Nicolas-Joseph Wackenthaler

Nicolas-Joseph Wackenthaler (6 December 1840 – 19 May 1913) was a French organist and composer.

Born in Sélestat (Bas-Rhin), Wackenthaler belonged to a large family of Alsatian organists:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He died in Dijon, at his home at 12, rue de la Liberté, on May 19, 1913, 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. His organ works were sometimes attributed to his more famous uncle Joseph, because he often published them under the first name Joseph.