He composed a good deal of liturgical music that included eight masses and two requiems, as well as oratorios and orchestral and keyboard works.
Born in Inzell, Bavaria, he moved to Salzburg where he studied under Johann Ernst Eberlin.
After a visit to Italy in 1764 – 1765, he set Metastasio's only opera La Nitteti.
Also in 1767, he collaborated with Mozart and Michael Haydn on the oratorio Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots.
Four years later he married Maria Barbara Schwab, and in 1769 the court singer Maria Anna Fesemayer (1743 – 1782), who sang in Die Schuldigkeit and created the role of Ninetta in La finta semplice.