Alois Joseph Götz (1823 - 1905)

Götz, Alois Joseph, born in 1823 at Ischl, near Salzburg, Austria, died July 9, 1905 at Innsbruck, Tyrol, was the son of Joseph Götz, a highly esteemed doctor of medicine, who, as the discoverer of the
medicinal waters of Ischl, made both his own name, and that of his town famous. His son's musical gifts were manifested at an early age, and he was given instruction in the theory of music and on the violin in his eighth year. When eighteen years of age he resided with his elder brother in Salzburg studying to gain admission in the Forest Academy of Mariabrunner. August Götz was a guitar virtuoso whose playing of Giuliani's concertos made such an impression on his young brother that Alois neglected the violin entirely to study the guitar, and his sole aim in life became that of the regeneration of this instrument. During his period of residence in the Mariabrunner Academy, Götz continued to receive guitar instruction, and he obtained skill, both as soloist and accompanist. Upon the termination of his studies in the Forest Academy he was stationed in 1844 at Aussee, Styria, where he commenced his practical work as a forester, and it was here that he received the praise of Archduke John for his performance on the guitar with the violinist Hermann Roithner. Götz now commenced to write for the guitar, his first works being transcriptions of poplar folk songs for guitar solo, and in Aussee he met and formed an, acquaintance with the guitar virtuoso Schulz, who had lived for some time in England (see Schulz) as a guitarist, and -who was now in this district for his health. This acquaintance proved beneficial to Götz, for Schulz imparted instruction in the higher branches, of guitar playing, which spurred the enthusiast to even greater efforts, and it was through this instruction that Götz resolved to write his method for the guitar.
As a member of the civil service he was transferred to the Tyrol, and in this romantic district he made his second home; but this pastoral life was soon interrupted, for at the outbreak of war in 1848, Chief Forester Götz with the Pustertaler Landesverteidiger was ordered to the neighbouring frontier. His guitar playing, round the camp fires, made him many friends among whom were the poets Adolf Pichler and Hermann Gilm. Götz was awarded the war medal 1848 and decorated with the jubilee medals in 1873. During his residence in Reutte, Götz married in 1862 and for twenty years was Chief Forester in this district. He performed before the Royal Court upon several occasions, receiving the warmest praise of King Ludwig 11 and the Dowager Queen for his solos and as guitar accompanists to vocalists. In 1880 he removed to Innsbruck and having retired from the civil service he devoted himself with untiring energy to the popularization of the guitar; but during his last years was afflicted with deafness which forced hi in to retire from public life. Götz was honoured by his country with the title of Imperial Councillor, conferred for services rendered, and was pre¬paring his autobiography for publication when death intervened after a short illness at the age of eighty-three. Ile has published many compositions for guitar alone and in combination with zither, mandolin, violin, flute and 'cello, and three volumes of songs with guitar accompaniment remain in manuscript. Ile is the author of Reform form guitar school in three volumes, published by *Andre' Offenbach, who also issued several of his guitar solos, while others appeared in Vienna and Stuttgart.
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