Karl Häßler
Karl Amandus Wilhelm Häßler (born June 14, 1849 in Sondershausen , † January 2, 1914 in Lübeck ) was a German conductor and composer .
Life
origin
One of his ancestors was Johann Wilhelm Häßler, "one of the finest minds" from the time between Bach and Mozart . His compositions gained more attention at the time of Karl's death.
career
Karl received violin and piano lessons from his father, the then Princely Chamber Musician L. Häßler . He then perfected himself in violin playing with the court concertmaster Ulrich and learned theory from the court music director Frankenberger . All three were members of the Princely Chapel .
From 14 to 20 years of age, Häßler was a member of the court orchestra in Sondershausen. When he moved to Berlin , he took lessons there from Heinrich Ehrlich and Franz Brendel ( piano ). With Friedrich Kiel and later Eduard Marxsen in Altona , the latter was the teacher of Brahms , he studied theory and composition theory ( harmony theory , counterpoint , form theory in music , instrument theory ).
During his traveling years Karl worked as a theater conductor at the city theaters of Danzig , Stettin , Cöln , Berlin ( National Theater ), Posen , Bremen and Aachen . After he was recommended by the best testimonials from Max Bruch and Carl Reinthaler from Bremen, Hofkapellmeister Frankenberger from Sondershausen and others, he was elected choir master of the Lübeck Liedertafel , which was then in great bloom, on November 29, 1879 , and on January 7, 1880 by Eduard Hach in introduced his office.
Other associations also secured the services of the choir conductor. Häßler was at the head of the mixed seamen's choir from 1886 to 1891 and the Polyhymnia from 1886 to 1888. From 1881 to 1882 he was the conductor of the mixed choir in Eutin . In the late autumn of 1891 he took over the management of the Concordia Quartet Association . After its merger with the Lübeck Liederkranz in 1900, he took over the leadership of the Liederkranz Concordia association, which was still in bloom when he died . On Sunday, January 4th, 1914, a concert of the association was to take place under his direction.
In 1886, Häßler was elected a member of the Federal Council of the Lower Saxony Singers' Association , to which he was to belong until his death, for the retiring Otto Dittmer . He demonstrated his competence in leading mass choirs at the X Lower Saxony Singers' Association , which was held from July 30th to August 2nd in Lübeck. Together with Arnold Krug , he directed the major concerts there. Their design should have an influence on the design of the programs of those concerts over the years. As a result, he was also appointed to lead the events in Itzehoe (1896), Bad Oldesloe (1898), Mölln (1900) and Segeberg (1908).
On the 25th anniversary of his activity as a conductor there , Häßler was responsible for promoting German male singing and leading the choirs at public events, for his tireless promotion of music care in the city and for his successful practical and theoretical training of numerous students, including Karl Lichtwark and others Members of the Senate were heard, honored and awarded the title of professor by the Senate .
As a composer, Häßler went public with a series of sound creations. With his own musical sound creations, for example by setting a number of songs to music , which often adorned the programs of the men's choirs , especially those in northern Germany, and by composing several piano and orchestral works, he has made a name for himself that goes far beyond the borders Lübeck was enough.
He was considered an excellent pedagogue and , in his prime, also a splendid piano player, whose interpretations were particularly valued by Bach and Mozart. He had earned himself a respected name as a sought-after music and singing teacher, as he knew how to awaken lust and love in his students for the noble art.
An eloquent sign of the respect he enjoyed in life was the immensely large number of those who, who died as a result of a heart attack , gave him the last escort to the Burgtorfriedhof in the pouring rain of gray and gloomy skies . The singers who owed him many successes, as well as numerous friends and many students, paid him their last respects in large numbers. The regimental band, with whom he had often worked together, played melodies at his grave. The Jakobi pastor Johann Georg Tegtmeyer, a former pupil of Häßler, held the mourning service whereupon the leather wreath Concordia sang the grave song composed by him In the cemetery silent reasons . Mr Dettmann, spokesman for the Lower Saxon Singers' Association, spoke at the open grave and vowed to continue working in the interests of the deceased.
The author of his obituary assumed that Häßler would become a second home and create a permanent memorial for it. However, the war that started that same year and the changes that followed made Häßler forget.
Works (selection)
Between the beginning of the 1870s and 1912, Häßler published a total of 71 opus compositions of various types for a voice, choir, piano and orchestra and in various combinations.
- Op. 1, which appeared in the early 1970s, contains a song for a singing voice: "My heart and your voice."
- Op. 2, a romance for piano, is entitled "Twilight"
- Op. 3, again contains a song for a singing voice: "Love and Sorrow."
Among the pleasant melodies for one or more singing voices were especially the one as Op. 51 published in 1900: “Go out at dawn”. even those as op. 52 Kegler songs "Gut Holz" and as Op. 53: The stopper, "Now let's bravely break the neck of the Rhine wine bottles."
Occasional compositions such as a song for a silver wedding and New Year's Eve can also be found among the musician's products.
- Op. 57 is entitled "Kreuzfidele Leut"
- Op. 58 "The German Song"
- Op. 60 contains the choral work for male choir with three trumpets, which was often sung at the time: "Des Kaisers Reitersleut '"
Mention should also be made of several serious chants , also used for Masonic circles, a number of patriotic sages, funeral songs, etc. But mostly they were cheerful compositions. A typical example of this is what is always sought after for repetitions in performances: "Girl, girl be clever, use your rose season, look for a man who can kiss you hard".
The last composition, Op. 70 contains three male choirs and Op. 71 two male choirs, “In der Teufelsschenke” and “Einflyroman”. The Häßlerschen compositions are first in the publishing of FW Kaibel in Luebeck, later all the music publisher Anton J. Benjamin in Hamburg appeared.
literature
- Professor Karl Hässler. , In: Vaterstädtische Blätter , year 1905, No. 2, edition of January 15, 1905, pp. 12-13.
- Professor Karl Häßler †. , In: Vaterstädtische Blätter , year 1913/1914, No. 15, edition of January 11, 1914, pp. 57–59.
- Professor Karl Häßler †. , In: Lübeckische Blätter , vol. 56, number 1, edition of January 4, 1914, pp. 18-19.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Professor Karl Häßler †. , In: Lübeckische Blätter , vol. 56, number 1, edition of January 4, 1914, p. 18.
- ↑ Hach wrote in his history of the Lübecker Liedertafel from 1882-1892 that Häßler had become the spiritual center and soul of the singers, from whom the invigorating stimulus for the proper care of the German song in its noblest form emanated and of all inartistic and false mass products vigorously fended off the intrusion at the song board.
- ↑ A chain of singers that connects
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Häßler, Karl |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Häßler, Karl Amandus Wilhelm |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German pedagogue, conductor and composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 14, 1849 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sondershausen |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 2, 1914 |
| Place of death | Lübeck |