Johann Michael Claudius Keller

Johann Michael Claudius Keller (born December 29, 1800 in Oberelchingen ; † April 3, 1865 in Augsburg ) was a German composer and church musician .

Life

Keller received singing and piano lessons first in Oberelchingen and Wettenhausen, and later in Augsburg, where he became a student of the cathedral music director Franz Bühlers .

After his training he was employed as an organist first in St. Georg and later in St. Ulrich zu Augsburg. From 1837 he also worked there as choir regent , where - atypical for his time - he also performed the works of old masters such as Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso .

In addition, he was a much-sought-after teacher and worked at the Benedictine high school St. Stephan in Augsburg ; The Limbach composer Karl Kempter was also his student. On October 1, 1839, he took over the position of Kapellmeister of the Augsburg Cathedral , which he held until his death.

plant

Keller wrote a series of four-part, partly orchestrated hymns for the various church festivals. Important works include a Salve Regina for 4 boy's or female voices, a Sanctus and Benedictus for choir with accompaniment of 4 trombones, 2 horns, 2 clarinets and timpani , which was often heard as a supplement to Mozart's unfinished Requiem and his main work, the Canticum Zachariae , called counterpoint , for double choir and solo quartet from 1847 (or 1842), which was initially only intended for the Augsburg Cathedral.

literature

• Andreas Weißenbäck : Sacra Musica. Lexicon of Catholic Church Music. Verlag der Augustinus-Druckerei, Klosterneuburg 1937, p. 207.
• Josef Lautenbacher:  Keller, Johann Michael Claudius . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 51, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1906, p. 105 f.