Johann Caspar von Kerll

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Johann Caspar von Kerll, copper engraving, around 1680

Johann Caspar von Kerll (also Hanß Caspar, Kerll, Kerl, Kherl, Kerle, Gherl , born April 9, 1627 in Adorf ; † February 13, 1693 in Munich ) was a German organist , harpsichordist and composer . Although one of the most famous composers and best teachers in his day, Kerll is almost forgotten today, his music is seldom played and there are only a few recordings.

Life

The son of the organ builder and organist Caspar Kerll and his wife Catharina, b. Hendel, probably received his first lessons from his father. He worked at the Michaeliskirche in Adorf, whose organ he built together with Jacob Schedlich . Further training took him to Vienna and Rome (around 1645 to 1649), where he studied with Giacomo Carissimi and perhaps also with Johann Jakob Froberger . It was probably at this time that he converted to the Catholic faith, an important prerequisite for his further career in the southern German-Austrian region. It is questionable whether he took up a position as court organist in Brussels afterwards . From 1656 to 1674 he was director of the court orchestra and the opera house on Salvatorplatz in Munich. He then went to Vienna and worked there as court organist, organist at St. Stephen's Cathedral and as a teacher for keyboard instruments. In 1683 or 1684 he returned to Munich. Nothing more is known about this time, he was buried in the Augustinian Church on February 16, 1693 (today: German Hunting and Fishing Museum ). The grave site no longer exists.

He was knighted on March 1, 1664 by Emperor Leopold I in Regensburg . On May 17, 1668 he and his descendants were given a knighthood (6000  florins ). Kerll married Anna Catharina Egermayer on May 14, 1657, who presumably died of the plague in Vienna in 1682. There were eight children from this marriage. His second marriage was with Kunigunde Hilaris.

Kerll created sacred vocal music, including about 15 masses, and several operas, of which only one, a Jesuit drama , has survived; In addition, he composed numerous works of instrumental music, especially important are his compositions for keyboard instruments, in which he showed himself at the height of the development at that time. His often virtuoso organ and harpsichord music was strongly influenced by Italian music.

Works

Works published in print during his lifetime

Johann Caspar von Kerll, copper engraving, 1815
  • DELECTVS SACRARVM CANTIONVM A II. III. IV. V. Vocibus, cum adjunctis instrumentis. OPVS PRIMVM. Auctore JOHANNE CASPARO KERLL, Munich 1669 (Johann Jäcklin)
  • MODVLATIO ORGANICA SVPER MAGNIFICAT OCTO ECCLESIASTICIS TONIS RESPONDENS. A IOAN: CASPARO KERLL. Ex omnifario Artificii Musici Genere concinnata, Munich 1686 (Michael Wening)
  • Hoc Opus, Hic Labor. MISSAE SEX A IV. V. VI. Vocibus, cum Instrumentis concertantibus, & vocibus in Ripieno, Adjunctâ unâ pro Defunctis cum seq: [uentia] Dies irae CONSECRATAE LEOPOLDO I. IMPERATORI AVCTORE JOANNE CASPARO KERLL, Munich 1686 (Johannes Jäcklin)
  1. Missa non sine quare
  2. Missa Patientiae & spei
  3. Missa SS. Innocentium
  4. Missa Corona Virginum in trino & uno
  5. Missa in fletu solatium
  6. Missa Renovationis
  7. Missa per Defunctis

Handwritten works

  • Missa Nigra
  • Missa Superba
  • Missa cuius Toni
  • Missa Quasi modo Genita
  • Missa a 3 choris
  • Offers
  1. Angelorum esca
  2. Exsultent justi
  3. Justus ut palma
  4. Quemadmodum desiderat cervus
  5. Always Angelus
  6. Tota pulchra es Maria
  7. Triumphate sidera
  • Magnificat in A (four parts)
  • Magnificat (six parts)
  • Laudate pueri

Lost works

  • Missa Imperialis
  • Miserere mei deus

Discography

  • Missa in fletu solatium obsidionis Viennensis - The Ottomans before Vienna 1683 as well as Sonata, Ama cor meum, Triumphate sidera, Passacaglia in d, Tota pulchra es Maria, Canzona, Admiramini fideles, Angelorum esca. Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble, Arno Paduch , conductor. Christophorus label
  • Missa "Non Sine Quare". La Risonanza, Fabio Bonizzoni, organ and direction. Label Pan
  • Missa pro defunctis. Ricercar Consort; Capella Sancti Michaelis, conductor Erik van Nevel. Ricercar label
  • Organ works - Toccata con il pedali in F, Aria con variazioni in d, Ricercata in cylindrum phonotacticum transferenda, Versi in the 1st and 2nd tone, Scaramuza, Ciaccona in C, Battaglia, Five Canzones, Passacaglia in D, Variationi Schmidt in C, Toccata in the 1st tone, prelude in the 1st tone. Léon Berben at the Balthasar-König-Organ of the St. Leodegar monastery church in Niederehe / Rhineland-Palatinate. Aeolus label
  • Organ Works - All free organ works - Toccatas No. 1–8, Canzones No. 1–6, Ciaccona, Capriccio sopra il cucu, Passacaglia, Ricercata, Battaglia. Wolfgang Kogert at the Wöckherl organ in the Franciscan Church (Vienna) . NCA label
  • Delectus Sacrarum Cantionum (extracts). The group for early music Munich, Martin Zöbeley, conductor. Ars Musici label
  • Complete works for keyboard instruments Vol. 2 - Modulatio organica, suites in G, D, F, a. Bernhard Billeter, organ of the monastery church in Rheinau (Switzerland) and clavichord. Label motet

literature

  • Carl Ferdinand Pohl:  guy, Johann Kaspar . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 15, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1882, p. 628 f.
  • Tasler, Angelika: Johann Caspar Kerll . In: Wurst, Jürgen and Langheiter, Alexander (Ed.): Monachia. Munich: Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, 2005. P. 79. ISBN 3-88645-156-9
  • Ernst Ritter: Musician at the Bavarian court in Munich (1650–1730). From: Archive for Family Research, Vol. 34, November 1968, Issue 32, pp. 617–618.

Web links
personal data
SURNAME Kerll, Johann Caspar von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kerll, Hanß Caspar; Guy, Johann Caspar; Kherl, Johann Caspar; Guys, Johann Caspar; Gherl, Johann Caspar
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German organist, harpsichord player and composer
DATE OF BIRTH April 9, 1627
PLACE OF BIRTH Adorf / Vogtl.
DATE OF DEATH February 13, 1693
Place of death Munich