At the age of 93, the “Dilliberger” honorary citizen and ring bearer of the municipalities of Gilgenberg and Schwand passed away peacefully. He was a deeply believing and profound person who was considered a great devotee of Mary and had been waiting for his way home for some time.
As a longtime organist and church choir director, he helped out in neighboring parishes and often also in places of pilgrimage by playing the organ. Music was his passion: he had been the organist since 1940 and also headed the church choir from 1958 to 2008, and he immediately picked out every wrong note. He composed numerous sacred songs for organ and mixed choirs, Ave Maria, Latin high masses and German masses. The Holy Mass in honor of the Mother of God Mary and the God Father Mass from his hand were premiered in 2008 and 2014 in the Gilgenberg parish church and in the Braunau town parish church and were broadcast by the church broadcaster K-TV.
His musical training began at the age of nine. He not only showed talent on the organ, but also played violin, piano, accordion, E-flat clarinet, flugelhorn, tenor horn, baritone and trombone, and a little later zither, guitar, piano and saxophone. He came to the Geisberger Gilgenberg-Schwand brass band in 1941. From 1958 to 2000 Franz Geisberger was bandmaster and chairman of the band, and for ten years he was also staff leader.
He composed many fanfares, concertos and marches, including the LH Pühringer March, the Toni Sailer March, the Fire Brigade March and funeral marches. He arranged many compositions and pieces of music for brass bands. In 2000 he was appointed honorary conductor of the Geisbergers.
At a young age he was very successful with various groups, such as the Geisberger Streichmusik, the Hirschlinger Volksmusikquartett, the Ranshofner Buam and the Simbacher musicians. During this time, many musicians learned various instruments from him. Franz Geisberger received many awards and honors for his compositions in his life shaped by music and he was honored by the community, the state and the church.
Franz Geisberger was a musical institution in Gilgenberg. His calm and thoughtful manner will be remembered by all who knew him.
Source: Nachrichten
