Adam Gumpelzhaimer

Adam Gumpelzhaimer (also: Gumpeltzhaimer; * 1559 in Trostberg, † November 3, 1625 in Augsburg ) was a German composer, music teacher and theorist.

Life

Gumpelzhaimer was sent by his grandfather Michael initially by Oettingen, then the Benedictine monastery of St. Ulrich and Afra Augsburg, where he first musical instruction from Jodocus Entzenmüller, the father of the successful in Upper Austria and Lower Austria Landing Joachim Enzmilner, later Baron or Earl of Windhag, and probably also experienced by the choir director John Treer. In 1581 he became cantor and preceptor at the Gymnasium at St. Anna. This appointment he held until his death. 1582 Gumpelzhaimer be enrolled at the University of Ingolstadt; where and when he earned his master's degree, is unknown. From 1585, concluded with Barbara Wismüller marriage no children were born. 1590 they both attained the Augsburg civil rights.

1596 organized Gumpelzhaimer the school choir at St. Anna again. In 1606 he turned down an offer that would make him the court composer and conductor of the court orchestra Württemberg. Over the years Gumpelzhaimer were granted several salary increases. However, he came to the end of life in financial difficulties. From 1617 to 1621 he was suffering from a serious illness. The couple Gumpelzhaimer died some years later of the plague.

In his birthplace consolation Mountain (Upper Bavaria) there are no baptismal or the like receive documents have. A room of the local city museum is dedicated Gumpelzhaimer and bears his name, issued in furnishings date from the first half of the 17th century.

In Hohenaschau Castle representations of the Nine Muses are mounted in the coffered ceiling of a corner room. On each image different instruments of time are seen; each Muse is holding a sheet of music in her hand, on which the letters AG or AGT or AGTB is to read. It is an acronym of the initials Gumpelzhaimers, accompanied by the words T ( rospergius ) B ( oius or Bavarus ), Bayer from Trostberg, as found also in some of his printed works. On his portrait ( engraving by Lucas Kilian 1622) there is a different reading of the four letters, namely the bumpy Latin sentence: A ( ltissimi ) G ( Ratia ) T ( antum ) B ( eat ). But the music score shown in Hohenaschau found no meaningful compositions are thus purely ornamental and as a tribute to the music theorist to understand Gumpelzhaimer whose textbook Compendium musicae to 1681 15 editions experienced.

Work

During his lifetime Gumpelzhaimer musicae was primarily known for his statement to his disciples instructions Compendium, which was published more than 90 years in 13 runs. It is based on the to published 1548 by Heinrich Faber Compendiolum musicae and its translation, the Gumpelzhaimer extended by numerous musical examples. Furthermore polyphonic vocal works by Gumpelzhaimer have survived in various music collections.

Printing:

All works were printed in Augsburg.

Handwritten autographs:

Various part-books are located in the former episcopal ( Proskeschen ) library in Regensburg.