Peter Kukelka

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Peter Kukelka (born January 20, 1934 in Brașov , Romania ; † March 3, 2018 in Mistelbach (Lower Austria) ) was an Austrian restorer, musical instrument maker and organologist who specialized in the restoration of historical instruments and was highly regarded in this field. In addition, Kukelka was a professor at the Vienna University of Music for 22 years .

Life

The Claviorganum of Josua Pockh restored by Kukelka in the DomQuartier Salzburg

Peter Kukelka was born in Brașov, Romania, in early 1934. His childhood was overshadowed by the Second World War . Little is known about when his family moved to Austria. In Vienna he graduated from RG Wien 18 in 1952, then he studied architecture for a few semesters at the Vienna University of Technology, church music with Josef Mertin, who decisively shaped his attitude, restoration at the Academy of Fine Arts, where he graduated with the title Academic Restorer, and Recorder. Around 1960 he began to reconstruct and build fiddles.

In 1965 he began his work as a restorer of historical musical instruments in the collection of old musical instruments (SAM) of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna in the Neue Burg . This first and only such post in the public service in Austria was created for Kukelka. He carried out this activity until 1971.

From 1971 to 1988 Kukelka had a teaching position on the subject of "Conservation and Restoration of Historical Musical Instruments" at the then Master School for Conservation and Technology of the Academy of Fine Arts , and from 1972 to 1994 he taught historical instrument science and instrument making at the Vienna Music University .

One of Kukelka's most important restoration objects is the Claviorganum , exhibited in the Museum St. Peter - DomQuartier Salzburg - which master Josua Pockh made in Innsbruck in 1591. Kukelka restored it from 1972 to 1974 and made it playable again; Since then it has been the oldest recordable instrument of its kind in the world. He also made replicas of rare historical instruments, such as a Lira da Braccio , built by Giovanni d 'Andrea at the beginning of the 16th century and owned by the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien .

He published articles and articles about his work in specialist books and magazines such as Ars Organi , and they reported on his work.

In addition to his full-time job, Kukelka ran an old Viennese puppet theater together with his wife Helene .

In his home town of Karnabrunn ( Lower Austria ), Kukelka worked as an organist at the local parish and pilgrimage church of the Holy Trinity for almost 40 years and campaigned for the preservation and renovation of the valuable organ (1754, II / 15) that was built on Johann Friedrich Ferstl (approx. 1720–1785) goes back. He donated the income from the puppet theater and its benefit organ concerts for this purpose.

Kukelka was married and the father of five children, including the music teacher Katharina J. Fischer, the composer, conductor and pianist Alexander Kukelka (* 1963) and the ceramicist and restorer Natalia ("Nali") Kukelka (* 1966). His wife Helene is a successful painter. Peter Kukelka died in spring 2018 after a serious illness at the age of 84.

Fonts

  • The restoration of a claviorganum of Josua Pock from 1591 from Innsbruck. In: Walter Salmen (Ed.): Organ and organ playing in the 16th century. Helbing, Innsbruck 1977, pp. 153-163.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Uwe Harten: Kukelka, Alexander Peter. In: Austrian Music Lexicon Online. June 15, 2003, accessed December 13, 2018 .
  2. ↑ a b Helga Kainz: In grateful memory . In: Parish gazette of the parish Grossrussbach and Karnabrunn . No. 3 , 2018, p. 20 ( [1] (online, PDF file)).
  3. ↑ 1952 - BRG18. Accessed December 27, 2018 (German).
  4. ^ A b Alfons Huber: Ecosystem Museum. Basics for a conservation operating concept for the Neue Burg in Vienna . Vienna 2011, p. 63 ( online [PDF]).
  5. ↑ Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna: Lira da braccio. Retrieved December 13, 2018 .
  6. ↑ Bio. Retrieved December 13, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Hannes Leitner: Alexander Kukelka. In: INÖK Interest Group of Lower Austrian Composers. Retrieved December 13, 2018 .
personal data
SURNAME Kukelka, Peter
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian instrument maker and university professor
DATE OF BIRTH January 20, 1934
PLACE OF BIRTH Brașov , Romania
DATE OF DEATH March 3, 2018
Place of death Mistelbach (Lower Austria)