Franz Lehrndorfer (10 August 1928 – 10 January 2013) was a German organist, composer, and pedagogue.

Biography

Main pipe organ - Frauenkirche - Munich - Germany 2017

Franz Lehrndorfer was born in

Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...

and spent his youth in

Kempten Kempten (, (Swabian German: )) is the largest Town#Germany, town of Allgäu, in Swabia (Bavaria), Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. The population was about 68,000 in 2016. The area was possibly settled originally by Celts, but was later taken over by th ...

. He received his first music lessons from his father, a choir director and

musicologist Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some mu ...

and began to play the organ at age nine. From 1948 until 1951, Lehrndorfer studied sacred music in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...

and obtained a

master class A master class is a Class (education), class given to students of a particular Academic discipline, discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also science, painting, drama, games, or on any other occasion where skills are b ...

diploma A diploma is a document awarded by an educational institution (such as a college or university) testifying the recipient has graduated by successfully completing their courses of studies. Historically, it has also referred to a charter or offici ...

in organ performance in 1952. Upon graduation, he worked as music instructor for the

Regensburger Domspatzen The Regensburger Domspatzen (literally: Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows) is the cathedral choir at the Regensburg Cathedral in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany. The boys' choir dates back to 975, and consists of boys and young men only. They perform in ...

, under music director

Theobald Schrems Theobald Schrems (17 February 1893 – 15 November 1963) was the founder of the ''Musikgymnasium der Regensburger Domspatzen'', a musical gymnasium for the boys' choir Regensburger Domspatzen at the Regensburg Cathedral. Career Schrems was bor ...

. In 1962, he began his teaching career at the

Musikhochschule München The University of Music and Performing Arts Munich (german: Hochschule für Musik und Theater München), also known as the Munich Conservatory, is a performing arts conservatory in Munich, Germany. The main building it currently occupies is t ...

, first as adjunct professor of organ, later (from 1969 until 1993) as professor and department chair of sacred music and organ performance. From 1969 until 31. October 2002, Lehrndorfer was organist at the Frauenkirche in Munich. He left his cathedral appointment after major disagreements with the cathedral’s music director, Karl-Friedrich Nies. He was particularly known for his organ improvisations, both in concert and on recordings. As a performer, he often included music by

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

and

Max Reger Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger (19 March 187311 May 1916) was a German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and academic teacher. He worked as a concert pianist, as a musical director at the Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, Leipzig University ...

, as well as works by contemporary composers, such as

Karl Höller Karl Höller (25 July 1907 – 14 April 1987) was a German composer of the late Romantic tradition. Biography Karl Höller was born in Bamberg, Bavaria. He came from a musical family on both sides: his father Valentin Höller was the Bamberg Cath ...

Harald Genzmer Harald or Haraldr is the Old Norse form of the given name Harold. It may refer to: Medieval Kings of Denmark * Harald Bluetooth (935–985/986) Kings of Norway * Harald Fairhair (c. 850–c. 933) * Harald Greycloak (died 970) * Harald Hardrada ...

, in his programs. In 2001, he played the premiere of Genzmer's ''Concerto '' for organ, which he subsequently edited for

Schott Music Schott Music () is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe, and is the second oldest music publisher after Breitkopf & Härtel. The company headquarters of Schott Music were fou ...

. As an organ consultant, Lehrndorfer was in charge of several major organ projects, such as the 1980 Georg Jann organ at

Tegernsee Abbey Tegernsee Abbey (German Kloster Tegernsee, ''Abtei Tegernsee'') is a former Benedictine monastery in the town and district of Tegernsee in Bavaria. Both the abbey and the town that grew up around it, are named after the Tegernsee, the lake on the ...

, or the four organs at the Frauenkirche in Munich (1993/1994). On the occasion of Lehrndorfers 80th anniversary in 2008, more than 50 of his former students celebrated at the Musikhochschule Munich. Franz Lehrndorfer died at age 84 in a hospital in Munich.

