauer als Millionär [de]. From 1844 to 1852 he was director of music atSt Stephen's Cathedral, succeedingJohann Baptist Gänsbacher.[1][3]
His students includedJoseph Wolfram andJohann Strauss II. Drechsler died in 1852, and was buried atSt. Marx Cemetery in Vienna.[1]
