Walter Kraft (

Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...

, 9 June 1905 –

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, 9 May 1977) was a German

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

and composer, best known for his remarkably long tenure (1929–72) at the Marienkirche, Lübeck.

Biography

Kraft studied piano and organ in Hamburg with Hanneman, and studied composition in Berlin 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 ...

. After his studies, his first professional organist position was Hamburg's Markuskirche in 1924, followed by Altona's Lutherkirche in 1927. In 1929, Kraft was unanimously selected (from among 45 applicants) for a life appointment as organist in Lübeck's Marienkirche. He held this position until his retirement in 1972. During this tenure, he revived the practice of evening concerts of sacred works. Such concerts, collectively called ''

Abendmusik (German for "evening music", plural ') usually refers to a series of musical concert held in the St. Mary's Church, Lübeck ('), Germany, begun in the 17th century and lasting until the early 19th century. Most of the music for these occasions, co ...

'', had been regularly given by his predecessors at the church, notably

Dietrich Buxtehude Dieterich Buxtehude (; ; born Diderik Hansen Buxtehude; c. 1637 – 9 May 1707) was a Danish organist and composer of the Baroque period, whose works are typical of the North German organ school. As a composer who worked in various vocal a ...

and

Franz Tunder Franz Tunder (1614 – November 5, 1667) was a German composer and organist of the early to middle Baroque era. He was an important link between the early German Baroque style which was based on Venetian models, and the later Baroque style ...

; but they had ceased in 1810, mainly due to the dislocation caused to northern Germany by the Napoleonic wars. Kraft pursued historically accurate performance practices. In 1934 he founded a boys' choir to perform Bach's Passions. In 1939 he formed the Lübeck Church Orchestra for the Cultivation of Original Instruments. Kraft also taught. From 1947-1950 he taught organ music at Freiburg's Academy of Music. From 1950-1955 he directed the Schleswig-Holstein Academy of Music and the North German Organ College. Kraft made numerous commercial recordings (primarily for the Vox label) during the LP era, most of which have been reissued on compact disc and as mp3s. As well as recording

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...

's 12 organ concertos, he was among the first to commit to disc the entire solo organ music (or what was believed to be at the time) of

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 Buxtehude. His discography also included pieces by more obscure German baroque musicians such as Nikolaus Bruhns. Like his younger contemporary

Anton Heiller Anton Heiller (15 September 1923 – 25 March 1979) was an Austrian organist, harpsichordist, composer and conductor. Biography Born in Vienna, he was first trained in church music by Wilhelm Mück, organist of Vienna's Stephansdom (St. Stephen' ...

, Kraft also composed a fair amount (mostly organ music but also an oratorio called ''Christus''), though as with Heiller, his fame as a performer completely upstaged his hopes of lasting renown as a creator. Once he retired in 1972 from the Marienkirche post, he apparently planned to write an opera, but never finished any such work. He married violinist Eva-Marie Kraft. Kraft died along with 32 others in the

Hotel Polen fire The Hotel Polen fire occurred on 9 May 1977 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The conflagration destroyed the Hotel Polen (''Hotel Poland''), a five-story hotel in the centre of the city which had been built in 1891, as well as the furniture store ...

in Amsterdam.

Selected Compositions

For Organ: * Te deum for 2 organs (1943) anuscript only* Partita on ''Nun will sich scheiden Nacht und Tag'' aerenreiter, 1949 Based on the song by

Heinrich Schütz Heinrich Schütz (; 6 November 1672) was a German early Baroque composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as one of the most important composers of the 17th century. He ...

. * Toccata on 'Ite missa est' chott, 1970* Prelude in G ulenburg, 1970* Fantasia on Three Easter Songs madeus, 1974* Triptychon on 'St. Michael' chott, 1975* Fantasie 'Media vita in morte sumus' madeus* Five Short Organ Pieces madeus* ''Fantasy Dies Irae'' * Fantasy on ''

Mitten wir im Leben Sind "" ("In the Midst of Life we are in Death") is a Lutheran hymn, with words written by Martin Luther based on the Latin antiphon "Media vita in morte sumus". The hymn in three stanzas was first published in 1524. The hymn inspired composers from t ...

''. Based on Martin Luther's 1524 song (which itself is based on the Gregorian chant '' Media vita in morte''). Organ with Instruments: * ''Ostsee-Kantate'' (Baltic Cantata, 1931). Kraft's first major commission, for 1931's "Nordische Orgelwerke", based on writings of

Hans Henny Jahnn Hans Henny Jahnn (born Hans Henny August Jahn'';'' 17 December 1894 – 29 November 1959) was a German playwright, novelist, and organ-builder. Personal life Hans Henny Jahn was born in 1894 in Stellingen, one of Hamburg's suburbs, and was the s ...

and the national anthems of seven Baltic countries. * ''Lübecker Totentanz''

954 Year 954 ( CMLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – A Hungarian army led by Bulcsú crosses the Rhine. He camps at Worms in th ...

for soloists, choir, organ, and instruments. Inspired by the Marienkirche's Totentanz painting destroyed during WWII. Premiered in 1954 in St. Catherine's Church. The organ solo Toccata has been recorded. * Prelude, Pastorale & Chaconne, flute & organ madeus, 1947* Concerto for organ & chamber orchestra (1963) anuscript only* ''Metaphern'' (Metaphors), violin & organ anssler, 1979 Pieces arranged according to the description of Jerusalem's precious gems as found in Revelations. Dedicated to and premiered by his wife Eva-Maria Kraft. Other: * ''Christus''

944 Year 944 (Roman numerals, CMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Arab–Byzantine wars, Arab–Byzantine War: Byzantine forces are de ...

7-part a capella work. Its 1944 premiere was banned by the Gestapo, later premiered in October 1945. * ''Die Gemeinschaft der Heiligen'' for soli, choirs, wind instruments, bells, parish and organ. Written for the 250-year celebration of Buxtehude's death, and with the Marienkirche's acoustics specifically in mind.

References

1905 births 1977 deaths German classical organists German male organists Musicians from Lübeck Musicians from the Rhine Province 20th-century classical musicians Deaths from fire Accidental deaths in the Netherlands 20th-century German male musicians 20th-century German musicians Male classical organists {{organist-stub