Friedrich Oskar Wermann

Friedrich Oskar Wermann (born April 30, 1840 in Neichen ; † November 22, 1906 in Dresden ) was a German composer and from 1876 to 1906 Kreuzkantor in Dresden.

Life

Wermann was born on April 30, 1840 in Neichen near Trebsen as the ninth child of the married couple Johann Wilhelm Wermann, village school teacher and cantor, and Johanna Rosina Wermann. After his training at the teachers' seminar in Grimma , he first worked as a teacher in smaller towns near Leipzig and in Dresden. During this time he studied music in Dresden with Karl Kuchten , Gustav Adolf Merkel , Ernst Julius Otto and Friedrich Wieck and from 1864 to 1866 at the Leipzig Conservatory with Moritz Hauptmann , Ignaz Moscheles , Carl Reinecke and Ernst Friedrich Richter . He then worked for two years as a music teacher and organist in Wesserling . In 1868 he became senior teacher for music at the royal teachers' college in Dresden-Friedrichstadt . He was also an organist at the Reformed Church there.

After his election on November 4, 1875 as the successor to Ernst Julius Otto in the office of Kreuzkantor, he became music director of the three main churches in Dresden on January 1, 1876, namely the Kreuz- , the Frauen- and the Sophienkirche . In 1883 Wermann was appointed professor. On June 16, 1884, the Dresden Teachers' Choir was founded as an all-male choir, which Wermann led as the first choir director in 1884 and from 1888 to 1893. In 1905 Wermann became royal councilor. Wermann retired in February 1906 and died after a trip to Italy on November 22, 1906 in Dresden in bitterness over a derogatory assessment of his work. His grave is in the Weißer Hirsch forest cemetery .

Oskar Wermann had an important influence on musical life in Dresden with his 30 years of work as Kreuzkantor. He introduced Franz Wüllner's choir exercises at the Munich Music School as well as theory and voice training lessons in the training of his choir and developed a cappella literature up to Richard Strauss as well as major oratorios . In 1886 he had the choir and the instrumentation enlarged by incorporating the trade house orchestra and the court orchestra . On Good Friday 1879, he conducted the Dresden premiere of the Johannes Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach and thus ensured a Bach renaissance in Dresden.

Wermann's compositional work is stylistically influenced primarily by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Robert Schumann , as well as by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger in polyphony , which can be seen in his organ sonatas in particular.

Church in Oskar Wermann's birthplace Neichen , where he learned to play the organ from his father

Oskar-Wermann-Gasse in his birthplace Neichen

Honoring the 175th birthday in 2015

Oskar Wermann's birthplace honored the important Neichener on his 175th birthday with a varied festive day: An exhibition about the jubilee was on view in the rectory, and Mühlgasse was renamed Oskar-Wermann-Gasse. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the site of the former home of Oskar Wermann's parents, which no longer exists, where he grew up with his eight siblings. After the Kreuzkantor and his work had been honored with a musical ceremony in the fully occupied church in Neichen, a memorial stone was finally unveiled in front of the church with a speech by District Administrator Gerhard Gey .

Works (selection)

Composition (1904) by Friedrich Oskar Wermann

Oratorios, masses and cantatas

• Reformation cantata for choir, solos and orchestra Op. 35
• Mass for 8-part choir and a cappella solos Op. 60
• Christmas Oratorio for Solos, Choir and Orchestra Op. 110
• Mass for male choir and solo quartet Op. 116
• Passion cantata In eclipses of death lies around the earth for soprano solo, mixed choir and organ Op. 138

Works for organ

• Three organ movements for concert use in the form of a sonata (1st sonata) in G minor, Op. 45
• 2nd Sonata in C minor Op. 70
• Three performance pieces Op. 83
• Three performance pieces Op. 88
• Eight characteristic performance pieces for use in concerts and in church services, Op. 93
• Good Friday and Golgotha . Fantasy piece for organ Op. 94
• Passacaglia in E minor Op. 95
• Three performance pieces Op. 102
• 3rd Sonata ( Sonate pastorale ) in D major Op. 114
• Six performance pieces of medium difficulty for organ for use in worship and concert op. 123
• Three easy performance pieces Op. 136
• Three preludes and fugues on the tones of the bells of the Kreuzkirche in Dresden E, G, A, H, D Op. 146

Works for piano

• 3 pieces Op. 1
• 6 pieces Op. 2
• 8 Studies Op. 3
• 24 easy melodic studies Op. 6th
• Six easy character pieces Op. 8th
• Three pieces of clay sheets of memory. Op. 9
• Twelve lecture studies in the form of character pieces for use in lessons and in Concert Op. 29

