Joseph Haas (19 March 1879 – 30 March 1960) was a German late
romantic composer and music teacher.
Biography
He was born in
Maihingen, near
Nördlingen
Nördlingen (; Swabian: ''Nearle'' or ''Nearleng'') is a town in the Donau-Ries district, in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, with a population of approximately 20,674. It is located approximately east of Stuttgart, and northwest of Munich. It was bui ...
to teacher Alban Haas from his second marriage, being half-brother to the theologian and historian
Alban Haas. At an early age he came into contact with music. He became a teacher himself and taught from 1897 to 1904 in
Lauingen
Lauingen ( Swabian: ''Lauinga'') is a town in the district of Dillingen in Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the left bank of the Danube, 5 km west of Dillingen, and 37 km northeast of Ulm.
In June 1800, the armies of the French Fir ...
near the
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
.
In his effort to pursue his musical inclination, he met
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 ...
, with whom he took private lessons from 1904 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 ...
. He later followed him to
Leipzig
Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as wel ...
in 1907 to study music at the
Leipzig Conservatory
The University of Music and Theatre "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig (german: Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig) is a public university in Leipzig (Saxony, Germany). Founded in 1843 by Felix Mendelssohn ...
. Among his teachers were
Karl Straube
Montgomery Rufus Karl Siegfried Straube (6 January 1873 – 27 April 1950) was a German church musician, organist, and choral conductor, famous above all for championing the abundant organ music of Max Reger.
Career
Born in Berlin, Straube stu ...
and
Adolf Ruthardt
Adolf Ruthardt (9 February 1849 – 12 September 1934) was a German piano teacher, composer and music editor.
Adolf Ruthardt was the son of the oboist Friedrich Ruthardt and the younger brother of Julius Ruthardt. After studying music at the St ...
. In 1909 Haas finished his studies. In 1911, having had his first success as a composer and having won an
Arthur Nikisch
Arthur Nikisch (12 October 185523 January 1922) was a Hungarian conductor who performed internationally, holding posts in Boston, London, Leipzig and—most importantly—Berlin. He was considered an outstanding interpreter of the music of Br ...
scholarship, he became teacher of composition at the
Stuttgart Conservatory, where he was named professor in 1916. From 1921 he taught at the ''Akademie für Tonkunst'' in Munich (today
Hochschule für Musik und Theater 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 ...
); he was professor there from 1924 to 1950.
In 1921, together with
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith (; 16 November 189528 December 1963) was a German composer, music theorist, teacher, violist and conductor. He founded the Amar Quartet in 1921, touring extensively in Europe. As a composer, he became a major advocate of the ''Ne ...
and
Heinrich Burkard Heinrich may refer to:
People
* Heinrich (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Heinrich (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
*Hetty (given name), a given name (including a list of peo ...
, he established the
Donaueschinger Kammermusikaufführungen zur Förderung zeitgenössischer Tonkunst.
In 1930, he became a member of the
Prussian Academy of Arts
The Prussian Academy of Arts (German: ''Preußische Akademie der Künste'') was a state arts academy first established in Berlin, Brandenburg, in 1694/1696 by prince-elector Frederick III, in personal union Duke Frederick I of Prussia, and late ...
in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
.
After the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, he became president of the Munich ''Hochschule für Musik und Theater'', a position which he held until he became Emeritus Professor in 1950 and led the school's reconstruction after 1945.
He died 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 was buried in the
Munich Waldfriedhof
The Munich Waldfriedhof is one of 29 cemeteries of Munich in Bavaria, Germany. It is one of the larger and more famous burial sites of the city, known for its park-like design and tombs of notable personalities. The Waldfriedhof is considered the ...
.
Importance
As a composer
The work of Haas was entirely based on
tonality
Tonality is the arrangement of pitches and/or chords of a musical work in a hierarchy of perceived relations, stabilities, attractions and directionality. In this hierarchy, the single pitch or triadic chord with the greatest stability is call ...
. At first, he was strongly influenced by his mentor
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 ...
, whose language of
polyphony
Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice, monophony, or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords, h ...
and
harmony
In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. However ...
also featured in Haas's music.
During his lifetime, Haas was a successful and well known composer. In 1954, for his 75th birthday, numerous celebratory festivals took place in both
West
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...
and
East Germany
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...
. After his death, the presence of his works in concerts has dramatically decreased.
In 1949, the composer's friend
Rupert Egenberger
Rupert may refer to:
People
* Rupert (name), various people known by the given name or surname "Rupert"
Places Canada
*Rupert, Quebec, a village
* Rupert Bay, a large bay located on the south-east shore of James Bay
*Rupert River, Quebec
* Ruper ...
established the ''Joseph-Haas-Gesellschaft'', dedicated to Haas and his work.
Selected works
Stage works
* ''Die Bergkönigin'' (op. 70; 1927), music for a Christmas play 3 acts by Franziska Rodenstock
* ' (op. 90; 1934–37), opera in 3 acts.
libretto
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...
:
Ludwig Strecker, premiere 24 November 1937
Staatstheater Kassel
The Staatstheater Kassel is a state-owned and operated theater in Kassel, Germany.
History
A permanent theatre house existed in Kassel during the first decade of the 17th century. It stood immediately next to the Ottoneum near the State Theatre ...
, conducted by
Robert Heger
Robert Heger (19 August 1886 – 14 January 1978) was a German conductor and composer from Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine.
Life and career
He studied at the Conservatory of Strasbourg under Franz Stockhausen, then in Zurich under Lothar ...
* ' (op. 93; 1940–43), comic opera in 4 acts, libretto: Ludwig Strecker, premiere 2 July 1944
Semperoper
The Semperoper () is the opera house of the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden (Saxon State Opera) and the concert hall of the Staatskapelle Dresden (Saxon State Orchestra). It is also home to the Semperoper Ballett. The building is located on the ...
