Heinrich Oberhoffer

Heinrich Oberhoffer (born December 9, 1824 in Pfalzel ; † May 30, 1885 in Luxembourg ) was a Luxembourg composer, organist at the cathedral there , instrumental teacher and music theorist.

Heinrich Oberhoffer

Live and act

Oberhoffer was born as the son of a teacher, sexton and organist in the Pfalzel district of Trier . He probably learned the basics of organ playing from his father and then continued to educate himself. After attending the teachers' seminar in Brühl, Oberhoffer worked as a teacher in Schweich and Trier, where he also worked as an organist at the Gervasius Church (which no longer exists today). In 1856 he was appointed as a teacher at the music and normal school (the school teacher seminar) in Luxembourg, in addition to this office he performed the organ service at the Redemptorist Church. On August 1, 1866, he succeeded the late organist Troes at the cathedral.

In 1868 Oberhoffer took on the Luxembourgish citizenship. From 1862 to 1873 he edited the supranationally important magazine for Catholic church music »Cäcilia«, which Michael Hermesdorff was to continue from 1873 , and created the first Luxembourg diocesan hymn book from 1867.

Oberhoffer was one of the first members of the General German Cäcilienverein, founded in 1868, as well as the Michael Hermesdorff Choral Association, and with them, like Stephan Lück , Peter Piel , Franz Xaver Witt and Peter Wagner, are among the most important restorers of Catholic church music in 19th century. With these he is united by his commitment to the dissemination of the works of the old classical vocal polyphony, the unconditional advocacy of the original version of Gregorian chant, which differs from that of the Medicaea, and the endeavor to improve the training of organists. His organ school, which appeared in 1874, is of particular importance, as it reflects Oberhoffer's many years of pedagogical experience and was to be widely used.

As a music writer and editor, he has been of importance far beyond the borders of West Germany and Luxembourg; the hymns he composed remained alive in Luxembourg and large parts of Germany well into the second half of the 20th century.

As early as 1864, Oberhoffer was accepted into the papal Accademia di Santa Cecilia in the composers section under membership number 4484. His works such as For example, his setting of the Te Deum was received with approval by Franz Liszt himself ; for his rank as organist speaks z. For example, Oberhoffers was invited to the inauguration concert of the Merklin organ of the Basilica St. Epvre in Nancy , which was also played by Anton Bruckner , Charles Renaud de Vilbac (Paris) and Théophile Stern (Strasbourg).

Fonts (selection)

author

• Harmony and composition theory . With special consideration of d. Organ playing in cath. Kirchen, Luxembourg 1860.
• The school of the catholic organist . Theoretical-practical organ school. 3rd edition, Trier 1880.
• Harmony and general music theory , presented briefly and easily with regard to their historical development. 2nd edition, Trier 1883.

editor

• Cecilia . Organ for Catholic Church Music, years 1862–1871

literature

• Ursula Anders-Malvetti, Alain Nitschké, Caroline Reuter, Damien Sagrillo: Luxemburger Musiklexikon . Composers and Performers, Volume 1: 1815-1950. 2nd Edition. Margraf Publishers, Weikersheim 2016, ISBN 978-3-8236-1734-1 , pp. 886-906 ( online ; PDF; 225 KB).
• Alphonse Eichhorn: The Caecilien Association at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg in its 125 years of activity . Luxembourg 1970.
• Gregor Brand: Heinrich Oberhoffer. In: Eifelzeitung , April 24, 2013 ( online ).
• Michael Buchberger: Kirchliches Handlexikon, Vol. 2 , p. 1180.
• Bernhard Hemmerle: Church music in Luxembourg . In: Church Music in the Diocese of Limburg , Issue No. 1 2000, Limburg 2000.
• Marc Jeck: A Trier as a church music reference in Luxembourg. Some biographical stations from the life of the organist and composer Heinrich Oberhoffer (1824–1885) .
• Pierre Nimax, jr .: The church music compositions of the cathedral choir regents and the cathedral organists (1866–1987) of the cathedral . Bertrange 1992.
• Martin Persch : The Trier diocesan song book from 1846 to 1975. A contribution to the history of the Trier diocese liturgy (= Trier theological studies, vol. 44). Trier 1987.
• Martin Persch:  Oberhoffer, Heinrich. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 6, Bautz, Herzberg 1993, ISBN 3-88309-044-1 , Sp. 1073
• 150 Joer Maìtrise of the Cathedral 1844–1994. Festschrift of the Luxembourg Cathedral Choir . Luxembourg 1993.