Chamber music

• Largo religioso for violin (horn or violoncello) and organ (or harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 24
• Three performance pieces for violin and organ Op. 49
• Sonata in G minor for violoncello and organ or pianoforte Op. 58
• Two pieces for violoncello (violin) and organ (or harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 72
• Two performance pieces for viola or clarinet or cor anglais and organ (or harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 81
• Two performance pieces for violoncello and organ Op. 92

Songs

• Six songs for 1 voice with pianoforte Op. 17th
• Four songs for 1 middle voice with pianoforte Op. 26th
• Four chants for tenor (or soprano) with pianoforte Op. 31
• Spring greeting: "Now a new blessing wells up". Sacred song for soprano (or tenor) with organ and harp, also violin, or violoncello, or F-horn with harp (pianoforte) alone, or with harp (pianoforte) and organ (harmonium) Op. 37
• Three chants for baritone (or mezzo-soprano) - for tenor (or soprano) with pianoforte Op. 39
• All joy, pure bliss. Duet for soprano and tenor with violoncello and pianoforte Op. 47
• Eight duets for 2 voices with pianoforte Op. 48
• Eliland. A song from the Chiemsee. by Karl Stieler. Ten chants for 1 high voice - for 1 low voice with Pianoforte Op. 51
• Five songs for 1 high voice - for 1 low voice with pianoforte Op. 53
• Six sacred chants for 1 voice with organ or pianoforte Op. 59
• Six old hymns (from the 16th century) with new tunes for 1 solo part and organ (harmonium or pianoforte) for use in church and house Op. 64
• Six songs for soprano (or tenor) with pianoforte Op. 65
• Six chants (ballads and songs) for 1 voice with pianoforte Op. 68
• Six songs for 1 voice with pianoforte Op. 74
• Three sacred songs for 1 voice with organ or pianoforte Op. 79
• Three sacred songs for 1 voice with organ or pianoforte Op. 82
• Four sacred chants for 1 voice with organ (harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 84
• Six songs for 1 voice with pianoforte Op. 88
• Four easy duets for 2 voices with pianoforte Op. 89
• Three biblical pieces for 1 voice and organ (or harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 90
• Three biblical solo chants with organ (or harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 96
• Four sacred chants for one voice with accompaniment of the organ, the harmonium or the pianoforte Op. 100
• Three sacred songs for 1 high voice - for 1 low voice with organ (pianoforte or harmonium) Op. 107
• Three sacred songs for tenor - for baritone with organ (harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 111
• Three sacred songs for soran (or tenor) - for mezzo-soprano (or alto) and organ (harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 113
• Children's life in winter . Children's festival with violin, cello, pianoforte and harmonium Op. 115
• Three sacred songs for 1 voice with organ (or pianoforte) Op. 117
• Two sacred songs for soprano and alto with organ (harmonium or pianoforte) Op. 122
• Two sacred songs for 1 voice with organ (or pianoforte) Op. 124
• Nine chants for 1 high - for 1 low voice with pianoforte Op. 125
• Spiritual songs Op. 129

Choral works

• It blows through the blossoming trees. for male choir Op. 11 No. 3
• Four spiritual male choirs Op. 12
• Six sacred songs for SATB Op. 15th
• Two easy motets and a salvum fac regem for SATB Op. 16
• Four songs for three-part female choir with pianoforte Op. 18th
• 21 chants for mixed choir Op. 19th
• Two motets for five-part choir and solo parts Op. 21st
• Hymn (Psalm 5) Lord, hear my voice. for alto solo, choir and organ (or pianoforte) Op. 22nd
• Psalm 100 Shout out to the Lord. for double choir and solo voices Op. 23 No. 1
• Our Father. Op. 23 No. 2 Motet for two four-part choirs
• Seven sacred chants for SATB for use in the services of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Dresden Op. 28
• Six secular chants for SATB Op. 32
• The beauty of nature: “Rejoice in the beautiful earth” for four male voices Op. 33
• Four men's quartets Op. 34
• Eighteen easy spiritual songs for SATB for use in church and home Op. 36
• Psalm 1 Good for him who does not walk for mixed choir and solo voices Op. 40
• Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd. for mixed choir and solo voices a cappella or with organ Op. 41
• Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the mountains. for mixed choir and solos a cappella or with orchestra or organ Op. 42
• Hymn (Psalm 7) In you, Lord, I trust. for solo (soprano or tenor), mixed choir and organ (or pianoforte) Op. 43
• Three songs for mixed choir Op. 46
• Psalm 103 Praise the Lord my soul. for double choir and solo voices Op. 54
• Psalm 98 Sing a new song to the Lord. for 2 mixed choirs a cappella Op. 56
• Te Deum for solos, choir and orchestra Op. 57
• Twelve easy sacred chants for SATB for use in church and house Op. 66
• Hymn to celebrate German national festivals for male choir, soprano or tenor solo and large orchestra Op. 67
• Magnificat for choir and organ Op. 69
• The Mette of Marienburg . Ballad for male choir, solos and orchestra Op. 75
• Six songs for male choir Op. 76
• Two psalms for 2 choirs and solo voices a cappella Op. 77
• Ten German folk songs set for male choir, Op. 78
• Raise the banner. Flag song for male choir Op. 83a
• Six slogan motets for mixed choir Op. 86
• Six songs for male choir Op. 91
• Gypsy life: "Ring on the bare mountains". Ballad-like choral singing for SATB Op. 97
• Five sacred chants for mixed choir Op. 99
• Christmas carol A tender, divine child. For three-part choir (soprano, alto and tenor or baritone) with organ (or pianoforte) Op. 108
• Psalm 51 God, have mercy on me for your kindness for mixed choir Op. 109
• Motet for the Feast of Epiphany Get up, become light for mixed choir. Op. 112
• Children's life in winter. Children's festival with violin, cello, pianoforte and harmonium Op. 115
• Motet Sing to the Lord a New Song for SATB Op. 118
• Two sacred chants for SATB Op. 119
• Motet The Stream of Life: “A stream has flowed” . for 2 four-part mixed choirs and 8 solo voices Op. 120
• Psalm 21 Lord, the King rejoices in your strength. for 2 four-part choirs and 8 solo voices Op. 121
• Three chants for male choir Op. 128
• Motet Dies irae, dies illa: "day of wrath, day of judgment". for SSATBB Op. 131
• Motet My soul is quiet to God: "And yet there must be the right way to the father's house". for SSATTB Op. 132
• Motet Thank the Lord for he is kind to SSATBB Op. 133
• Six easy sacred choral chants (SATB) for worship use Op. 140

