Neithard Bethke

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Neithard Bethke (born April 2, 1942 in Wöhrden ) is a German church musician .

Life

Bethke was born the eighth of ten children into a pastor's family. His mother was a piano professor. At 13, Bethke took up his first position as organist. He studied church music, composition and conducting in Lübeck , Freiburg im Breisgau , Paris , Madrid and Hamburg . In 1969 he was appointed church musician at Ratzeburg Cathedral . In 1972 he was awarded the title of church music director . He supplemented his education with a degree in musicology , theology and history . In 1988 he received his doctorate with a thesis on Kurt Thomas Dr. phil. In 1999 he was awarded the honorary professorship of the State of Schleswig-Holstein "in recognition and in recognition of his outstanding services to church music and his compositional work as well as his achievements in the 'Ratzeburg Cathedral Music' and cultural exchange with Eastern Europe" . In addition to his musical activities, Bethke was a military leader of the volunteer fire brigade in Ratzeburg from 1993 to 2004 . He has been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on ribbon .

Bethke has given concerts worldwide as a conductor, organist and piano accompanist. His repertoire ranges from sacred oratorios to symphonic music and operas.

On April 30, 2007, he retired as a church musician in Ratzeburg. Other activities followed as conductor of the Academic University Choir of the Zittau / Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and the German Bach Orchestra .

Compositions (selection)

Wöhrden organ book and Wöhrden cantata book

  • Wöhrden cantatas. Choral cantatas for concert organ and instruments, choir and solos; "Surrounded by good powers, faithfully and quietly", "You have risen as a star", "God lives in a light", "The day is gone", op. 7-10 / 1965–1966. Merseburger, Kassel EM 963 - EM 966

Lübeck Motettenbuch and Lübeck Sacred Concerts

  • Lübeck motet book. Motets for 4-8stg. Choir and organ, “O Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”, Quadrivium “Stations on the way to freedom”, Trivium “Jona”, motet “The High Song of Love” ; Words by Franz von Assisi , Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Uwe Steffen and the Holy Scriptures , op. 11-14 / 1967-1968, Kassel: Merseburger, EM 567 - EM 570
  • Lübeck religious concerts. “When I was afraid, I called on the Lord”, “De morte” Little Dance of Death, “Songs from the Servant of God”, “De vita”; based on the words of the Holy Scriptures, medieval text and picture panels, variations on the folk song "It is a reaper, is called death", op. 15-18 / 1969-1970. Merseburger, Kassel EM 580 - EM 582; EM 2121

Songs, madrigals, motets

  • Four song cycles. “Sleep under thorn roses”, “My little bamboo flute”, “By the sea”, “Cave pictures”; u. a. based on poems from “ Des Knaben Wunderhorn ”, adaptations of Chinese poetry, texts by Uwe Steffen and Hilde Domin, for solos and small ensembles', op. 19-22 / 1971–1972. Merseburger, Kassel EM 534
  • Two madrigal cycles. “I'm perplexed”, “Pegasus and Hobby Horse”; based on texts by Erwin Lüddeke for choir and piano, op. 26-27 / 1976
  • Motet cycles. "Winged words", "Psalms", "Spiritual poems", "... and would not have love", "Insolent happiness"; based on texts by Eva Zeller for choir acapella, op. 36-39 / 1981–1982 and op. op. 72/2006
  • "Thirties from a Seventies", hits and evergreens from the middle of the 20th century, newly composed for choir and piano, op. 105/2016
  • Hallig psalms. Motets for choir and organ; according to texts u. a by Dietrich Heyde, op. 96/2014
  • “We are waiting for you, oh son of God”. Choral partita for 4-5-part a cappella choir at the end of the church year, op.71/2005, Kassel 2010: Merseburger, EM 1006
  • Zurich songs. for baritone and harpsichord (piano), op. 89/2012
  • "Drought" & "Wind". Motets for choir and organ; based on poems by Uwe Steffen, op. 95 and 97/2014
  • Five Czech folk songs. for four-part a cappella choir, op. 98/2014
  • "Mozart-like sonnets". Musical fun for four-part choir and piano; based on the words of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and freely based on his “Little Night Music”, op. 102/2015

