Falk, Joseph Benedikt 1757 - 1828

Josef Benedikt Falk was the son of the Innsbrucker church organist Georg Paul Falk (1713-1787). In 1765 he, then eight years old, was presented to Empress Maria Theresa as a child prodigy and was allowed to perform for Emperor Franz I.


The meeting of Mozart and Falk (and their respective fathers) in 1769 in Innsbruck was no doubt exciting.


Although Josef Benedikt Falk embarked on successful concert tours, in Italy as well as Germany, he decided to join the clergy and was anointed to the priesthood in 1780.


He was in high demand as a piano teacher and wrote many compositions for his students.
In 1778, following the death of his father, Falk took over the post of church organist at Innsbruck-St. Jakob, which later became a cathedral.


His preludes represent the celebratory prelude style of his time, which was rich in figurations and imitations.