Johann Ludwig Krebs

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johann Ludwig Krebs (baptized October 12, 1713 in Buttelstedt ; † January 1, 1780 in Altenburg ) was a German composer and organist .

Life

Johann Ludwig Krebs was probably born between October 10th and 12th, 1713 in Buttelstedt near Weimar . He was one of the three sons of Johann Tobias Krebs . He probably received his first music lessons from his father, who had been cantor and organist in Weimar since 1710 . After the death of his mother, Johann Ludwig moved with his father to Buttstädt , where he accepted a position as organist.

In July 1726 Johann Ludwig became a student at the Thomas School in Leipzig , where he was a friend, private student and copyist of Johann Sebastian Bach , the cantor at the time , for nine years .

“But the most outstanding musical talent was possessed by Johann Ludwig […] Bach's relationship with this favorite student was a particularly familiar one. He admired his musical achievements and valued his scholarly knowledge [... He] even managed to sell his compositions [...] As an organ artist, he was undoubtedly Bach's most worthy student, and one of the greatest who ever lived after Bach. "( Philipp Spitta , Bach biographer, 1916)

Audio sample of one of his numerous organ works:

Audio sample: Prelude in F

Various sources attest to his excellent organ playing. In addition, Krebs also played the lute , harpsichord and violin . From 1730 he also sang in the choir.

“He was not only a very good organ player, but also a fruitful composer for organ, piano and church music. […] To describe his excellence, the witty art lovers said in his time: only one cancer was caught in a stream. ”( Johann Nikolaus Forkel , Bach biographer, 1802)

Bach gave Krebs a commendation on August 24, 1735. After studying at the Thomas School, Krebs studied philosophy at Leipzig University for two years.

On May 4, 1737, after successfully applying for this post, Krebs became cathedral organist at the St. Marien Church in Zwickau . Three years later he married the eldest daughter Johanna Sophie of the electoral tax collector Nacke.

In 1742, Krebs applied for the position of organist at the Dresden Frauenkirche with its magnificent Silbermann organ , but refused - presumably due to the insufficient salary. A year later he applied for the position of palace organist in Zeitz , to which he was appointed after an audition on January 2, 1743. However, there was only one defective organ available to him.

As early as 1744, the Thuringian geographer and polymath Johann Gottfried Gregorii Krebs, like Bach and other Bach students, was one of the best German organists.

After Johann Sebastian Bach's death in 1750, Krebs applied in vain for his successor as Thomaskantor . An application as an organist at the St. Johannis Church in Zittau , which also housed a Silbermann organ, was also unsuccessful .

On October 20, 1756, Krebs became organist at the court of Frederick III. von Altenburg , where he worked on the Trost organ, completed in 1739 . He held this position until his death on New Year's Day 1780.

"We enjoyed the pleasure of hearing him here for 23 whole years [...] Even as an old man he was still a youth in the enthusiasm when he sat in front of the organ." (JF Meyner, a citizen of Altenburg)

Johann Ludwig Krebs left seven children behind. The oldest, Johann Gottfried Krebs , became Altenburger Stadtkantor in 1771. His brother Christian Traugott was his father's successor in the office of Altenburg palace organist from 1780.

Works

Beginning of the great prelude in F minor for organ

Numerous compositions by Krebs have survived that were republished in the 20th century. Most famous are his organ works; he also wrote numerous vocal and other instrumental works.

Some of his organ works were wrongly attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach in the past. Therefore, for a long time, also due to ignorance of the actual scope of the work, his organ compositions were measured against those of his teacher. However, Krebs found his own style in which he combined elements of the late baroque with those of the sensitive style and created diverse, emotional compositions from them. His toccatas and fantasies , in particular, have an originality that is unique for the period.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Melissante: Gemüths entertaining historical handbook for citizens and farmers ... Leipzig / Frankfurt 1744, p. 756f.
  2. ^ Ruggero Chiesa (ed.): Johann Ludwig Krebs, Concerto in do maggiore per liuto e archi.
  3. ^ Ruggero Chiesa (ed.): Johann Ludwig Krebs, Concerto in fa maggiore per liuto e archi. and Concerto in sol maggiore per chitarra e archi. Trascrizione del Concerto in fa. (Concerto in G major for guitar and strings. Transcription of the concerto in F major).
personal data
SURNAME Krebs, Johann Ludwig
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German composer and organist
DATE OF BIRTH baptized October 12, 1713
PLACE OF BIRTH Buttelstedt
DATE OF DEATH January 1, 1780
Place of death Altenburg