Lucerne School of Organists

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The Lucerne School of Organists was the first higher music school in Lucerne to receive a state diploma (cantonal organist patent).

history

It was founded in 1889 by the monastery organist Franz Josef Breitenbach (1853–1934). The project to found such a school for the training of theologians and teachers to become organists came from the Diocesan- Cecilia Association of the Diocese of Basel . The Breitenbach school of organists soon found recognition and regular support from church and state authorities, so that the students could be offered a solid technical basis in theoretical and technical terms. The lessons extended to the methodology of organ playing, accompaniment of chant and polyphonic singing, knowledge of organ studies, music and harmony, Gregorian chant as well as choral direction and liturgy. Liturgy and chorale lessons were given by Stiftskaplan Jakob Wüest, Pastor Ignaz Kronenberg, composer, and Friedrich Frei, Canon at St. Leodegar Abbey in Lucerne. In 1911, as the owner of the school, the diocesan association renounced all previous rights and the Lucerne School of Organists became a purely cantonal institute.

Head of the school

From 1889 to 1905 Franz Josef Breitenbach was director of this diocesan and cantonal organist school; from 1905 the school was run by his son Josef Breitenbach (1880–1955); In 1948 Josef Garovi (1908–1985), since 1934 teacher at the organist school and 1948 deputy of the organist Josef Breitenbach at the court organ, became director of the organist school in Lucerne, which he led until his appointment to Valais (1956). From 1956 to 1985 the Lucerne organist Eduard Kaufmann (1917–1985) was responsible for the school with a state diploma. In 1985, after the death of Eduard Kaufmann, the organist school was no longer continued.

Important pupils were the composer Fritz Brun and Carl Vogler, director of the Zurich Conservatory .

Literature and Sources

  • Josef Anton Saladin: Music maintenance at St. Leodegar Abbey in Lucerne. Stans 1948.
  • Swiss Music Encyclopedia, Edgar Refardt , Willi Schuh , Hans Ehinger. Zurich 1939.
  • Angelo Garovi: Music History of Switzerland. Bern 2015.
  • Estate of the Breitenbach family (privately owned)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Breitenbach, Franz Josef. In: schwaebische-orgelromantik.de. Retrieved October 19, 2019 .