Vogler, Georg Joseph (1749–1814)

German composer, teacher, and theorist. He studied in Italy and became music director to the courts of Mannheim, Munich, Stockholm, and Darmstadt. He was a notable teacher; his pupils included Weber, Meyerbeer, and Crusell, and he wrote a number of theoretical works.

Vogler was the son of an instrument maker and violinist. He studied theology at Würzburg and Bamberg universities, went to Mannheim in 1771, becoming court chaplain the following year, and in 1773 received a scholarship from the Elector to go to Italy. He studied with Padre Martini in Bologna and Palotti in Padua, and in 1775 returned to Mannheim as vice-kapellmeister. Mozart met him there in 1778 and disliked him. When the electoral court moved to Munich in 1778 Vogler at first remained in Mannheim, but later followed, becoming kapellmeister in 1784. He was kapellmeister to the Swedish court in Stockholm 1786–99, but was able to travel extensively, going as far afield as North Africa and Greece. After leaving Stockholm he lived successively in Copenhagen, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Munich, until in 1807 he was appointed kapellmeister to the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt. His opera Gustav Adolph och Ebba Brahe has been revived at Drottningholm.

Works Singspiele Albert III von Bayern (1781), Erwin und Elmire (1781, Goethe).

Opera and stage operas, including La Kermesse (1783), Castore e Polluce (1787), Gustav Adolph och Ebba Brahe (1788), Samori (1804); operetta Der Kaufmann von Smyrna (1771); ballet Jäger-Ballet (1772); incidental music to Shakespeare's Hamlet (1779); choruses for Racine's Athalie and Skjöldebrand's Hermann von Unna.

Sacred and secular music Masses, seven Requiems, motets, psalms, and other church music; cantata Ino (Ramler).

Instrumental symphonies; several piano variations for piano and orchestra; piano trios and much other chamber music; piano and violin sonatas; piano sonatas and variations; six sonatas for two pianos.