Ernest Weinrauch

Ernest Weinrauch (born October 17, 1730 in Donauwörth ; † April 9, 1793 in Zwiefalten ) was a German Benedictine priest and composer .

Life

Ernest Weinrauch was born as the eldest son of the glazier Joh. Michael Weinrauch in Donauwörth and baptized with the name Faustinus. It is unclear why he went to the monastery and did not follow in his father's professional footsteps. It is possible that his special musical talent was the decisive factor for admission to the Benedictines - in 1748 he entered monastic life in Zwiefalten with his profession . The decision to join the order may have been made of its own accord, but it could also have been influenced by the parents. In the monastery Zwiefalten Weinrauch held the posts of Subpriors and Ordenskapitulars. The composer, Father Columban Habisritter (1683–1755) , who was also active in Zwiefalten, could have had a musical influence on him. In his sphere of activity, Ernest Weinrauch was known as an outstanding counterpoint artist, organ player and composer . According to the current state of research, he devoted himself exclusively to church music .

Father Weinrauch died in the monastery on April 9, 1793. The entry in the abbey's register of deaths, along with the entry in the baptismal register, is probably the most valid document on the composer's life to date: Obitus Dom. R P. Ernesti Weinrauch, Man. Civil. Hoc item anno. 9 - apr. Post horam 8 ™ noctumampie in Domino obüt, Dom. RP Ernestus Weinrauch, Donauverdanus; Sub-Prior, et chori Regens per annos 30. et ultra. aetatis 63. a Professione 45. S acerdos 38. Musicus, et Componista insignis; rei inde camouflage superbiens, on elatus animo; Dilectus Deo et hominibus, de quo vere illud. Qui pius, prudens, humilis, pudicus, sobrius, castus fuit, et quietus, Vita dum praesens vegetavit ejus artus. Obüt, post brevem dierum aliquot aegrotatiomm, exfatali corporis tumore, orto ex sternia aquosa. R. LP.

In addition to the naming of his offices and the exact designation as performing musician and composer (Musicus et Componista), the description of his character is interesting. It must have been a popular (dilectus Deo et hominibus), pious, calm and reserved person. At least that's what words like plus, humilis, pudicus, sobrius, castus, quietus convey. Perhaps this reluctance is a reason why Weinrauch - in contrast to numerous monastery composers of his time - did not have any of his works printed. A printing and edition of the composer's works would have contributed to the honor of Zwiefalten Abbey and the ruling abbot. Why the incumbent abbots and the composer were not interested in this remains in the dark.

plant

The music of Father Weinrauch and those around him largely has its own musical aesthetic. Often it does not coincide with the much better known, so-called “ Viennese Classic ”. It often goes other ways and has more in common with the music of the “sensitive style” of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788) or the “ Mannheim School ” from the time of Elector Carl Theodor von der Pfalz (1724–1799). In addition, the influences are in Salzburg acting Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806) unmistakable, standing with the Upper Swabian kingdom monasteries in contact. Weinrauch's earliest datable composition to date, the setting of Psalm 129 De profundis , has the title of the year 1761. The parts are in the music library of the Ottobeuren monastery . The next composition with the date, the Offertorium de una virgine Veni sponsa Christi , names the year 1763 in the title. The composition has been preserved from the holdings of the former Isny monastery . Whether P. Weinrauch composed earlier remains uncertain, but since he had already made his profession on January 1, 1748 and celebrated his first class on January 6, 1755, it can be assumed that his composing activity did not begin with the assumption of office at the beginning of the 1760s Years - and thus in the middle of his life at the age of 30 - began.

The traditional repertoire covers almost all branches of vocal music customary at the time . In addition to settings for the Ordinarium Missae (Masses, Requiem), Offertories, Vespers , Marian antiphons , Psalms , Stabat mater, etc., P. Weinrauch has written two German-language oratorios : Cain and Abel , which was performed in Zwiefalten a few years ago in an edited version and that Passion Oratorio Die Geislung Christi . He also wrote music for so-called school plays or school dramas, operatic plays for the monastery school and the college in Ehingen .

effect

Only a few documents give timely evidence of Ernest Weinrauch's work within the monastery. It is certain, however, that his duties also included the musical training of the monastery students. So the later Ottobeuren Composer Father went Conrad Bagg and Conradin Kreutzer , who received lessons since 1789, out of his school.

Although Father Weinrauch did not have any of his works printed, his music was known far beyond the borders of his homeland. The spread of his works extended to distant Mariazell in Styria or to Disentis in Switzerland. His musical works were also played in the monasteries in the Black Forest , and there is evidence that it was in the Abbey of St. Peter . More recent research results even show that their distribution extended as far as Poland and Hungary. Imperial Baron Franz Friedrich Sigismund August Böcklin von Böcklinsau (1745–1813), a. a. Chamberlain in the service of Duke Carl Eugen , P. Weinrauch counts in his contributions to the history of music published in 1790 : especially in Germany among the "well-known good" church musicians of his time.

Pater Weinrauch's compositions certainly served other musicians as models for their own works. This can be seen in the music of the Benedictine August Violand (1750–1811), who worked in the St. Trudpert monastery in the Münstertal until its dissolution - Zwiefalten and St. Trudpert were in close contact in the 18th century. Violand's works are similar in details to those of wine smoke, so that a direct influence can be assumed here.

literature

• Torsten Mario Augenstein, 18th century music in the Upper Swabian region. P. Ernestus Weinrauch OSB (1730–1793) Zwiefalten, St. Ottilien 2006.
• Rupert Kohlmayr, The Marian antiphon "Salve Regina" in a liturgical historical exhibition, in: Bibel und Liturgie 17, Klosterneuburg 1950.
• Eberhard Stiefel, Weinrauch, in: MGG1, Vol. 14, Kassel et al. 1968.
• Torsten Mario Augenstein :  Weinrauch, Ernestus. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 21, Bautz, Nordhausen 2003, ISBN 3-88309-110-3 , Sp. 1527-1529.

Web links

• Internet presence about the person Ernest Weinrauch and the performance of his works in the Upper Swabian region