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Sebastian Knüpfer (6 September 1633 – 10 October 1676) was a German composer, conductor and educator. He was the ''
Thomaskantor (Cantor at St. Thomas) is the common name for the musical director of the , now an internationally known boys' choir founded in Leipzig in 1212. The official historic title of the Thomaskantor in Latin, ', describes the two functions of Cantor ( ...
'', cantor of the
Thomanerchor The Thomanerchor (English: St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig) is a boys' choir in Leipzig, Germany. The choir was founded in 1212. The choir comprises about 90 boys from 9 to 18 years of age. The members, called ''Thomaner'', reside in a boarding scho ...
in Leipzig and director of the towns's church music, from 1657 to 1676.''Grove Concise Dictionary of Music'' (© 1994 by Oxford University Press); Grove Music Online (Author: George J. Buelow, © Oxford University Press 2005)


Life

Most of the biographical information about Knüpfer comes from a published obituary. He was born in Asch (now
Aš (; ) is a town in Cheb District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. Administrative division Aš consists of nine municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Aš (11, ...
,
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
), and was first taught music by his father, a Kantor and organist. He also studied regularly with an unidentified tutor living near Asch, from whom he gained a solid grounding in, and lasting love for, a number of scholastic disciplines. At the age of 13 he entered the Gymnasium Poeticum at
Regensburg Regensburg (historically known in English as Ratisbon) is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Naab and Regen (river), Regen, Danube's northernmost point. It is the capital of the Upper Palatinate subregion of the ...
and remained there for eight years. During this unusually long period he became well versed in the city's musical traditions (such as the works of Andreas Raselius), studied the organ, perhaps with Augustin Gradenthaler, and mastered a number of humanistic subjects, especially the poetic arts and philology. His gifts as a student were supported by scholarships from the city of Regensburg, and he was commended by influential members of the staff of the Gymnasium and the city council, some of the latter providing him with favourable testimonials when he moved to Leipzig in 1654. It is not known why he went there, but in view of his lifelong desire to improve his mind, it was possibly because he planned to enter the university. He did not, however, do so. During his first few years in Leipzig, Knüpfer gave music lessons and sang as a bass in church choirs, displaying enough talent to take solo parts. He applied for the post of
Thomaskantor (Cantor at St. Thomas) is the common name for the musical director of the , now an internationally known boys' choir founded in Leipzig in 1212. The official historic title of the Thomaskantor in Latin, ', describes the two functions of Cantor ( ...
when Tobias Michael died on 26 June 1657, and he was appointed on 17 July; the four other candidates to whom he was preferred included Adam Krieger. In Knüpfer the
Thomaskirche The St. Thomas Church () is a Lutheran church in Leipzig, Germany, located at the western part of the inner city ring road in Leipzig's central district. Martin Luther preached in the church in 1539. It is associated with several well-known ...
found a ''Kantor'' and the city of Leipzig a director of music who came close to the musical and intellectual calibre of Sethus Calvisius and
Johann Hermann Schein Johann Hermann Schein (20 January 1586 – 19 November 1630) was a German composer of the early Baroque era. He was Thomaskantor in Leipzig from 1615 to 1630. He was one of the first to import the early Italian stylistic innovations into German ...
, his two predecessors. During his 19-year tenure Leipzig once again became the leading musical city in central
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
following the sharp decline resulting from the
Thirty Years War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine, or disease, whil ...
, the long Swedish occupation of the city and his protracted illness. Knüpfer thus initiated a final period of musical excellence in Leipzig that culminated in the careers of his three successors,
Johann Schelle Johann Schelle (6 September 1648 – 10 March 1701) was a German Baroque composer. Biography Schnelle was born on 6 September 1648 in Geising, Saxony. From 1655 to 1657 he was a choirboy in Dresden and pupil of Heinrich Schütz. From 1657 to 1664 ...
,
Johann Kuhnau Johann Kuhnau (; 6 April 16605 June 1722) was a German polymath, known primarily as a composer today. He was also active as a novelist, translator, lawyer, and music theorist, and was able to combine these activities with his duties in his offici ...
and
Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...
. Although never a student at the university, he continued the study of philosophy and philology with members of the faculty and was thought of as a member of the academic community. He was praised for his command of classical sources concerning music, which he mastered from Meibom’s editions published in 1652; he studied the treatises of, among others,
Guido of Arezzo Guido of Arezzo (; – after 1033) was an Italian music theorist and pedagogue of High medieval music. A Benedictine monk, he is regarded as the inventor—or by some, developer—of the modern Staff (music), staff notation that had a massive ...
,
Boethius Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, commonly known simply as Boethius (; Latin: ''Boetius''; 480–524 AD), was a Roman Roman Senate, senator, Roman consul, consul, ''magister officiorum'', polymath, historian, and philosopher of the Early Middl ...
, Berno of Reichenau and
Athanasius Kircher Athanasius Kircher (2 May 1602 – 27 November 1680) was a German Society of Jesus, Jesuit scholar and polymath who published around 40 major works of comparative religion, geology, and medicine. Kircher has been compared to fellow Jes ...
. In addition to his productive career as ''Kantor'' he is known to have travelled to Halle to direct his own music for the dedication of new organs, for the Marktkirche on 15 February 1664 and the Ulrichskirche on 16 November 1675; also he directed a programme of music for the centenary of the Halle Gymnasium on 17 August 1665. His circle of musical colleagues included many men important in 17th-century German music, such as
Johann Christoph Pezel Johann Christoph Pezel (also Petzold; his name is sometimes given in the Latinized form Pecelius) (1639 – 13 October 1694) was a German violinist, trumpeter, and composer. He lived at Leipzig from 1661 to 1681, with an interruption in 1672, w ...
, Johann Rosenmüller and Johann Kaspar Horn, and he may well have known
Heinrich Schütz Heinrich Schütz (; 6 November 1672) was a German early Baroque music, Baroque composer and organ (music), organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach and one of the most important composers of ...
. He died in
Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...
,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
. That he was regarded as one of Leipzig’s leading intellectual figures is indicated by the unusual honour of his being accorded an academic funeral at the university even though he had never been officially connected with it.