Oratorio trilogy

  • "Media vita in morte sumus". "Christ natus est hodie". "Crucifixus est pro nobis". Oratorios for Sunday of the Dead , Christmas and Good Friday for four solos, speaker, community singing , large orchestra, op. 23-25 ​​/ 1973-1975. Merseburger, Kassel EM 994, EM 995, EM992

Ratzeburg organ book, Ratzeburg choir music I + II, Ratzeburg choir book

  • Ratzeburg organ book.  “Cathedralis Raceburgensis”, “Cantiones Gregorianae”, symphony in F sharp minor, concerto for two organs on the Te Deum , organ meditations, chorale arrangements, symphony and concert, op. 28-31 / 1977–1978
  • Ratzeburg Choral Music I. “Credo” - Vespers, Whitsun music, St. John's Vespers, Michaelmas Mass, sacred choral music for solos, choir, two organs and orchestra, op. 32 - 35/1979 - 1980
  • Ratzeburg Choral Music II. Choral partita, evening cantatas, psalm cantatas, Reqiemmusiken, songs, motets, new settings of well-known hymns for choir, solos, small ensembles, op. 61-69 / 2001-2004
  • Ratzeburg choir book. Liturgical movements and motets for church service and concert for a cappella choir with instrument and / or organ accompaniment, op. 70/2005. Merseburger, Kassel EM 394

Orchestral works

  • De vita for solo flute and chamber orchestra, op. 40/1983. “De morte” for violin solo and chamber orchestra, op. 41/1984. Appeal “Who it meets” for solo, organ and symphony orchestra based on a poem by Hilde Domin, op. 42/1985. “The Dove” Whitsun Music, op. 43/1986. “Te Deum” concert for organ and large wind orchestra, op. 44/1987. “Concertante” concert music for octet, op. 45/198
  • Symphony No. 1 “Da Pacem”, in three movements for alto solo, tenor solo, choir, organ and large orchestra, op. 50/1991
  • Symphony No. 2 “A Cosmic Parable” for four vocal soloists, choir, organ, piano, percussion and large symphony orchestra, op. 60/2000
  • Symphony No. 3 in five movements for organ, soprano and bass solo and large orchestra  - texts by Leo Tolstoy , op. 90/2014
  • Symphonic Dances for large orchestra, op. 80/2013
  • Arrangement of the six Gellert songs by Ludwig van Beethoven , for soprano and large orchestra, op. 74/2006

Oratorio works

  • Christ - oratory. based on texts from the apocryphal Thomas - Gospel for solos, choir, organ and orchestra, op. 99/2015
  • Sacred oratorio “Lux aeterna”, in ten movements based on words from the Holy Scriptures, the old church fathers, mystical texts from the Baroque and poems from the Romantic period for soloists, choir, organ, piano, large orchestra, op. 100/2016
  • Missa Solemnis “Königsberg Mass” in E flat major, for four vocal soloists, choir, organ, large orchestra based on texts from the traditional liturgy, as well as poems, op. 55/1995
  • Symphonic chorale fantasy at the turn of the millennium. In four movements over four chorales at the end of the year for concert organ, brass quintet, three timpani, bass and snare drum, 7 tubular bells, vocal quartet, op.59 / 1999

Chamber music works

  • Annual musical calendar. 12 small pieces for piano solo, op. 81/2007. Merseburger, Kassel 2008, EM 2168
  • Arrangement of the piano variations in E flat major by Joseph Haydn for string orchestra, op. 85/2010
  • Three Impromptus for piano solo, op. 86/2011
  • Concert music for flute and piano, op. 87/2011
  • Clarinet sextet for clarinet, harp and string quartet, op. 88/2011