, conducted by
Karl Elmendorff
Karl Eduard Maria Elmendorff (October 25, 1891 – October 21, 1962) was a German opera conductor.
Born in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian language, Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; ...
Oratorios
* ''Die heilige Elisabeth'' (op. 84)
* ''Christnacht'' (op. 85)
* ''Das Lebensbuch Gottes'' (op. 87)
* ''Das Lied von der Mutter'' (op. 91)
* ''Das Jahr im Lied'' (op. 103)
* ''Die Seligen'' (op. 106)
Song cycles
* ''Sechs Krippenlieder'' (op. 49).
* ''Unterwegs'' (op. 65) after
Hermann Hesse
Hermann Karl Hesse (; 2 July 1877 – 9 August 1962) was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include ''Demian'', ''Steppenwolf (novel), Steppenwolf'', ''Siddhartha (novel), Siddhartha'', and ''The Glass Bead Game'', ...
* ''Gesänge an Gott'' (op. 68) after
Jakob Kneip
Masses, sacred music
* ''Eine Deutsche Singmesse'' (op. 60)
* ''Speyerer Domfestmesse'' (op. 80)
* ''Christ-König-Messe'' (op. 88)
* ''Münchener Liebfrauenmesse'' (op. 96)
* ''Te Deum'' (op. 100)
* ''Totenmesse'' (op. 101)
* ''Deutsche Weihnachtsmesse'' (op. 105)
* ''Deutsche Chormesse'' (op. 108)
Orchestral works
* ''Heitere Serenade'' (op. 41)
* ''Variationen und Rondo über ein altdeutsches Volkslied'' (op. 45)
* ''Variationensuite über ein altes Rokokothema'' (op. 64)
* ''Ouvertüre zu einem frohen Spiel'' (op. 95)
Chamber music
* ''Streichquartett g-Moll'' (op. 8)
* ''Violinsonate h-Moll'' (op. 21)
* ''Divertimento D-Dur'' (op. 22) for string trio
* ''Waldhornsonate F-Dur'' (op. 29)
* ''Divertimento C-Dur'' (op. 30a) for string quartet
* ''Kammertrio a-Moll'' (op. 38) for two violins and piano
* ''Grillen'' (op. 40) for violin and piano
* ''Streichquartett A-Dur'' (op. 50)
Piano music
* ''Wichtelmännchen'' (op. 27)
* ''Gespenster'' (op. 34)
* ''Hausmärchen'' (op. 35, op. 43, op. 53)
* ''Eulenspiegeleien'' (op. 39)
* ''Alte unnennbare Tage'' Elegien für Klavier (op. 42)
* ''Sonate a-Moll'' (op. 46)
* ''Zwei Sonaten'' (D-Dur, a-Moll) (op. 61)
* ''Vier Sonatinen'' (C-Dur, d-Moll, G-Dur, F-Dur) (op. 94)
* ''Klangspiele'', Zehn kleine Stücke für Klavier (op. 99)
Organ music
* ''Drei Präludien und Fugen'' (c-Moll, g-Moll, D-Dur) (op. 11)
* ''Sonate c-Moll'' (op. 12)
* ''Suite d-Moll'' (op. 20)
* ''Suite A-Dur'' (op. 25)
As a teacher
Haas was an important music teacher. Among his numerous students are composers and conductors, such as
Otto Jochum (1898–1969),
Karl Gustav Fellerer
Karl Gustav Fellerer (7 July 1902 – 7 January 1984) was a German musicologist. His works include more than 600 scientific publications on catholic church music, Italian music from 1600 to the beginning of the 20th century, and music history of t ...
,
Eugen Jochum
Eugen Jochum (; 1 November 1902 – 26 March 1987) was a German conductor, best known for his interpretations of the music of Anton Bruckner, Carl Orff, and Johannes Brahms, among others.
Biography
Jochum was born to a Roman Catholic family in ...
,
Karl Amadeus Hartmann
Karl Amadeus Hartmann (2 August 1905 – 5 December 1963) was a German composer. Sometimes described as the greatest German symphonist of the 20th century, he is now largely overlooked, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Life
Born in ...
,
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 ...
,
Philipp Mohler
Philipp is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:
"Philipp" has also been a shortened version of Philippson, a German surname especially prevalent amongst German Jews and Dutch Jews.
Surname
* Adolf Philipp (1864â ...
(1908–1982),
Cesar Bresgen
Cesar Bresgen (16 October 1913 – 7 April 1988) was an Austrian composer.
Biography
He was born in Florence to Maria and August Bresgen, both artists. He spent his childhood in Zell am See, Munich, Prague, and Salzburg.
From 1930 to 1936 ...
,
Ernst Kutzer (1918–2008), and
Wolfgang Sawallisch
Wolfgang Sawallisch (26 August 1923 – 22 February 2013) was a German conductor and pianist.
Biography
Wolfgang Sawallisch was born in Munich, the son of Maria and Wilhelm Sawallisch. His father was director of the Hamburg-Bremer-Feuerversich ...
, and
Margarete Schweikert
Margarete Schweikert  (16 February 1887 – 13 March 1957) was a German composer, music critic, violinist, and pianist who composed chamber music, approximately 160 songs, and a children's operetta, The Frog King.
Biography
Schweikert was bor ...
.
References
* Translated from th
German Wikipedia article
External links
Joseph Haas site*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haas, Joseph
1879 births
1960 deaths
German Romantic composers
Academic staff of the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich
Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Burials at Munich Waldfriedhof
Academic staff of the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart
German male classical composers
20th-century German male musicians
19th-century German male musicians