Born: September 15, 1923 - Vienna, Austria
Died: March 25, 1979 - Vienna, Austria

The esteemed Austrian organist, conductor, pedagogue, and composer, Anton Heiller, received training in piano, organ, harpsichord, and composition in the Vienna Academy of Music from 1941 to 1942.

After winning the Haarlem Competition for Organ Improvisation in 1952, Anton Heiller was notably successful as an organ virtuoso, excelling especially in the music of J.S. Bach.

In 1945 Anton Heiller joined the faculty of the Vienna Academy of Music. After it became the Vienna Hochschule für Musik, he was made a Professor there in 1971. In 1969 he was awarded the Austrian State Prize for Music. In his compositions, he displayed an adept handling of polyphonic writing. In some of his music he utilized the 12-tone method.

Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2001)

Anton Heiller: Short Biography | Recordings

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Motet for Choir: Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig, unaccomanied

Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig

1949

Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele, Chorale Partita for Organ

Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele

1949

Nun Kumm, der Heiden Heiland, for organ

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

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