Works

Knüpfer’s output consisted almost entirely of sacred works to Latin or German texts. Many are lost, and of those that survive few have been published in modern editions. Most are in the traditional style and form of the 17th-century vocal concerto, incorporating many of the characteristics of similar works by
Heinrich Schütz Heinrich Schütz (; 6 November 1672) was a German early Baroque music, Baroque composer and organ (music), organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach and one of the most important composers of ...
– though with no traces of the latter's uniquely personal style. Large choral forms are enhanced by an orchestra of substantial size (most commonly two violins, three
violas The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...
,
bassoon The bassoon is a musical instrument in the woodwind family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuosity ...
with continuo, clarinos,
trombone The trombone (, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's lips vibrate inside a mouthpiece, causing the Standing wave, air c ...
and
timpani Timpani (; ) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion instrument, percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a Membranophone, membrane called a drumhead, ...
), which supports the choral parts as well as interjecting all manner of colourful concerted effects. The choral writing may be massively chordal or intricately polyphonic, and there are a number of much simpler concerted passages for soloists supported only by the continuo. Knüpfer frequently based his German works on the text and melody of a chorale, and he was a master at deriving contrapuntal ideas from motivic fragmentation of the chorale. In many of these works the chorale verses are treated much as they are in slightly later German cantatas in which each verse is set separately. An opening choral movement, usually of large proportions and often repeated at the end of the work, is succeeded by movements designed for soloists. These are often ariosos or include fugal writing in which the chorale melody is passed back and forth between the voices in a duet or trio texture – a technique akin to that found in Bach’s organ chorale preludes. Other movements display dramatic use of expressive recitative: there is a good example in ''Wer ist, der so von Edom kِommt'' (excerpt in Schering, 1926, p. 162). Knüpfer’s music is primarily serious and profoundly devout, though he did publish a collection of the secular madrigals and canzonettas (1663) that he wrote for the university student with whom he worked in the ''
collegium musicum The Collegium Musicum was one of several types of musical societies that arose in Germany, German and German-Switzerland, Swiss cities and towns during the Protestant Reformation, Reformation and thrived into the mid-18th century. Generally, whil ...
'' at Leipzig. His contrapuntal mastery, the powerful drama of his thematic ideas, his brilliant instrumentation and the variety of his vocal scoring all contribute to the impression of him as a worthy predecessor of Bach, many of whose Leipzig church cantatas belong to a tradition first developed by Knüpfer.