Awards

* 1957: First Prize in Organ Performance,

ARD International Music Competition The ARD International Music Competition (german: link=no, Internationaler Musikwettbewerb der ARD) is the largest international classical music competition in Germany. It is organised by the Bayerischer Rundfunk and held once a year in Munich. Si ...

* 1970:

Bavarian Order of Merit The Bavarian Order of Merit (german: Bayerischer Verdienstorden) is the Order of Merit of the Free State of Bavaria. It is awarded by the Minister-President of Bavaria as a "recognition of outstanding contributions to the Free State of Bavaria ...

* 1981:

Deutscher Schallplattenpreis The Deutscher Schallplattenpreis was a prize that the awarded from 1963 through 1992. Its successor is the Echo Music Prize Echo Music Prize (stylised as ECHO, ) was an accolade by the , an association of recording companies of Germany to recog ...

(LP Recording, "Organ Music from Munich Cathedral." Munich: Calig Label) * 1983: Cross of Merit,

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...

* 1997: Officer's Cross of Merit, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany * 1998: Knight Commander,

Order of St. Gregory the Great The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great ( la, Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni; it, Ordine di San Gregorio Magno) was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election as Pope. The order is one of ...

* 1999:

Honorary Doctorate An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hon ...

Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music ( it, Pontificio istituto di musica sacra; la, Pontificium institutum musicae sacrae) is an institution of higher education of the Roman Catholic Church specifically dedicated to the study of church music ...

Students

Many of Franz Lehrndorfer's former organ students became concert organists, obtained positions at important churches or faculty positions in Germany and abroad: * Martin Bernreuther (

Eichstätt Cathedral Eichstätt Cathedral, properly known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Willibald and St. Salvator is an 11th-Century Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Eichstätt, Bavaria, in Southern Germany. History The first Rom ...

) *

Winfried Bönig Winfried Bönig (born 1959 in Bamberg) is a German organist. Bönig studied organ and church music at the ''Musikhochschule München'' with ''Franz Lehrndorfer'' from 1978 to 1984. He passed his A exam in 1982 with distinction. Afterwards he ...

(

Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral (german: Kölner Dom, officially ', English: Cathedral Church of Saint Peter) is a Catholic cathedral in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archdiocese of ...

) *

Christian Brembeck Christian Brembeck (born 1960 in Munich) is a German conductor, organist and harpsichordist. He studied organ, piano and conducting at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München in Munich, and was awarded the Organ Prize of the City of Würzbu ...

Roland Büchner Roland Büchner (born 16 February 1954) is a German church musician and conductor. He has been the director (') at the Regensburg Cathedral, conducting the boys' choir Regensburger Domspatzen. Career Born in Karlstadt, Büchner studied at the ...

(

Regensburg Cathedral Regensburg Cathedral (german: Dom St. Peter or Regensburger Dom), also known as St. Peter's Cathedral, is an example of important Gothic architecture within the German state of Bavaria. It is a landmark for the city of Regensburg, Germany, and ...

) *

Gabriel Dessauer Gabriel Dessauer (born 4 December 1955) is a German cantor, concert organist, and academic. He was responsible for the church music at St. Bonifatius, Wiesbaden from 1981 to 2021, conducting the Chor von St. Bonifatius until 2018. He is an inte ...

( St. Bonifatius, Wiesbaden) *

Harald Feller Harald Feller (1913, Switzerland – 2003) was a Swiss diplomat who saved Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust, for which he was honored by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations in 1999.Musikhochschule München The University of Music and Performing Arts Munich (german: Hochschule für Musik und Theater München), also known as the Munich Conservatory, is a performing arts conservatory in Munich, Germany. The main building it currently occupies is t ...

) * Marlene Hinterberger (Musikhochschule München) * Wolfgang Hörlin (Musikhochschule München) * Rudolf Kelber ( Hauptkirche St. Jacobi, Hamburg) *

Edgar Krapp Edgar Krapp (born June 3, 1947 in Bamberg) is a German organist and music professor. Krapp is a member of the Board of the Neue Bachgesellschaft (New Bach Society) in Leipzig and the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts. Biography Krapp's first organ le ...

