Nicolas-Joseph Wackenthaler

Born in Sélestat (Bas-Rhin), Wackenthaler belonged to a large family of Alsatian organists:[1][2][3]

• His grandfather, François-Joseph Wackenthaler (9 December 1767 - 17 February 1828), became organist at the St. George's Church, Sélestat around 1800 and remained so until his death in 1828.
• His father, François-Charles Wackenthaler (31 October 1806 - 13 February 1859), 8th child of Franz Joseph, succeeded him, after his death in 1828, as organist at Saint-Georges de Sélestat Church and remained so for 31 years until his death in 1859.
• His uncle, Joseph Wackenthaler (20 November 1795 - 3 March 1869), 2nd child of François-Joseph, was Kapellmeister from 1819, then organist from 1833 to 1869 at the Strasbourg Cathedral.
• His uncle, François-Louis Wackenthaler (18 September 1811 - 24 May 1849), 10th child of Franz Joseph, was appointed organist at the St. Faith's Church, Sélestat around 1830 and held this position until his death in 1849.
• His cousin, François-Xavier Joseph Wackenthaler (5 December 1823 - 11 October 1856), 2nd child of Joseph, was an organ teacher at the École Niedermeyer de Paris from the opening of the school in 1853 until his death in 1856. A young twenty years old, he was an organist at the Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant Church, then from 1847 to 1849 at the St. George's Church, Haguenau, then at the Église Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs in Paris from 1854 to his death in 1856.[4][5]

From 1853 to 1859, Wackenthaler studied at the École Niedermeyer de Paris[6] where he was a student of Louis Dietsch[7] and Georg Schmitt.[8] In 1858, he won the Grand Prix for composition[7] and the second prize for organ.[8]

From 1858 to 1876, he was employed at the École Niedermeyer as an organ and improvisation teacher.[8]

On 19 February 1859[2] in his 19th year, he succeeded his late father as organist at the St. George's Church, Sélestat.[9]

On 31 January 1867, in Geispolsheim, he married Catherine Nuss.[1]

In 1869 he settled in Dijon as a piano teacher.[7][9] A young priest, Father Trub, was subsequently appointed as organist at the St. George's Church of Sélestat.[2]

In 1875, he was appointed organist of the great organ of the Dijon Cathedral[10] succeeding thus Jacques-Reine Pâris[11] and he took office on Sunday, November 21.[7]

In 1909, when he was ill, he resigned from his position as organist.[7] After more than two years of vacancy at the console of Saint-Bénigne, his successor, Émile Poillot, was appointed on 21 December 1911.[12]

He died in Dijon, at his home at 12, rue de la Liberté, on May 19, 1913,[7] at the age of 72.

According to the testimony of his contemporaries, Wackenthaler was more appreciated as an instrumentalist and as a teacher than as a composer.[7] His organ works were sometimes attributed to his more famous uncle Joseph, because he often published them under the first name Joseph.[9]

• L’adoration des bergers, fantaisie pastorale pour les fêtes de Noël, à Madame la Comtesse de Bresson.[13]
• Communion, dédiée à M. R. Grosjean.[14]
• Fugue pour Orgue, dédiée à son ami M. l'Abbé Trub.[15]
• Introduction et Fugue en ré mineur (Grand Chœur), à la mémoire de L. Niedermeyer, son illustre et regretté Maître.[16]
• Noël varié, variations sur le Noël On dit que dans une étable.[17]
• Offertoire, dédié à son oncle Jg. Wackenthaler, de Dieuze.[18]
• Offertoire brillant, dédié à M. le Chanoine Naegelen, Curé de St. Georges à Schlestadt.[19]
• Sortie - Scherzo, à son ami A. Jessel, Maître de Chapelle de la Cathédrale de Nancy.[20]
• Verset.[21]
• 3 Romances sans Paroles pour piano, Op.7 (1863), at S. Richault, publisher in Paris, R. 13661.[22]
• Toccata pour orgue, Op.8.[23]

• Nicolas-Joseph Wackenthaler on Musopen
• Free scores by Nicolas-Joseph Wackenthaler at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)