voc, 1777-1838 CH
Singer / Composer
Swiss singer and composer of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, born January 4,1777 in Trogen, Switzerland, died February 16, 1838 in Speicher, Switzerland. Active in the formative period of Switzerland as a federal state. Born in Trogen as the son of a butcher, he worked as Modelstecher (craftsman of artistic wooden Lebkuchen templates) in Speicher from 1792, from 1798 also as secretary to the local authorities. He was a musical autodidact, and became known as composer and editor of song collections, as publicist and poet. He founded a literary association in 1820, which he presided 1825-27 and 1835–37, in 1824 he founded the cantonal choir (Sängerverein).