Wilhelm Volckmar

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Wilhelm Volckmar's tomb in the Homberg cemetery

Wilhelm Valentin Volckmar (born December 26, 1812 in Hersfeld , † August 27, 1887 in Homberg (Efze) ) was a German organ virtuoso , seminar music teacher and composer .

Life

He received his musical training from his father Adam Valentin Volckmar (1770-1851). He was a student of Johann Gottfried Vierling , who in turn had received his training from Johann Philipp Kirnberger . Volckmar comes thus by extension the school of Bach - grandson students .

In 1835 he became a seminar music teacher in Homberg (Efze) in northern Hesse , where his grave can still be found today and a street is named after him. He quickly became famous as an organ virtuoso, and in 1846 he was appointed Dr. hc and professor in 1886. From 1861 he went on extensive concert tours as a valued organ virtuoso. During his lifetime, Volckmar was famous as an organist , especially because of his masterful pedaling, but also as an improviser and theorist. From today's musicological point of view, his pedal technique is extraordinary, since, as has now been revised, he was the first ever to play the four-part pedal playing in his Organ Symphony Op. 172, (4th movement, intermezzo). He maintained friendly relations with Franz Liszt , whose symphonic organ style also significantly influenced his own way of composing, and with the composer Louis Spohr . He was also well acquainted with the well-known organ building theorist Johann Gottlob Töpfer . Volckmar was a member of the Freemasons Association .

Works

As a composer, Volckmar was extremely productive and wrote for many ensembles. Mention should be made of his 20  organ sonatas , two large organ symphonies , fantasy and fugue on themes from Beethoven's 9th symphony , a theory of harmony (1860), a manual of music (1885), a large organ school , a school for violin , and a fluency school for the organ , but also a lot of church songs. Volckmar also made a name for himself as the editor of numerous organ works by old and new masters, and he was also the editor of the first complete edition of Mendelssohn 's organ works.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Heinz Schuler: Music and Freemasonry. Wilhelmshaven 2000, p. 289.