Werner Benz

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Werner Benz (born January 16, 1935 in Heidelberg ; † September 8, 2019 in Bielefeld ) was a German deacon , church music director and former state trombonist .

Life

Werner Benz had been a wind player since 1951, and three years later he was leading a trombone choir in Heidelberg. After training as a craftsman, he passed the master's examination in the shoemaker's trade in 1956, after which he first completed training as a Protestant parish deacon and completed it in 1962 with the deacon and catechist examination. From 1962 to 1963 he studied church music at the Westphalian State Church Music School in Herford with a focus on wind choir conducting. He was then from 1963 to 1967 trombone attendant of the Lippe regional church . In 1967 he was appointed state trombonist in the Evangelical Church of Westphalia , where he was also the managing director of the trombone factory in the Ev. Until his retirement in 2000. Church of Westphalia. Particularly educational and artistic focal points that go beyond the work in Westphalia include: Selection, development and management of many brass ensembles for the “ Jugend musiziert ” competition - many of them have been awarded first prizes at the national competition over the course of 30 years. Many of these wind players are active in top orchestras today. During Benz's active time, you were also a lecturer at many seminars and advanced training events of the Trombone Works in the Ev. Church of Westphalia active. They also play in the Westphalian Brass Ensemble, which has existed since 1967, the former selection choir under the direction of Werner Benz.

Benz became known beyond the borders of Westphalia through his work with the Westphalian Wind Ensemble . With this ensemble he recorded various CDs and records, most recently in 2009 Sacred Heart of Jesus with specially composed movements by Magdalene Schauß-Flakes . With the Westphalian Brass Ensemble he went on concert tours within Europe, but also to Asia, North America and Africa. At the same time he published two sheet music editions for wind choirs , glockenspiel, percussion and organ.

From 2000 he lived in retirement in Bielefeld . He was married with three children and 10 grandchildren.

In 1998 he was given the title of church music director "in recognition of his services to the Westphalian trombone work" .

In 1999 Werner Benz founded the Seniors Trombone Choir Ostwestfalen, which he directed together with Gerhard Stötefalke until the end. Over 150 wind players, who have reached the age of 60, meet monthly to practice for musical performances together.

At the German Evangelical Trumpet Day in Leipzig in 2008 , the senior trombone choir was the largest single group among 17,000 participants.

Audio documents

  • Sacred wind music (Westphalian brass ensemble)
  • Wake up, the voice calls us (Westphalian brass ensemble)
  • Honor and praise be to God (Westphalian brass ensemble)
  • Shout to the Lord all the world (Westphalian brass ensemble)
  • Festive wind music for Christmas (Westphalian brass ensemble)
  • Herzliebster Jesu - wind music for Passion and Easter (Westf. Brass ensemble)
  • Praise the gentleman, all who honor him - the most beautiful songs by P. Gerhard (Westf. Brass ensemble)
  • Now everyone thanks God - the most beautiful works of sacred wind music (Westf. Brass ensemble)
  • In all my deeds ... - 30 years of the Westphalian Brass Ensemble (Westf. Brass Ensemble)
  • All that breathes, praise the Lord (Westf. Brass ensemble)
  • God is my confidence and strength (Westf. Brass ensemble)

literature

  • Manfred Büttner, Dagmar Pesta (ed.): With drommets and timpani, horns and trombones. Festschrift for Werner Benz on his 65th birthday (Musicologica Berolinensia; 8). Verlag Kuhn, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-928864-82-3 .
  • [Article] Werner Benz . In: Erhard Frieß , Irmgard Eismann (Hrsg.): Handbook for trombone choir leaders . Edition Buch und Musik, Stuttgart 1995, ISBN 3-922813-38-0 , p. 263.
  • Wolfgang Schnabel: Werner Benz. A life in the service of Protestant wind work. A tribute to the 60th birthday. Bielefeld 1995, 28 pp.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ With drummets and timpani, horns and trombones - Festschrift for Werner Benz on his 65th birthday. ISBN 3-928864-82-3

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Benz, Werner
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German deacon, church music director and state trombonist
DATE OF BIRTH January 16, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Heidelberg
DATE OF DEATH September 8, 2019
Place of death Bielefeld