Sacred works

* Ach Herr, lass deine lieben Engelein, SSATB, 2 vn, 2 violettas, bn, 2 clarinos, tamburi, 2 fl, bc * Ach Herr, strafe mich nicht (Ps 6), SSATB, 2 vn, 2 violettas, bn, 2 clarinos, 2 fl, tamburi, bc * Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein, 5vv, ripieno 5vv, 2 vn, 2 va, 2 cornetts, 3 trombones, vle, bc * Ach, wenn kommet doch die Stunde, aria, A/T, 3 va, vle, bc * Alleluja, man singet mit Freuden, 5vv, 8 insts * Asche, die des Schöpfers Händ, 5vv, lost, extant in parody version by Z. Haenisch, * Der Gerechte wird grünen wie ein Palmbaum, SSATB, 2 violins, violetta, 2 va, 2 cornets, 3 trombones, viole, bc * Der Herr ist König, SSAATTBB, 2 violins, 5 va, 7 trombones, bc * Der Herr ist mein Hirt, B, violine, 3 violas, bc * Der Herr schaffet deinen Gränzen Friede, ATB, 2 violins, trombone, bc * Der Seegen des Herren machet reich, SAATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, bc * Dies ist der Tag, den der Herr macht, SSATB, ripieno SSATB, 2 violins, 2 va, bn, 2 clarinos, 2 trombones, bc * Dies ist der Tag des Herrn, a 16 – SSATB, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 clarini, timpani, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc * Die Turteltaube lässt sich hören – SSATB, 2 violins, 2 violas, 4 clarini, timpani, bassoon, bc * Erforsche mich, Gott – SATB, SATB, bc, funeral motet, 14 May 1673 * Erheb dich, meine Seele, SATB, funeral motet, 1676 * Erhöre, Jesulein, mein sehnlichs, S, 4 strings * Erstanden ist der heilge Christ, SSATB, 2 violins, 4 va, bn, bombard, 2 clarinos, 2 tpt, tamburi, bc * Es haben mir die Hoffärtigen – SATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, bassoon, bc * Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüsten, SATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, bassoon, bc * Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl, SSAATTBB, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 cornetts, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc, on Luther's hymn * Gelobet sey Gott, SSATB, instruments, bc * Gen Himmel zu dem Vater mein, SSATTB, 2 vn, 2 clarinos, timp, 2 trombones, bn, bc * Gott sei mir gnädig nach deiner Güte, SSATB, (ripieno SSATB?), 4 va, bn, vle, bc * Herr Christ, der eining Gottes Sohn – SSATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 cornetts, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc * Herr, hilf uns, wir verderben, SATB, 2 vn, 2 va, bn, bc * Herr, ich habe lieb die Stätte deines Hauses, ATB, 2 vn, va, bc * Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch, SSATB, (ripieno SSATB?), 2 vn, violone/bassoon, bc, on Eber's hymn " Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott" * Herr, lehre mich thun nach deinem, SATTB, (ripieno SATTB?), 2 vn, 3 va, bn, bc * Herr, lehre uns bedenken, SSATTB, 2 vn, 3 va, bn, bc * Herr, strafe mich nicht in deinem Zorn – SATB, 3 violas, violone/bassoon, bc * Herr, wer wird wohnen in deinen Hütten, SAB, 2 cornetts, 3 va, bc * Ich freue mich in dir, SSATB, 2 vn, 2 va, 3 trombones, 2 fl, violone, bc * Ich habe dich zum Licht der Heiden gemacht, SATTB, (ripieno SATTB?), 2 vn, 3 va, bn, 2 cornettinos, 3 trombones, bc * Ich will singen von der Gnade, SATB, (ripieno SATB), 2 vn, 3 va, bn, bc * Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt, SATB, SATB, 2 