Franz Eckert
Franz Eckert ( born April 5, 1852 in neurodegeneration, county Glatz, Silesia, † August 8, 1916 in Keijo, at that time the Japanese Empire, present-day South Korea ) was a German composer and among other things, the creator of the western version of the Japanese national anthem, Kimi Ga Yo as well as the Korean anthem Daehan jeguk Aegukga.
Time in Germany
Franz Eckert was born the son of a court official. He attended various schools and excelled particularly in music. He graduated from the Conservatory in Breslau and Dresden. Subsequently, he was a military musician in Neisse. During that time he was appointed to Wilhelmshaven, where he was to be Navy bandmaster. Since the German administration was looking for a musician for the Japanese Navy, Franz Eckert was provided. In 1879 he arrived in Tokyo.
Work in Japan
Western music was at that time almost unknown in Japan. Eckert pioneered by mediated not only the foreign instruments, but also western melodies and harmonies. From the spring of 1880 as a naval Eckert led the bandmaster a German military music. From 1883 to 1886 Eckert worked in the Ministry of Education for the Music Examination Board in the area of wind and string music.
In March 1888 he joined the department of classical music of the imperial house and Hofministeriums, where he met the Zeremonialmusik Japan. Between 1892 and 1894 he worked part-time as a teacher of German military music in the military band in Toyama. At this time he also founded the orchestra of the Imperial household in Tokyo. The primary role of the time was for him but the publication of the songbook for Japanese elementary schools run by 2nd and 3rd band he was in charge.
1897 Eckert wrote on the occasion of the funeral of the Dowager Empress Eisho Kotaigo the song Kanashimi no kiwami ( Immense pain), which is played at the Japanese court on such occasions since that time.
Franz Eckert in 1880 asked by the Japanese Naval Ministry for help in developing a national anthem that should be playable internationally acceptable and also at sea. Eckert chose among several proposals for a presumably composed by Oku Yoshiisa and Hayashi Hirosue, but authorized by Hayashi Hiromori melody in the gagaku - key " ichikotsu - tore ", which corresponds roughly to the Dorian mode of the Western church modes. This harmonized and he orchestrated it for Western military band. This setting of the old verses Kimi Ga Yo was performed on 3 November to mark the birthday of the Meiji Tenno in the imperial palace for the first time. The cover page for the notes presented on this occasion had designed Eckert's compatriot, the metallurgist Adolph Curt Netto ( 1847-1909 ). Eight years later, the score was issued by the Navy Department and made generally known.
Eckert certainly has a great merit is to have the German songs, and German music in Japan not only known, but also made it popular. So nowadays concerts of the Berliner Philharmoniker, in contrast to Germany will be broadcast live to Japan.
Return to Germany
On March 31, 1899 Eckert resigned for health reasons and went to Germany, where he was appointed a short time after his arrival to the Royal Prussian music director.
Work in Korea
Ever since the eighties of the 19th century, attempts were made in Korea to give the court of the Emperor, a band on the Western model. Triggers may perhaps be a presentation of the German Navy Chapel on November 26, 1883 have been, who came to Korea with the Corvette Hertha. On Franz Eckert one had noticed in Korea due to its many years of successful activity in Japan. And so he was called to Korea - mediated by the German representatives in Seoul, Heinrich Weipert - to build there a court orchestra and to train musicians to European instruments. Eckert's health had improved again so that he obeyed the call to Korea on 19 February 1901.
His duties in Korea were similar to those in Japan. In the long hermetic Empire Korea were known no Western music. However, Eckert was able to draw on his experiences in Japan, to plan and carry out the necessary groundwork. He had soon established a small court orchestra with two dozen musicians he grew in the following years up to 70 members.
The chapel was a great success. She performed regularly not only at court on, but also played music every Thursday at Pagoda Park. The Seoul-based Aliens took the opportunity to be grateful to hear self-composed works Eckert, but also overtures of Richard Wagner.
Composed the beginning of his work in Seoul or edited Eckert a Korean national anthem Daehan jeguk Aegukga, which was based on the melody of a transcribed from Homer Hulbert Korean folk song, where he followed an order of the government. It was probably first performed on 1 January 1902. In December Eckert subsequently received by Emperor Gojong bestowed the Order of Merit Tai keuk 3rd class. This Korean national anthem was, however, in the Japanese Empire in 1910, replaced by the inclusion of Korea by the Japanese, whose arrangement indeed originated by Franz Eckert.
The current North Korean national anthem was created by the North Korean composer Kim Wŏn'gyun ( 1917-2002 ). Today's South Korean national anthem is the work of South Korean composer Ahn Iktae ( 1905-1965 ).
World War I
During the First World War the means were limited, so that the chapel has been reduced. Also prevented renewed health problems Eckert from continuing to perform its functions. He handed over the management of the chapel, therefore, the beginning of 1916 to the first flutist Pak, which he had previously trained as a conductor.
Franz Eckert died after a long and serious illness on August 8, 1916 in Seoul from stomach cancer. He is buried at the foreigner cemetery in the capital. At his funeral played the court orchestra he founded.