(

Musikhochschule Frankfurt The Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts (german: Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main, italic=no, link=no, HfMDK) is a state Hochschule for music, theatre and dance in Frankfurt and is the only one of its k ...

, Musikhochschule München) * Hans Leitner (

Passau Cathedral St. Stephen's Cathedral (german: Dom St. Stephan) is a baroque church from 1688 in Passau, Germany, dedicated to Saint Stephen. It is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Passau and the main church of his diocese. Since 730, there have been many c ...

, since 2003 Frauenkirche Munich) * Wolfram Menschick (Eichstätt Cathedral) * Tomas Adam Nowak (

Musikhochschule Detmold A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger ins ...

) * Ludwig Ruckdeschel (

) * Klemens Schnorr (

Musikhochschule Freiburg A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger ins ...

Freiburg Minster Freiburg Minster (german: Freiburger Münster or Münster Unserer Lieben Frau) is the cathedral of Freiburg im Breisgau, southwest Germany. The last duke of Zähringen had started the building around 1200 in romanesque style. The construction con ...

) * Josef Still (

Trier Cathedral The High Cathedral of Saint Peter in Trier (german: Hohe Domkirche St. Peter zu Trier), or Trier Cathedral (german: Trierer Dom), is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the oldest church in Germany and the lar ...

) * Gerhard Weinberger (Musikhochschule Detmold) * Markus Willinger (

Bamberg Cathedral Bamberg Cathedral (german: Bamberger Dom, official name Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg) is a church in Bamberg, Germany, completed in the 13th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Roman Catholic Church and is the se ...

) * Elisabeth Zawadke (

Lucerne School of Music The Lucerne School of Music (''Hochschule Luzern – Musik'') is a professional school for musicians located in Lucerne, Switzerland, and closely associated with the city's annual music festival. It is a division of the Lucerne University of Appli ...

)

Compositions

Organ

* ''Eight Variations on "Maria, dich lieben"'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 1995) * ''Nine Choral Preludes'' on Christmas chorals from the ''

Gotteslob ''Gotteslob'' ("Praise of God") is the title of the hymnbook authorized by the Catholic dioceses in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, Luxembourg and Liège, Belgium. First published in Advent 2013, it is the current official hymnal for German-speaki ...

'' hymnal (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 2001) * ''Theme and eleven Variations on " Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann"'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2002) * ''Easy Preludes to Advent and Christmas chorals from the "Gotteslob" hymnal'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2003) * ''Organ Preludes to Easter chorals from the "Gotteslob" hymnal'' (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 2007) * ''Introduction, Variations, Fugue, and Hymnus on "Gott mit dir, du Land der Bayern"'' (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 2008) * ''" Nun freut euch, ihr Christen"'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2008) * ''"Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme"'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2009) * ''Concerti antici "

Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern "" (; How lovely shines the morning star) is a Lutheran hymn by Philipp Nicolai written in 1597 and first published in 1599. It inspired musical settings through centuries, notably Bach's chorale cantata , but also vocal and instrumental works by ...

" and " Lobet den Herren"'' (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 2010) * ''Meditation and Variations on " O du fröhliche"'' (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 2010) * ''Variations on "Zu Bethlehem geboren"'' (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 2010) * ''Partita on "

Macht hoch die Tür "Macht hoch die Tür" (Fling wide the door) is a German popular Advent hymn, written in Ducal Prussia in the 17th century. The lyrics were written by Georg Weissel in 1623, for the inauguration of the Altroßgärter Kirche in Königsberg. The mel ...