vn, 3 va, bn, 2 clarinos, 2 cornettinos, tpt, 2 trombones, bc * Jesu, meine Freud und Wonne, 5vv, 5 insts * Jesus Christus, unser Heiland – SSATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, bassoon, bc * Justus ut palma florebit, SATB, bc * Komm du schöne Freudenkrone, SSATB, 2 vn, 3 violettas, violetta/bn, 2 clarinos, tamburi, 3 trombones, bc * Komm heilger Geist, SATB, (ripieno SATB), 4 va, 4 trombones, bc * Kommet herzu, lasset uns den Herzen frohlocken, SSATB, 2 violins, violas, bc * Lass dir gefallen, 2vv, 4 insts * Lauda Jerusalem, SATB, 2 violins, violone, bn, bc * Machet die Thore weit, SSATB, (ripieno SSATB), 2 vn, 4 va, 2 cornetts/bombards, 3 trombones, bc * Mein Gott, betrübt ist meine Seele, SSATTB, bc, funeral motet, 20 Oct 1667 * Mein Herz hält dir für dein Wort, SAT, 2 vn, bn, bc * Missa (brevis) super Freu dich selig, SSAATTB, 2 violins, 5 violas, bc * Missa (brevis) super Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott, SSATTB, 2 violins, 5 violas, bc * Missa (brevis) super O welt ich muss dich lassen, SSAATTB, 2 violins, 5 violas, bc * Nun dancket alle Gott, SSATTB, 2 vn, 3 va, bc * Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gemein, SSTTB, 2 vn, 2 va, bn, bc * O benignissime Jesu, ATB, 2 vn/cornettinos, va da gamba/bombard, bc * Quaemadmodum desiderat cervus – B solo, SSATB, bc * Quare fremuerunt gentes, SSATTB, 2 vn, 3 va, 2 cornetts, 4 trombones, bc * Sende dein Licht, SATB, (ripieno SATB), 2 vn, 2 va, bn, bc * Super flumina Babylonis – SATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 cornettini, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc * Surgite populi: De resurrectione et ascensione Domini, SATB, SATB, 2 vn, 3 va, bn, 2 cornettinos, cornett, 5 tpt, 3 trombones, timp, bc * Veni Sancte Spiritus, SSATB, 2 vn, 2 va, bn, 4 clarinos, 2 cornettinos, 3 trombones, timp, bc * Victoria, die Fürsten sind geschlagen, 5vv, 2 vn, 2 va, bn, 3 trombones, bc * Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her: ** chorus angelorum: SSS, 3 violas; SSS, 3 violins ripieni ** choro dei pastori: ATB, 3 bombardi ** choro pieno: SATB, 2 clarini, timpani, harp, bc * Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit – SSATTB, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 cornets, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc * Was sind wir Menschen doch, SATB, funeral ode, 22 May 1672 * Was werden wir essen, dialogue, SATB, 4 violas, bc * Weichet von mir, ihr Boshaftigen, SSATTB, funeral motet, 16 June 1661 * Welt Vater du! O Adam deine Kinder, 2 S, 3 va, vle, bc * Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist – SATB, 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, bc * Wer ist, der so von Edom Kommt – SAB, 4 violas, bc * Wer ist, der so von Edom Kommt – SSATB, 2 violins, 2 violas, 4 trombetti, timpani, bassoon, bc * O Traurigkeit, o Hertzeleid, Grab-Lied über die Begräbnis … Jesu Christi (J. Rist), 4vv, in G. Vopelius, Gesangbuch (Leipzig, 1682)


Secular music

* Lustige Madrigalien, 2–4vv, und Canzonetten, 1–3vv, insts (Leipzig, 1663)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Knupfer, Sebastian 1633 births 1676 deaths German male classical composers German Baroque composers Thomaskantors 17th-century German classical composers 17th-century German male musicians