Johann was the patriarch of a family of Austrian musicians. He studied organ with Witzig in Korneuburg and then traveled to Vienna in 1785 where he studied with Haydn and Albrechtsberger. Singspiel was his dominant form of composition and these compositions met with a great deal of popular success. "Fausts Leben," "Der Durchmarsch," and "Der Zauberpfeil" were among his accomplishments. Johann also composed sacred music including a Mass for the Empress Maria Theresia. His youngest musical son, Aegidius, was well-liked as a teacher, conductor and operatic composer. Aegidius' noted opera was "Las disfida di Berletta," and his best known oratorio was entitled "Der Triumph des Christentums." ~ Keith Johnson