Joseph Leopold Eybler

Joseph and Michael Haydn were this composer's distant cousins. He is known to have worked with, admired and continued a life-long friendship with Mozart (1787 until Mozart's death) whose "Requiem" Eybler was commissioned to finish. (This of course he did not accomplish; he was only able to add ten notes to the soprano line his respect ran so deep; Sussmayr finished the Requiem.) Eybler became the choir director for the Carmelite Church in Vienna and the court music teacher for Empress Maria Teresia. He became the Hofkapellmeister after the death of Salieri and suffered a stroke while conducting Mozart's Requiem. Characteristics of his musical compositions demonstrate the influence of Mozart and Haydn. Vocal compositions by Eybler included masses, graduals, offertories, songs, and instrumental works included overtures, chamber music, and variations. © Keith Johnson /TiVo