Jeanbaptiste Weckerlin

Vocation

Alsatian French composer and music publisher. In 1844 he began his musical career, studying singing with Ponchard and composition with Fromental Halévy at the Paris Conservatory. In 1847, he brought out his heroic symphony Roland. In 1853, Weckerlin was most successful in the production of a one-act comic opera, L'organiste dans l'embarras. In 1869, he was appointed assistant librarian to the Conservatory. In 1863, he produced his comic opera Die dreifach Hochzeit im Bäsethal, and in 1879 Der verhäxt Herbst. These were both in Alsatian dialect. In 1877, he brought out the one-act opera Après Fontenoy. In 1876, he became Félicien David's successor as librarian at the Conservatory and published in 1885 a biographical catalogue. Later he became librarian of the Société des Compositeurs. He gained great renown as a composer of choral works. He married the daughter of the prima donna of Rossini's late Paris operas MadameLaure Cinti-Damoreau. Weckerlin is best remembered for his piano arrangements of traditional French songs, notably the bergerette, a particular kind of pastoral air, originally for voice accompanied by harpsichord, harp or guitar. His major work,Bergerettes, romances et chansons du XVIII siécle, was published in 1860. He died 20 May 1910. Link to Wikipedia biography