Musical Academy from 1812 in Burscheid
The Musicalische Academie zu Burscheid from 1812 is Germany's oldest amateur orchestra.
history
In 1812, Jakob Salentin von Zuccalmaglio founded a company that "has the sole purpose of entertainment and training in the art of music". Zuccalmaglio was a notary and worked as a maire (mayor) in Schlebusch (now a district of Leverkusen ). He played the cello and violin. The members of the orchestra were educated citizens who made music for the joy of music.
The founding of the orchestra is considered a sign that the position of music in people's lives has changed. Up until the French Revolution in 1789, music could only be heard in churches and courts, or in the large aristocratic houses. The since then strengthened and self-confident bourgeoisie took a lively part in cultural life and increasingly influenced it.
A lay orchestra was also founded in Burscheid , a small town in the Bergisches Land, which gave concerts and soon became an integral part of urban life. The conductor and individual members gave lessons on the instruments. Some of the conductors composed themselves, the best known being Ewald Strässer (1867–1933).
The most prominent listeners at the Musical Academy were the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1847), the composer Max Bruch (1878), Federal President Theodor Heuss (1950) and former Federal President. D. Walter Scheel (1990).
After 1945 the association devoted itself increasingly to promoting young talent; Young people were taught free of charge and a youth string orchestra was founded. A local wind orchestra proceeded in a similar way. This led to the founding of the Burscheid Music School in 1972 . Today 360 students are trained here on all instruments.
The Musicalische Academie experienced a particular boom since the 1980s. The 175th anniversary (1987) was celebrated with lectures, concerts and a ceremony. A highlight was the world premiere of the Katana base by Henning Frederichs , the Cologne professor for Protestant church music.
present
Today the orchestra has around 40 members of all ages and professions. Symphonic music and solo concerts from the Baroque and Classical periods to Schubert form a focus of the repertoire. However, the orchestra is too small for romantic music. For the solo part of the solo concerts, the Academy engages young, aspiring professional musicians.
From 1995 to 2019 Wolfgang Georg was conductor and musical director. David Boakye-Ansah has been the orchestra's conductor since August 2019.
The Academy is a registered, non-profit association and a member of the Federal Association of German Lover's Orchestra (BDLO).