Bernhard Henking

Bernhard Henking (born May 6, 1897 in Schaffhausen , † December 4, 1988 in Winterthur ) was a Swiss church musician and composer .

Life

Bernhard Henking studied from 1917 to 1921, first at the Zurich Conservatory, piano, organ and theory (with Volkmar Andreae and others), as well as choir conducting with Siegfried Ochs at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin . From 1921 to 1925 he was choir and orchestra leader in Baden (Aargau). In the spring of 1925 he moved to Magdeburg , where he led several choirs. This also included the Magdeburg Cathedral Choir, with which he went on concert tours to Northern and Eastern Europe.

After the Senate of the Old Prussian Union had given Henking the title of Church Music Director, he was appointed head of the Evangelical Church Music School in Aschersleben in 1936 , which was relocated to Halle during his tenure.

At the beginning of the Second World War he returned to Switzerland and became cantor at Reformed churches in Winterthur and St. Gallen. From 1951 to 1972 he directed the Zurich Bach Choir . Henking lived in Winterthur until his death in 1988. He was the father of the church musician Arwed Henking (* 1936) and the organist Monika Henking (* 1944).

Bernhard Henking worked on the 1952 hymn book of the Evangelical Reformed Churches in German-speaking Switzerland (RKG). He is also represented in the current RG with numerous choral movements.

Awards

1971: Culture Prize of the City of Winterthur

Works (selection)

Come and let us honor Christ. A sung nativity play
The moon has risen. For flute, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, organ.

Publications (selection)

Choral hymn book. Selection of 223 songs from the hymnal for the province of Saxony and Anhalt in a set for 4-part mixed choir . Merseburger Publishing House, Kassel

Web links

Literature by and about Bernhard Henking in the catalog of the German National Library
Bernhard Henking at the Merseburger publishing house

Individual evidence

↑ On the history of the Zurich Bach Choir , accessed on February 3, 2016.
↑ Portrait on the website of the parish of St. Jacobi Göttingen, accessed on September 15, 2011.
^ Gabriela Schöb Friday: Church music as food for life. ( Memento of February 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Portrait on the website of the Reformed parish Thalwil, accessed on September 15, 2011.

personal data
SURNAME	Henking, Bernhard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Swiss church musician and composer
DATE OF BIRTH	May 6, 1897
PLACE OF BIRTH	Schaffhausen
DATE OF DEATH	4th December 1988
Place of death	Winterthur

[1] On the history of the Zurich Bach Choir , accessed on February 3, 2016.

[2] Portrait on the website of the parish of St. Jacobi Göttingen, accessed on September 15, 2011.

[3] Gabriela Schöb Friday: Church music as food for life. ( Memento of February 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Portrait on the website of the Reformed parish Thalwil, accessed on September 15, 2011.