Nationality: German
Born: 1908-1942
Education/Training: studied piano, music theory and history while in school; attended Leipzig Conservatory where he originally studied conducting and piano, but was advised to take composition and organ instead; studied with Grabner, Ramin, and Högner
Notable Compositions: Geistliche Chormusik, Mörike Chorliederbuch (recognized as most important German secular a cappella collection of 20th century); Der Jahrkreis, Choralpassion, Kleine Orgelchoral-Bearbeitungen, Elf kleine Klavierstücke für die Jugend, Neues Chorliederbuch, Orgelsonate (Trio)
Assignments:
organist at Jakobkirche in Lübeck, head of chamber music at Lübeck Conservatory; taught at Württemburg Hochschule für Musik; in 1940 appointed to teach composition, organ, choral conducting at Staatliche Academische Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart; director of Berlin State and Cathedral Choir
Curious Facts:
Involved in: Orgelbewung, a movement dedicated to a return to the organ sound of the Baroque and pre-Baroque; joined the Nazi Party in 1933 reluctantly, but his continued employment depended on it Influenced by: Riemann's Counterpoint teaching, Protestant Chorales, Bach, Schütz; the basis of his work was a rediscovery of old forms and genres