Max Wagenknecht

Max Otto Arnold Wagenknecht ( born August 14, 1857 in Woldisch Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia, † May 7, 1922 in Anklam, Pomerania, Prussia ) was a German composer of organ and piano music. His most famous work is the Opus 5, " 58 pros and sequels ". The work demonstrates a special talent for melodic organ compositions.

Life

Max Wagenknecht is the son of the teacher Julius Ernst Karl Wagenknecht and Seraphine Emilie Tugendreich Siefert. He was made early familiar with the music and later studied piano and organ music. A scholarship, which he received in 1875, continuing his studies enabled him at the Academy of Music in Berlin (now University of the Arts ), which he completed in 1880.

In Franzburg where Wagenknecht had become a lecturer at the teacher training college, he met his future wife, Meta Benz, whom he married in 1885. With her he had two children, Gertrude Wagenknecht (1886-1970) and Georg Wagenknecht ( 1889-1951 ).

As a music teacher at the teacher training college in Vorpommerschen Franzburg and from 1901 organist and composer in Anklam, he completed in July 1889 Opus 5, " 58 pros and sequels ". During this time, Wagenknecht was also involved in building and restoring of organs, gave several concerts and conducted several orchestras.

Works (selection)

The total number of musical works Max Wagenknecht is not known. Among his compositions are preserved only the following:

• Opus 1: Three Polkas for Piano
• Opus 2: Rhinelander for violin and flute to piano accompaniment
• Opus 3: Three Songs with text by Schanz, Kletke and Reinic for piano accompaniment
• Opus 5: 58 pros and aftermath, 58 short pieces for organ and a Fughette and Fugue
• Opus 10, 13 and 14: Songs for Piano