Leni Timmermann

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Leni Timmermann (born March 5, 1901 in Witten ; † September 27, 1992 in Hamburg ; born as Helene Pahlenberg ) was a German pianist , piano teacher, choir director, singing teacher, composer and author (poetry, light music). She composed folk melodies and wrote texts for children's, hiking, mood and Christmas carols as well as poems for public and private events, e.g. B. Birthdays and anniversaries. 24 songs were published in arrangements.

Life

Leni Timmermann was born as Leni Pahlenberg, the daughter of a plasterer and building contractor, and grew up in Marl-Hüls near Recklinghausen after the family moved . As a primary school student, she received her first piano lessons from the music teacher and organist Dammann.

Portrait from the student days

During the First World War, Leni Pahlenberg did military service, but also attended the Witte Conservatory in Essen and later, from 1919, the Recklinghausen Conservatory and completed her subsequent music studies at the Academy for Language, Movement and Music in Münster / Westf. In 1927 she graduated as a student of the singing soloists Georg Voigt and Eva von Skopnik with an examination in piano and singing. Then she gave in Marl-Hüls / Westf. Piano and initially also singing lessons. At the same time she worked as a pianist, partly as an accompanist for violin and vocal soloists, partly also with her students, mainly at local music events at club level, for example in Lüdenscheid , the mother's place of origin, on the occasion of the grandfather's golden anniversary as a singer. During this time, she wrote her first independent compositions.

In the 1920s she led a youth group of the Patriotic Women's Association , in which music was also cultivated. In 1931 she married the secondary school teacher Franz Timmermann, with whom she had two children, Franz Hubert in 1933 and Margarete in 1940. In 1933 she decided not to join the Reichsmusikkammer , which in fact led to a professional ban, because she was no longer allowed to perform in public without their permission. Details are not known about this process, because the relevant files of the Reichsmusikkammer were allegedly destroyed during the war (information from the Federal Archives of September 10, 2004). Leni Timmermann withdrew into private life and was only a housewife and mother in the following years.

After 1945 she gave piano lessons again. From 1970 she and her son Franz Hubert Timmermann published 24 of their compositions as sheet music and on records. She died in Hamburg on September 27, 1992.

music

The pieces, created for private and smaller public occasions, are evidence of a cozy interiority from the times of inner emigration. The topics relate to everyday life: home, sociability, family, contemplation, intimacy, but also religious seriousness and reflection. Partly with the success that English, Latvian, Norwegian and Russian ensembles also liked the songs (“she composed mainly light and folk music”, according to the International Encyclopedia of Women Composers ). The arranger and first translator was the English composer and BBC Music Producer and Organizer David Cox (1916–1997). Leni Timmermann's songs have been published as sheet music and partly in several languages ​​on around 30 records and CDs. Her pieces were only performed in the post-war period, but quickly gained an audience in the local area, were then recorded for the radio and finally received a response in the press.

State of research, posterity

The family's private documents were lost in the war. As a result, there is a need for research on Leni Pahlenberg's appearances (before the marriage) for the years from approx. 1918–1933 using the newspaper holdings in the Recklinghausen city archives and the surrounding area on the basis of newspaper reports in the local press, information from event programs and the registrations of the GEMA predecessor , the STAGMA .

Until her retirement in 1966, Leni Timmermann worked as a piano teacher, pianist and organist, mainly at church, social and private events. As a composer she only became known to a wider public relatively late. At the request of her son, she played a few songs on a tape, which was then submitted to a Hamburg record company, which after updating the texts by the author herself in 1974 for the initially privately financed production of a first record under the title "Abend sinks" on the world ”decided. The title is a line from the lullaby for Leni Timmermann's daughter “Fromm die Blümlein incenden”.

The record was well received by friends and acquaintances and aroused the interest of other record and music publishers, so that finally five more records, around 20 CDs, five music cassettes and three music books with songs followed. The music initially found approval mainly in Westphalia, the Ruhr area and the Sauerland. The compositions have been in print since 1984.

Even in the new millennium, Leni Timmermann will continue to be welcomed: In 2000, a short lecture was dedicated to her at the Musical Congress “Broadway on the Ruhr” in the congress center of the Westfalenhallen Dortmund.

On the occasion of its hundredth birthday, the German Society for Westphalian Music and Music History eV (DGWM) presented a selection of choral songs on CD in 2001. In their hometown of Marl, the music school organized a birthday concert and released it on another CD.

The Leni Timmermann Prize has also been awarded since 2008. The 2008 award winner was Margarita Feinstein.

