Johann Peter Kellner

Johann Peter Kellner ( born September 28, 1705 Gräfenroda, † April 19, 1772 ) was a German composer and organist.

Life and work

He was the eldest of five children of Peter Kellner, a Kienrußhändler, and Margaretha waiter born Wuckel. From 1732 to 1733 he participated in Jerome Florentinus Quehl, cantor at St. Mary's Church in Suhl, composition and punctuation lessons. Other teachers were the Gräfenrodaer Kantor nail and the organist at Mühlhausen Schmidt from Zella. From 1733 to 1772 waiter was cantor in the church of St. Laurentius his hometown Gräfenroda. At the end of his autobiography, he noted:

Lately, it is assumed that Johann Peter Kellner, the actual composer of the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 could be, whose Bach's origin is disputed. That he was a pupil of Johann Sebastian Bach, is a widespread opinion, but was never claimed by himself and has so far not supported by appropriate sources.

Waiter himself was teacher of John Ringk. His son was the composer Johann Christoph Kellner ( 1736-1803 ). His brother was the Gotha organist and composer Johann Andreas Kellner ( 1724-1785 ).

In the Historical- Critical essays by Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg appeared in 1754 his autobiography.

Kellner died at his birth, a month before the birth of his daughter Dorothea Wilhelmine.