"'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2011) * ''Fanfare'', in: Kölner Fanfaren, ed. Winfried Bönig and Hans-Peter Bähr (Bonn: Dr. J. Butz, 2012) * ''Alla Marcia mit Musette'', in: Festliche Orgelmusik (vol. 4), ed. Wolfgang Bretschneider (Bonn: Dr. Josef Butz, 2014) * ''Fifteen Choral Preludes on hymns from the "Gotteslob" hymnal and the Protestant hymnal ( Evangelisches Gesangbuch)'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2015)

Piano

* ''Music for Christmas Time'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2007) * ''"Nun freut euch, ihr Christen"'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2008) * ''Four Variations on "Sankt Martin"'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2015)

Piano for four hands

* ''Music for Christmas Time'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2007)

Vocal Works

* '' Sah ein Knab ein Röslein stehn & Zogen einst fünf wilde Schwäne'' for

SATB SATB is an initialism that describes the scoring of compositions for choirs, and also choirs (or consorts) of instruments. The initials are for the voice types: S for soprano, A for alto, T for tenor and B for bass. Choral music Four-part harm ...

choir (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 1978) * '' Zu Bethlehem geboren &

In dulci jubilo "In dulci jubilo" (Latin for "In sweet rejoicing") is a traditional Christmas carol. In its original setting, the carol is a macaronic text of German and Latin dating from the Middle Ages. Subsequent translations into English, such as J. M. N ...

'' for SATB choir (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 1978) * ''Kein schöner Land'' setting " Kein schöner Land" for SATB choir (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 1981) * ''Schlaf wohl, du Himmelsknabe'' for two flutes, cello, and SATB choir (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 1982) * ''Kein Feuer, keine Kohle'' & ''Das Lieben bringt groß Freud'' for SATB choir (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 1985) * ''

O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" ("O Lamb of God, innocent") is an early Lutheran hymn, with text and melody attributed to Nikolaus Decius. Originally intended as a German version of the Latin Agnus Dei, it was instead used as a Passion hymn. In both ...

'' for SATB choir (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 1987) * ''Missa in C major'' for SATB choir (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 1995) * ''Missa "In gloria Dei"'' for SATB choir (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 1995) * ''Missa mundi'' for SATB Choir and organ (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2002) * ''Missa in memoriam Theobald Schrems'' for four-part male choir (2008, unpublished)Bischöfliche Pressestelle (6 November 2008)
Ehemalige Regensburger Domspatzen singen Missa zum Gedächtnis an Domkapellmeister Theobald Schrems (in German)
Archived fro
the original
on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2018.

Editor

* ''Franz Xaver Schnizer: Six Sonatas op. 1 for harpsichord (piano) or organ'' (Stuttgart: Carus, 1980) * ''Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Intrada and Fugue in C major from K. 399 (385i)'' (Eichstätt: Jubilate, 1994) * ''Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto in D major'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 1994) * ''Johann Melchior Molter: Concerto Pastorale'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 1995) * ''John Stanley: Concerto in D major'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 1996) * ''John Stanley: Concerto in A major'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 1999) * ''John Stanley: Concerto I in E major'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 1999) * ''John Stanley: Concerto III in B major'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2000) * ''John Stanley: Concerto VI in C major'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2000) * ''Harald Genzmer: Concerto for organ'' (Munich: Schott, 2002) * ''Harald Genzmer: Sinfonisches Konzert no. 2 for organ'' (Mainz: Schott, 2003) * ''Giuseppe Tartini: Eleven slow Sonata movements'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2011) * ''Joseph Rupert Ignaz Bieling: Concerto in B major and three Sonatas'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2015) * ''George Frideric Handel: Concerto in G minor'' (Munich: Opus-Verlag, 2015)

Bibliography

* ''Dux et comes.

Festschrift In academia, a ''Festschrift'' (; plural, ''Festschriften'' ) is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during their lifetime. It generally takes the form of an edited volume, containing contributions from the h ...

für Franz Lehrndorfer zum 70. Geburtstag'' (book and CD), edited by Hans D. Hoffert and Klemens Schnorr. Regensburg: Universitätsverlag Regensburg, 1998. .

References

External weblinks

* * *

The Improvisation of Franz Lehrndorfer

American Guild of Organists The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is an international organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the US, headquartered in New York City with its administrative offices in the Interchurch Center. Founded as a professional educati ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lehrndorfer, Franz German classical organists German male organists Organ improvisers Cathedral organists Academic staff of the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 1928 births 2013 deaths Musicians from Salzburg 20th-century German male musicians 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century German musicians Male classical organists