Gregor Joseph Werner

Werner was an organist who became the Kapellmeister in the Esterhazy court. He served there well and wrote a fair amount of vocal music which mirrors a cappella masses in a strict contrapuntal sense. Werner would also employ the use of string and wind accompaniments. Though many of his melodies were sharp and jagged, other themes were conveyed with a folkish quality. These characteristics are especially apparent in Werner's secular cantatas and Christmas music. Demonstratively he could also find a manner to develop representational effects in his music as exemplified in "Musicalischer Instrumental-Calender." When Haydn came to the Esterhazy court as Kapellmeister, Werner remained on as Oberhofkapellmeister. Werner was unfortunately not particularly fond of the young Haydn. ~ Keith Johnson