Preyer, Gottfried Frhr. von 03/15/1807 - 05/09/1901

Gottfried Freiherr von Preyer was an Austrian kapellmeister, pedagogue and composer. He received at an early age musical education on various instruments. He was active at the age of seven as a quartet player and at the age of ten as an organist in the area and attended school after 1822 in Korneuburg and Vienna. From 1828 until 1834 he received a comprehensive musical education from S. Sechter as a composition student. From 1835 until 1846 he was organist at the Protestant church in Vienna, from 1839-48 professor of harmony and composition at the Konservatorium der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde )Conservatory of the Association of Friends of Music) (its director from 1844-47), 1843 court opera kapellmeister, 1862-76 vicekapellmeister at the court, 1846-62 court organist, 1853-1901 cathredal kapellmesiter at St. Stephan. Study tours took him after 1845 to Munich, Paris, Brussels and Milan. As a composer he created over 600 (mostly not published) compositions in the style of the old strict school.