Hiller, Johann Adam (1728–1804)

German composer. He spent the greater part of his life in Leipzig, where he was the central figure in the musical activity of the city. He founded subscription concerts and a musical weekly, and was one of the originators of the German Singspiel (‘sung play’, or opera), of which he wrote many successful examples 1766–82.

He was a chorister under Homilius in Dresden, and studied law at Leipzig University. After a short period in the service of Count Brühl, he returned to Leipzig, working as a flautist, singer, and conductor. In 1763 he founded subscription concerts on the model of the Paris Concert Spirituel, these becoming the Gewandhaus concerts in 1781. He also produced a musical weekly, Wöchentliche Nachrichten, 1766–70. He left Leipzig in 1785, but after some short-term posts returned to succeed Johann Doles as municipal music director and cantor of St Thomas's.

Works Singspiele Der Teufel ist los (after Coffey's The Devil to Pay, 1766), Lisuart und Dariolette, Lottchen am Hofe (1767), Die Muse, Die Liebe auf dem Lande (1768), Die Jagd, Der Dorfbalbier (1771), Der Aerndtekranz, Der Krieg (1772), Die Jubelhochzeit, Das Grab des Mufti, Das gerettete Troja.

Other settings of Gellert's odes and other choral works; cantatas; 100th Psalm; instrumental music; also many theoretical and critical writings on music.