List of works, editions

Songs

Score of the song "March"
Lyrics of the song "March", written on a baker's bag
  1. Little Drummers (d) around 1976.
  2. First spring (b) around 1975.
  3. Welcome to spring, (f).
  4. Lüdenscheider Wanderlied, (e) revised 1978.
  5. Lüdenscheider Heimatlied, (e) revision 1978.
  6. A grandma went for a walk, (b).
  7. Do you walk towards the sun (d).
  8. The summer of seventy-eight, (d) 1978.
  9. We congratulate our Düsselstadt, (d) 1978.
  10. Magnificent Rhine, (e) approx. 1978.
  11. Memories of Yesteryear, Tango ca.1940.
  12. Remember (The world is beautiful), (f) approx. 1978 (new text to “Outside the window” - No. 19).
  13. Piously the little flowers lean, (b) ca.1934.
  14. Dreamy twilight hour, approx. 1940.
  15. The colorful ball, (b), revised 1967.
  16. Bübchen has to go to sleep now, (b), around 1933.
  17. Now the sun goes to rest, (b).
  18. Lullaby for Julia, (b), ca.1975.
  19. Outside the window, (b), 1940.
  20. Proud November, (Proud November), (a).
  21. Waiting for Christmas, (a).
  22. Quietly floating on angel hands, (See descending from Realms of Glory) (a).
  23. Christmas Tree Legend (Légende de l'Arbre de Noël), (a).
  24. Miracle in Bethlehem, (a) 1944.

Unless stated, the year of origin is not known.

a) Christmas, b) children's, c) hiking, d) carnival, e) home, f) mood songs

Publisher and year of publication (of the notes): Christmas Carols Nos. 22 - 24: Banks Music Publications York YO4 1LB 1999; Others: Ó Rudolf Slezak - Music Publishing 1984, from 2000: Hartmut Kiesewetter Music Publishing Hamburg. "Leni Timmermann Three German Carols", Oxford University Press London 1983

editor

German texts

  • Rudi Bohn (numbers 1, 4, 13, 17, 19, 20, 22)
  • Werner Lang (Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6-12, 14-16, 21, 23)
  • Hans Günter Höller (Nos. 5, 22, 24)
  • August Peter Waldenmaier (Nos. 2, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22)
  • David V. Cox (nos. 22-24)
  • Gerhard Dickel (Nos. 12, 17, 20, 22-24)
  • Wolfgang Trommer (No. 4)
  • Fritz Helmkamp (No. 24)
  • Jürgen Luhn Nos. 4, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18
  • Hartmut Kiesewetter Nos. 1, 6
  • Wolfgang Hochstein nos. 1, 2, 6, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20 - 24
  • Floyd E. Nilsen Nos. 3, 8, 10

Texts in other languages

  • Chinese: Wei Hertz: Nos. 1, 2, 6,7,13,16, 17, 18, 20
  • English: David Cox nos. 22-24; Lionel Salter nos. 20 - 22, 24
  • French: Béatrice Bourgeois, Chantal Pierre No. 23
  • Latvian: Amanda Aizpuriete, Katerina Kanta: nos. 1,2,6,13,17-24
  • Norwegian: Andreas Aagedal nos. 2,3,6,8,10,13,16-24.
  • Russian: Henrietta Drosdowa nos. 22 - 24, Natalia Svoiskaja nos. 12, 17, 20

CDs (selection)

  • CD songs from the Sauerland, edition in memory of Leni Timmermann, nos. 4, 5, Seppenrade: Edition Spillmann 2002
  • CD songs for mother and child by Leni Timmermann and other composers, nos. 2, 13 - 19, distribution: Music Art Emotions, 2005, LC 12492
  • CD Schön ist die Welt, Intermedia / Funkturm Musik, TPL 62.26, 1989, LC 6715
  • CD Vocal Ensemble Isaac St. Petersburg Nos. 22, 23, 24 (Russian) RP 1440, 1999, LC 04188
  • CD 100 years birthday concert for Leni Timmermann, Nos. 2, 8, 9, 13, 19; 2001, LC 12492
  • CD Leni Timmermann Revue. A musical review through the life of the composer and musician Leni Timmermann. With texts, spoken by Thomas Mayr, 2 CDs, Münster: agenda 2007, ISRC De-EG6-07-0001-0051
  • CD Leni Timmermann - Your life in songs, a sounding biography of the Westphalian musician and composer, spoken by Armin Diedrichsen, 2007, Leni's Music LC 12492, ISRC DE – EG6-07-0052-0085
  • CD Wunder von Bethlehem (Miracle in Bethlehem) Christmas carols, annual edition of the German Society for Westphalian Music and Music History, Christmas 2003, Seppenrade: Edition Spillmann, Münster: agenda 2003, (Leni's Music LC 12492).
  • CD Miracle in Bethlehem, nos. 20-24 (English) 1997, SOMM CD 211 LC 12492
  • CD Colorful Balls for Peace, The most beautiful tracks from the musical "Peace in this World" with songs by Leni Timmermann, Nos. 1, 4, 6, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18; Leni's Music LC 12492
  • CD Christmas expectation, nos. 20 - 24, (German and Latvian) Distribution: Music Art Emotions, 2009, Leni's Music LC 12492
  • CD Cantus Connecting Continents - China Nos. 1, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20 (Latvian and Chinese) Distribution: Music Art Emotions, 2009, Leni's Music LC 12492
  • CD [Grieg / Timmermann; Mayr / Thingbœ] in preparation
  • CD [singer from the north; Schola Vocalis] in preparation
  • CD Leni Timmermann 1901–1992, choral songs. Documentation by Robert Spillmann, Münster: agenda 2001 (Music in Westphalia, sound portrait 2)
  • CD Leni Timmermann Revue. A musical review through the life of the composer and musician Leni Timmermann. With texts, spoken by Thomas Mayr, 2 CDs, Münster: agenda 2007, ISRC De-EG6-07-00001-00051

