Robert splendor

Karl Robert Pracht (born April 12, 1878 in Mulhouse , Reichsland Alsace-Lorraine , † May 4, 1961 in Karlsruhe ) was a German school musician and composer . He is best known for various violin and piano works (études) as well as for his numerous choral songs.

Pracht was born as the son of the conductor Robert Ottmar Pracht in Mulhouse, Alsace. After completing his school education, he attended the teachers' seminar in Meersburg and then studied from 1900 to 1904 at the University of Music in Mannheim . In the meantime he passed the state examination for music in Karlsruhe in 1902.

After a short teaching position in Meersburg and at the teacher training institutes in Freiburg and Karlsruhe, Pracht was appointed to the Humboldt-Gymnasium in Karlsruhe, where he worked as a music teacher for over two decades until his retirement in 1945. In the course of this activity he created numerous school music works for piano, violin and wind instruments as well as musicological publications.

In addition, Pracht led various choral societies, u. a. the men's choir "Badenia" in Karlsruhe, the Liederkranz in Bruchsal , the men's choir Frohsinn in Kirrlach and the men's choir Eintracht in Bad Langenbrücken . The traditional choral literature enriched splendor with numerous own compositions. The Badischer Sängerbund recognized splendor with the award of the Konradin Kreutzer Medal. In 1953 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit for his artistic work .

Pracht died in Karlsruhe in 1961 at the age of 83. He had been married to Maria Frieda Elisabeth Reiss since 1909, with whom he had their son Robert Ludwig Pracht (born 1916).

His most popular choral works, “Das Morgenrot” and “Weinland”, are still performed mainly in German-speaking countries, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

Works (selection)

• Over 200 choral songs
  • The dawn
  • The day is breaking
  • German spring
  • Three carnations
  • Three roses
  • Eternal melody
  • Lenzlust
  • My Hegau
  • Moor grave
  • O German forest
  • Roland
  • Sunday is today
  • Wanderlust
  • Wine country
  • Landlady, pour some
• Piano works
  • Beceuse and Scherzo for piano
  • Youth album for piano
  • Atmospheric pictures for piano
• Works for chamber music and orchestra
• Singing games
• Migratory birds

swell

• Federal Cross of Merit for Robert Pracht. In: Badische Latest Nachrichten , No. 279 (November 28, 1953).
• Robert Pracht †. In: AZ Allgemeine Zeitung , May 9, 1961.
• School musician and composer. A memorial sheet for Robert Pracht, who died at the age of eighty-three. In: Baden's latest news , May 10, 1961.

Web links

• Literature by and about Robert Pracht in the catalog of the German National Library
• MIDI file from Weinland (for mixed choir)
• MIDI file of Das Morgenrot (for male choir)