Adolf Arenson

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Adolf Arenson (born May 14, 1855 in Altona ; † December 26, 1936 in Bad Cannstatt ) was a German composer , theosophist and anthroposophist .

Life

Adolf Arenson, from a Hamburg merchant family with Sephardic- Jewish roots, moved to Santiago de Chile after completing a commercial apprenticeship and took over a company there from a relative. In 1882 he married his cousin Deborah Piza ; they had two daughters, Clarita and Auguste , and a son, Hans . Arenson sold his company, moved to Hamburg with his family and began to work as a composer. In 1892 the company moved to Cannstatt. There they made friends with the Unger family; Carl Unger later became his son-in-law (1907).

Around 1900 Arenson and his wife became members of the Theosophical Society . In autumn 1904 Arenson was appointed to the board of the German section of the Theosophical Society . In addition to Carl Unger, Michael Bauer , Toni Völker and Elise Wolfram, he was one of the official lecturers of the TG. He was a close student and colleague of Rudolf Steiner and helped Marie von Sivers with the publication of Steiner's writings and lectures. At Steiner's suggestion, he created several compositions.

In 1913 he joined the newly founded Anthroposophical Society . He continued to give lectures, headed the Stuttgart "Zweig" and wrote a guide through Rudolf Steiner's lecture cycles , which was a widespread study aid long after Steiner's work was systematically cataloged through the complete edition .

In 1930 he spoke up again with a lecture on the so-called "Bodhisattva question" - the question about the world teacher of the 20th century ( republished in Volume 2 of the results in 1980 ) - which is still widely recognized today . After the seizure of power of Hitler, he withdrew completely from public life.

Works

Book publications

  • To study the humanities . A presentation. Philosophisch-Theosophischer Verlag, Berlin 1913
  • The interior of the earth . A presentation. Philosophisch-Theosophischer Verlag, Berlin 1914
  • The Sermon on the Mount . A presentation. Philosophisch-Theosophischer Verlag, Berlin 1914
    • new as: Thoughts and reflections on the Sermon on the Mount . The coming day, Stuttgart 1924
  • Fundamentals of the humanities methodology , including: Introductory lecture, given at the Goetheanum on September 27, 1920 ( Anthroposophical University Courses , Volume 3). The coming day, Stuttgart 1921
  • The childhood story of Jesus. The two baby Jesus . The coming day, Stuttgart 1921
  • Musical chats . Philosophical-Anthroposophical Publishing House, Dornach 1930
  • A guide through Rudolf Steiner's lecture cycles . 3 volumes. Self-published, Dornach 1930
    • new as a guide through 50 lectures by Rudolf Steiner . Free Spiritual Life, Stuttgart 1961; 9th edition 1991, ISBN 3-7725-0453-1
  • Study results from Rudolf Steiner's lectures . 7 booklets. Self-published, Dornach 1930/31
    • new as results from the study of the humanities Rudolf Steiner . 4 booklets. The coming ones, Freiburg im Breisgau 1980

Compositions

Arenson composed five operas (before 1895), one operetta, plus a large number of songs and chorales. The following works are inspired by anthroposophy:

  • Music for The Children of Lucifer by Édouard Schuré , 1909
  • Music for Rudolf Steiner's Four Mystery Dramas, 1910–13
  • Seven children's pieces for eurythmy
  • Seven piano pieces for eurythmy for children

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Arenson, Adolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German composer and anthroposophist
DATE OF BIRTH May 14, 1855
PLACE OF BIRTH Altona
DATE OF DEATH December 26, 1936
Place of death Bad Cannstatt