Hedwig Bilgram

Hedwig Bilgram (born March 31, 1933 in Memmingen ) is a German organist and harpsichordist . She was a professor of organ and harpsichord at the University of Music and Theater in Munich .

Life

Hedwig Bilgram received music lessons from Thilde Kraushaar at an early age . She attended the Vöhlin grammar school in Memmingen . After graduating from high school, she studied piano and organ at the Munich University of Music and Theater , with Karl Richter , among others . In 1956 she received first prize in the organ subject at the competition of German universities , followed by first prize for organ in the ARD International Music Competition in 1959 .

Hedwig Bilgram played at many concerts with well-known conductors such as Leonard Bernstein , Herbert von Karajan , Diethard Hellmann and Rudolf Kempe . In 1971 she took over the world premiere of Harald Genzmer's Concerto for Organ and Orchestra.

She played the organ and the harpsichord in many performances and recordings of her former teacher Karl Richter. Hedwig Bilgram's continuo style tied directly to Richter's understanding, who viewed the basso continuo as the basis of baroque composition. Hedwig Bilgram's figured bass playing was characterized by improvisation, joy of color and a sense of sound. Organ and harpsichord are always clearly audible with her as the interpreter; she always added color, dynamism and rhythm to the overall sound. According to the latest research, this practice corresponds more closely to the actual historical circumstances than a veil of sound from the figured bass instruments that is merely exposed in chords and barely audible.

From 1961 to 1998 she taught organ at the University of Music and Theater in Munich, and from 1964 also harpsichord as a full professor.

Hedwig Bilgram made numerous recordings and CDs. In recent times, the artist has increasingly turned to the fortepiano and recorded a CD that was released on the Cavalli Records label . Her concert series with trumpeter Maurice André are particularly well known .

student

Belong to their students

• Rolf Basten
• Susanne Doll , titular organist at St. Leonhard and St. Paulus in Basel
• Michael Eberth , harpsichordist and music teacher
• Volkher Häusler , conductor and church musician
• Michael Lochner , regional church music director
• Lionel Party , harpsichordist and music teacher
• Josef Still , organist

Web links

• Works by and about Hedwig Bilgram in the catalog of the German National Library
• Hedwig Bilgram in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Hedwig Bilgram at Discogs (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} short biography operamusica.com
2. ↑ Coburg Bach Choir: Bach Trumpet Gala ( Memento of the original from January 29, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed January 29, 2015. 
3. ↑ memmingen.de: Hedwig Bilgram celebrates 80th birthday , accessed on January 29, 2015.