Dramatic works and orchestral works

• Music for the Christmas fairy tale The miracle bell . Op. 25th
• King Witichi's symphonic poem . Op. 52
• Opera Vineta. (HS Mosenthal)

Other publications

• About tone formation, pronunciation, etc. Breathe while singing with special consideration for singing lessons in schools for teachers, conductors and friends of singing. Essen 1884.

literature

• Friedrich Blume (Ed.): Music in the past and present . Volume 14. Bärenreiter, 1949, ISBN 3-7618-1100-4 , p. 482 ff.
• Hans John: The Dresden Kreuzchor and its cantors. Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-374-00177-7 , from page 102
• Antje Müller / Annett Schmerler: Friedrich Oskar Wermann. Curriculum vitae / directory of the sacred and organ works , in: The Dresden Church Music in the 19th and 20th centuries , ed. by Matthias Herrmann, Laaber 1998, pp. 181–196 ( Musik in Dresden 3), ISBN 3-89007-331-X
• Antje Müller: On the life, work and work of Friedrich Oskar Wermann (1840–1906) with special consideration of his organ compositions. Master's thesis 1997, TU Chemnitz

Newspaper articles

• Haig Latchinian : Neichener honor their biggest son - On the 175th birthday of Dresden's ex-Kreuzkantor Oskar Wermann: residents rename alley and unveil memorial stone. In: Leipziger Volkszeitung , Muldental edition, May 2, 2015, page 29
• Frank Schmidt: Dresdener Kreuzkantor comes from Neichen - festival program for Oskar Wermann's 175th birthday. In: SachsenSonntag, advertising newspaper for Wurzen, Grimma and the surrounding area, April 26, 2015, pages 1 + 3
• Haig Latchinian: The Bach understanding from Neichen. - On April 30th, family, friends and admirers will celebrate his 175th birthday: Oskar Wermann worked for 30 years as Kreuzkantor in Dresden, where he popularized his Leipzig “colleague” Bach. In: Leipziger Volkszeitung , Muldental edition, April 21, 2015, page 27 (full-page newspaper article)
• Bert Endruszeit: A street for the royal councilor. Trebsen would like to honor the native Neichener and later Kreuzkantor Wermann. In: Leipziger Volkszeitung , Muldental edition, October 9, 2014, page 37

Web links

• Sheet music and audio files by Friedrich Oskar Wermann in the International Music Score Library Project
• Works by and about Friedrich Oskar Wermann in the catalog of the German National Library
• Selection of works [1] and [2] by Friedrich Oskar Wermann at Hofmeister XIX

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Information from the printed "Invitation to commemorate Prof. Oskar Wermann on April 30, 2015 in Neichen" (available)
2. ↑ Information from the printed "Invitation to commemorate Prof. Oskar Wermann on April 30, 2015 in Neichen" (available)
3. ↑ Renaming of the street Mühlgasse to Oskar-Wermann-Gasse in Neichen from May 1, 2015. (PDF) City of Trebsen, accessed on October 28, 2018 . 
4. ↑ Eyewitness report
5. ^ Also in the archive of the Dresden Kreuzchor