Seyfried, Ignaz Xaver von (1776-1841)

Austrian composer, teacher, and conductor. He conducted and composed music for Schikaneder's theatre at Vienna 1797-1828, and in 1806 he conducted the first revival of Beethoven's opera Fidelio there. As a composer he was known for the quantity, rather than the quality, of his output.

Originally intended for a legal career, he turned to music, studying piano with Mozart and Kozeluch, and composition with Albrechtsberger and Winter. From 1797 to 1828 he was conductor and composer to Schikaneder's theatre (from 1801 known as the Theater an der Wien). After his retirement he composed almost exclusively church music. He also edited Albrechtsberger's theoretical works and, in 1832, published an account of Beethoven's studies in figured bass, counterpoint, and composition.

Works Opera and singspiele over 100, including Der Löwenbrunnen, Der Wundermann am Rheinfall (1799), Die Ochsenmenuette (pasticcio arranged from Haydn's works, 1823), Ahasverus (arranged from piano works of Mozart); biblical dramas; incidental music to Schiller's Die Räuber and Die Jungfrau von Orleans, and others.

Church music about 20 Masses, Requiem, motets, and other church music; Libera me for Beethoven's funeral.