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Gottfried von Preyer

1807 – 1901

Austrian composer, conductor and teacher

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About Gottfried von Preyer

Lived 1807 – 1901 (aged 94). Gottfried von Preyer was a composer, conductor, teacher, art collector, pedagogue and chapelmaster.

Gottfried von Preyer (15 March 1807 – 9 May 1901) was an Austrian composer, conductor and teacher.

Biography

Preyer was born in Hausbrunn and studied with Simon Sechter from 1828 to 1834. He became professor of harmony and composition at the Vienna Conservatory in 1839, and from 1844 to 1849 he was director of the conservatory. He was organist of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna for 57 years.

He founded children's hospital Gottfried von Preyer'sches Kinderspital bearing his name.

He died in Vienna, aged 94. Preyer attributed his long career to his teetotalism and vegetarian diet.

Works Preyer composed over 600 pieces of sacred and secular music, only a few of which were printed: 4 requiems, 5 Te Deums, around 25 masses, hymns and responsories, organ works, symphonies, string quartets and songs. The oratorio Noah and the operas Walladmor, Die Freymannshöhle and Amaranth are well known. His compositions of sacred music are still part of the standard repertoire of church music today

Note Biography (in German) German Wikipedia article Biographical information

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Important facts

Birth century
Awards
Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great; Knight Commander of the Order of St. Sylvester

People in Gottfried von Preyer's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Gottfried von Preyer's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Gottfried von Preyer?

Austrian composer, conductor and teacher (1807–1901)

When was Gottfried von Preyer born?

Gottfried von Preyer was born on 15 March 1807 in Hausbrunn.

When did Gottfried von Preyer die?

Gottfried von Preyer died on 9 May 1901 in Vienna.

What was Gottfried von Preyer's occupation?

Gottfried von Preyer was a composer, conductor, teacher, art collector, pedagogue and chapelmaster.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Gottfried von Preyer

· Wikidata: Q113506

· DBpedia: Gottfried von Preyer

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gottfried von Preyer. https://biography.guide/gottfried-von-preyer/

MLA: "Gottfried von Preyer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gottfried-von-preyer/.

Chicago: "Gottfried von Preyer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gottfried-von-preyer/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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