literature

  • Guido Bimberg: Leni Timmermann. Composer from Westphalia , in: Ders .: Women of Music in Westphalia , pp. 112–146, Karthaus-Schmülling, Kamen, 1999, ISBN 3-922100-07-4
  • International Who's Who in Music, 15th ed., Cambridge / England 1996/97
  • International Encyclopedia of Women Composers, 2nd ed., New York / London 1987
  • Bernd Müllender: “Melodies for Lüdenscheid”. In: Stadtheft Lüdenscheid, 1990, p. 12
  • Antje Olivier, Karin Weingartz-Perschel: Composers from A – Z , Düsseldorf, 1988
  • Wilhelm Schepping: “ad marginem” , marginal notes on musical folklore. Cologne. 58/59, 1986/87
  • Robert W. Spillmann (Ed.): Leni Timmermann 1901-1992 , choral songs, German Society for Westphalian Music and Music History (DGWM) Music in Westphalia Sound Portrait 2 (2001). Documentation with CD
  • Robert W. Spillmann: About music teachers - a consideration , In: Musikland NRW, amateur musicians in North Rhine-Westphalia Ed. By Landesmusikrat NRW, Red .: Gisela Probst-Effah and Astrid Reimers. Münster: Agenda-Verlag, 2003. pp. 184-185. ISBN 3-89688-193-0 .
  • Ders .: Christmas with Leni Timmermann. A musical advent calendar. Münster: agenda, 2005 (incl. Music CD). ISBN 3-89688-262-7 .
  • Franz Hubert Timmermann: My mother Leni Timmermann (1901–1992) , portrait of a Westphalian musician and composer, with the assistance of Robert Spillmann, Seppenrade: Spillmann 2001 (New Contributions to Music in Westphalia, 4), ISBN 3-89688-114-0
  • Franz Hubert Timmermann: Leni Timmermann, composer from Westphalia , short lecture at the Musical Congress "Broadway on the Ruhr", June 22nd to 25th, 2000, Congress Center Westfalenhallen Dortmund
  • Same: "Memories of Yesteryear". Memories of Leni Timmermann, musician and mother (in preparation)
  • Franz Hubert Timmermann and Robert W. Spillmann: The Lüdenscheider Wanderlied and the Lüdenscheider Heimatlied, memories of the Westphalian musician and composer Leni Timmermann (1901–1992) . At the same time a contribution to the musical history of Westphalia and the city of Lüdenscheid. Seppenrade: Spillmann 2002 (New Contributions to Music in Westphalia, 5), ISBN 3-89688-138-8 .
  • This: David Vassall Cox and Leni Timmermann. A musical artist relationship . Münster: Agenda 2004 (New Contributions to Music in Westphalia, 6), with CD “Hommage à David Cox” Nos. 22 - 24 (English), LC 12492, ISBN 3-89688-232-5 .

Individual evidence

  • Banks Music Publications (Ramsay Silver), The Old Forge, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LB (English texts of the Christmas carols catalog raisonné nos. 20 + 21).
  • Bergischer Musikverlag Erwin P. Becker, Melanchthonstraße 32, 42653 Solingen (Christmas carol catalog of works nos. 22-24)
  • Hartmut Kiesewetter Musik Verlag, Bahrenfelder Marktplatz 19, 22761 Hamburg (all other titles).
  • Franz Hubert Timmermann, (son of Leni Timmermann), Gerckensplatz 17, D 22339 Hamburg; Collection of evidence and receipts.
  • Westfälisches Musikarchiv Hagen (Stadtarchiv Hagen), Timmermann estate
  • "Leni Timmermann Three German Carols" Oxford University Press London 1983

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Timmermann, Leni
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Pahlenberg, Helene (maiden name); Pahlenberg, Hella (short name); Pahlenberg, Leni (first name); Timmermann, Helene (full married name); Timmermann, Hella (first name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German pianist and author
DATE OF BIRTH March 5, 1901
PLACE OF BIRTH Witten , Ruhr
DATE OF DEATH September 27, 1992
Place of death Hamburg