Offertorie sur un vieux Noël Alsacien

Jean Jules Auguste Wiernsberger (1857-1925) took his first music lessons in Mulhouse with his father Jean Wiernsberger (1833-1890) and followed his family who left Alsace to settle in Paris due to the annexation of 1871. He then entered the Paris Conservatory where he studied with Durand , Reber and Marmontel 3. He obtained a second prize in piano there in 1876, and continued his studies at Basel.

On his return to France he moved to Reims in 1878 to take an active part in local musical life. He was a music teacher there, and directed the Orphéon d'Alsace-Lorraine, and then the choirs of the Philharmonic Society of Reims from 1884. His opera Rioval premiered on February 18, 1886 at the Reims Opera.

His Sonata for piano and violin, op. 32 was crowned with a 1st prize from the Society of Music Composers in 1896 8 . From 1897 to 1899 he was the publication director of the Revue Musicale Sainte-Cécile. In 1899 he was awarded the Chartier prize from the Institute for his production of chamber music, and was awarded the Palmes académas.

He moved to Paris, was artistic secretary of the Gaveau piano manufacturer and published works of light music under the pseudonym of Nestor Sappé. Later he edited many pieces by composers from the Baroque and Classical eras for the publisher, Heugel.

As a composer he is mainly the composer of melodic works, piano pieces and chamber music.

"Offertorie sur un vieux Noël Alsacien" is dedicated to the composer's cousin, A. Dornbirrer, who was organist at the Church of St. Maurice in Reims.

It's a nice piece, but rather fussy and hard to make flow. Still, I think you will like it. :-)

The score is attached below, as well as photos of St. Maurice in Reims, included several of the organ.

HAPPY 2021 to ALL!