Josef Seger (bornJosef Ferdinand Norbert Segert, last name alsoSeeger orSeegr) (21 March 1716 – 22 April 1782) was a Czech organist, composer, and educator. After graduating in philosophy from theCharles University inPrague and studying music underBohuslav Matěj Černohorský,Jan Zach, and others, Seger became organist of two churches in Prague and remained there until his death.
An extremely prolific composer, Seger became one of the most important representatives of theCzech organ school of the 18th century. He was also an influential teacher: his pupils includedJan Antonín Koželuh andJosef Mysliveček,[1] and hisfigured bass exercises served many generations of teachers.
Seger was born inŘepín, nearMělník, inBohemia. He studied at theJesuit Gymnasium inPrague and later graduated inphilosophy at theCharles University. He also studied organ playing withBohuslav Matěj Černohorský,counterpoint withJan Zach andFrantišek Tůma, and, according to Dlabacž,figured bass withFelix Benda.[2] Around 1741 Seger became organist to theChurch of Our Lady in front of Týn and in 1745 he acquired a similar post at theCrusaders' church in Prague.[1] He held both positions until his death. In 1781Emperor Joseph II was sufficiently impressed with Seger's playing and offered the composer a court appointment, but Seger died in Prague in 1782 before the confirming document arrived.[2]
None of Seger's compositions were published during his lifetime, but he was an important teacher and educator. His pupils includedKarel Blažej Kopřiva,Jan Antonín Koželuh,Jan Křtitel Kuchař,Josef Mysliveček, and many other distinguished Bohemian composers and musicians.[1][2] A few of Seger's pieces appeared in print in the 1790s; a selection of eight organ fugues was published by D. G. Türk in 1793.[1] In 1803, J. Polt published Seger's ten preludes for organ, and a few more works followed in the next few decades. Particularly important was the publication of a portion of his figured bass exercises, which were used by teachers for decades after his death.[2]
Seger was the most prolific Czech organ composer of the 18th century. Hundreds of preludes, fugues, toccatas and other organ pieces survive in manuscript copies, although the attribution to Seger of some of these works is problematic. Generally speaking, his preludes and fugues are short works (their length probably dictated by the limitations imposed by theCatholicliturgy), but they exhibit a fertile harmonic imagination and a perfect grasp of late Baroquecounterpoint practice. He also composedmasses,motets andpsalm settings; all also dominated by archaic counterpoint.[2]