Small choir cantatas I + II

  • small choral cantatas I. "The days are so dark", "O you, my consolation and sweet hope", "From heaven high, oh little angel comes", "Angels sing in the fields", cantatas for Advent and Christmas time for soprano solo, Soloist quartet, choir, organ, concert flute and orchestra, op. 46-49 / 1989–1990. Merseburger, Kassel EM 972, EM 917, EM 974, EM 975
  • small choir cantatas II. "Come to the cross with your burdens", "Surrexit Christ hodie - the holy Christ has risen", "Get out of my heart and seek Freud", "Most beautiful Lord Jesus", cantatas for Passion time, Easter time and summer time, solos , Soloist quartet, choir, organ, orchestra, op. 51-54 / 1992-1993

Organ works

  • Ludi organi - a musical travel diary. Volume 1: Ten major organ works, op. 56 / No. 1-10, 1965–1974
  • Ludi organi - a musical travel diary. Volume 2: Chants through the church year. Book 1: Ten Choral Arrangements for Organ, Op. 57 / No. 1-5. Kassel: Merseburger 2011 (EM 1819) ISMN 979-0-2007-1618-4
  • Ludi organi - a musical travel diary. Volume 2: Chants through the church year. Book 1: Ten Choral Arrangements for Organ, Op. 57 / No. 6-10. Kassel: Merseburger 2011 (EM 1881) ISMN 979-0-2007-1679-5
  • Ludi organi - a musical travel diary. Volume 3: Ten works for organ plus instrument or voice, op. 58 / no. 1-10, Kassel: Merseburger
  • Arrangement of the symphony in D minor by César Franck, op. 75/2007
  • Ludus Organisticus. 10 small Zittau organ games, op. 82/2008
  • Arrangement of the Organ Concerto in C major by Joseph Haydn, op. 83/2009
  • Introduction, ricercar and chorale for 8 solo instruments and organ or harpsichord, op. 84/2010
  • Toccata fantastica. for large organ, op. 92/2012
  • Suite for organ. 10 small organ pieces, op. 101/2014
  • Ten arrangements for organ. of original orchestral works by Handel, Bach, Mozart, Franck, Stravinsky, op. 104/2015

Scenic works and stage works

  • The little Prince. Stage music for puppet theater - for string quintet, three woodwinds, harp, harpsichord and vibraphone, op. 76/2007
  • "Temple - Dance - Death". Incidental music for the play “Gold der Götter” by Fritz Fey for people and puppets (Black Theater) for woodwinds, percussion and piano, op. 77/2007
  • "Musical altar triptych". "The Till Man and Death". Scenic mystery play for a church room , based on textual allegations by Johannes von Saaz (around 1400), op. 78 and 79/2007

Fonts

editor

  • Gotthelf Hoffmann: Betzendorfer Organ Booklet. Merseburger, Kassel (Edition Merseburger 1892) ISMN 979-0-2007-1692-4
  • Johann Trier : Gods God, sublime being. Merseburger, Kassel 2011 (Edition Merseburger 996) ISMN 979-0-2007-3285-6 (Music Archive of the Ratzeburg Cathedral Volume 1)
  • Christian Gotthilf Tag : The godly secret is big every word. Merseburger, Kassel 2014 (Edition Merseburger 997) ISMN 979-0-2007-3287-0 (Music Archive of the Ratzeburg Cathedral Volume 2)
  • Johann Heinrich Rolle : Sing joyfully to the Lord: at the harvest festival. Merseburger, Kassel 2015 (Edition Merseburger 998) ISMN 979-0-2007-3291-7 (Music Archive of the Ratzeburg Cathedral Volume 3)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/Fachinhalte/A/auslösungen/ehrenprofessur.html
  2. ↑ Overview of the military leaders of the Ratzeburg volunteer fire brigade ( Memento of the original from November 9, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / 2014.ffrz.de
personal data
SURNAME Bethke, Neithard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German church musician
DATE OF BIRTH April 2, 1942
PLACE OF BIRTH Woehrden