Wilhelm Heinrichs

Wilhelm Heinrichs (born August 26, 1914 in Cologne ; † February 15, 1995 in Chiemgau ) was a German composer.

Life

Wilhelm Heinrichs received his first music lessons at the age of eight on the piano, two years later also violin lessons. After graduating from high school and six months of forced labor, he passed the entrance exam at the State University of Music in Cologne in 1934. There he studied school music, counterpoint and composition with Wilhelm Maler , orchestral instrumentation with E. G. Klußmann and piano with W. Georgii. At the same time he devoted himself to a scientific study at the University of Cologne .

In 1938 he received the artistic state examination at the State University of Music in Berlin, followed a year later by the scientific state examination at the University of Cologne. He was then committed to military service for four years, which he spent as a radio operator in the Air Force and as a paratrooper. After the end of the Second World War , he initially got an engagement as a pianist with Südwestfunk (Radio Koblenz). From there he went to the Bad Godesberg Theater as Kapellmeister and composer for drama music , where his theatrical work brought him together with the important dramaturge Kurt Hoffmann , under whose suggestion he composed various drama music for a large orchestra. The time at the Godesberger Theater had a strong influence on the compositional work of Wilhelm Heinrichs.

At the end of 1948, Wilhelm Heinrichs was appointed to the State Gymnasium Linz (am Rhein) as a teacher for music and German studies, where he worked as a senior music teacher for many years until he retired and also had a major influence on the city's cultural life. In Linz he founded and conducted a symphonic orchestra, with which he won first prize at the 1951 Music Olympiad in Holland. In addition to an interpretation of Beethoven's 2nd symphony, Wilhelm Heinrich's own symphonic work was performed as part of the Olympics. For this success he was honored with the silver laurel leaf by the former Federal President Theodor Heuss . For his contribution to international understanding through music he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on April 10, 1975 .

Wilhelm Heinrich's compositional focus was on choral music, the original composition as well as the arrangement of foreign folk songs. His works also include solo songs, orchestral and instrumental music.

Works (selection)

• Pirate song . Four-part male choir. Publishing house, Merseburger, Kassel
• Jascha plays . Four-part male choir. Merseburger Publishing House, Kassel
• Danitza is supposed to dance . Four-part male choir. Publishing house, Merseburger, Kassel
• When the stars begin to fall . Four-part mixed choir. Merseburger Publishing House, Kassel

Web links

• Literature by and about Wilhelm Heinrichs in the catalog of the German National Library
• Wilhelm Heinrichs at the Merseburger publishing house

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Office of the Federal President