Erich Wolf Degner

Erich Wolfgang Degner (born April 8, 1858 in Hohenstein ; † November 18, 1908 in Bad Berka ) was a German music teacher , choir director and composer .

Life

Degner studied violin , piano and composition in Weimar and Würzburg . In 1882 he taught at the grammar school in Regensburg and in 1883 at a private music school in Gotha . From 1884 to 1888 he was the director of the music club in Pettau , made a contribution to the expansion of the local music school and conducted the men's choir. In 1891 Degner became the artistic director of the Musikverein für Steiermark in Graz and expanded the curriculum of its music school through a series of reforms. He had already opened the first piano school in March 1888, and after 1891 he created a school orchestra and a conductor's school. He also introduced organ playing and the trombone as new subjects and expanded theoretical lessons. He also made it possible for professional musicians to attend advanced training courses at the club music school.

The draft statutes drawn up from 1884 to 1886 by the President of the Musikverein, Dr. Bischoff, with the goal of creating a "German Academy for Music" in Graz, was only pursued much later after his death by Musikverein director Roderich von Mojsisovic between 1911 and 1931, who continued the development work of his teacher Erich Degner with the establishment of a seminar for music theory . The sculptor Adolf Brütt , who also lives in Bad Berka , made a bust of him. Among his students was the composer Ludwig Rochlitzer .

Degner himself was called to Weimar in 1902 to take over from Carl Müllerhartung as director of the music school and director of the singing academy. In 1906 he was awarded the title of professor by Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst . At the age of only 50 he succumbed to cancer.

Erich Wolf Degner composed two symphonies , overtures , symphonic poems , chamber music , piano and organ works as well as numerous choral music and songs .

literature

• Wolfgang Suppan: Contributions to the life story of Erich Wolf Degner (1858–1908) . In: Journal of the Historical Association for Styria . Volume 52, 1961, pp. 138-149
• Wolfram Huschke: Future Music. A history of the Liszt School of Music Weimar . Weimar 2006. (Degner's activity as a music teacher is mentioned in detail)

Web links

• Works by and about Erich Wolf Degner in the catalog of the German National Library
• History of the Kunstuni Graz
• Sheet music and audio files by Erich Wolf Degner in the International Music Score Library Project