Pembaur, Josef



Excellent composer and teacher; born at Innsbruck, Austria. He first studied law at the University in his native town, but deciding to make music his life-work went to the Vienna Conservatory, and later to the Royal Music School at Munich, where he studied under Wüllner, Rheinberger and Cornelius. In 1875 he was appointed director and principal teacher of the School of the Musical Society at Innsbruck, a position which he still holds. As a composer, Pembauer is best known for his numerous songs and part-songs, but he has also written some larger works, notably "God the Creator of the Universe," for male chorus and orchestra; the oratorio, Walthers von der Vogelweide; Klopstock; the Gravedigger's Wedding; Hamerling; the Autumn Hymns; the plaintive song; the opera Zigeunerleben (Gypsy Life), given in 1898, and a symphony, In Tirol; also improvisation for the organ, and a Festival Mass in F. Uber das Dirigieren and Harmon-ie und Melodielehre are two of a number of technical works written by Pembaur.