Johannes Driessler

John Driessler ( born January 26, 1921 in Frederick Thal ( Saar); † 3 May 1998 in Detmold ) was a German composer and university teacher.

Life

After school and high school Driessler was drafted in April 1939 to the Reich Labor Service. In October 1939 he began at the Pedagogical Academy in Dortmund, a study which he continued at the Musikhochschule in Cologne in January 1940. A short time later, in November 1940, he received the call-up for military service. In 1944, he married Gertrud Ledermann.

After the Second World War, in 1945, was John Driessler teacher at South German boarding school in am Ammersee. 1946 he worked as a lecturer at the Northwest German Music Academy, now the University of Music Detmold. Here he began in 1950 with the building of the Church Music Department of the Academy. On August 25, 1950 his oratorio was Thy kingdom come (op. 11) premiered. In 1953 he interrupted his work for the Academy to devote himself fully to composition. But in 1954 he resumed his work at the Academy of Music on again. In 1956 he received the Maletz Fellowship of the Cultural Committee of the Federation of German Industry. In 1958 he was appointed professor at the Music Academy and in 1959 appointed deputy rector. His last composition, Op 64 was published in 1971. 1972 he resigned from the post of vice- rector.

In 1983, John Driessler was forced to retire.

Importance

The two choral works Sinfonia Sacra op 6 and Thy kingdom come, Op 11 set in the early 1950s represents a singular success John Driessler becomes famous overnight far beyond the borders of Germany. Although can tie back to this early success, none of his later works, but Driessler has with them a significant influence on modern sacred music.

In 1959 he received the Westphalian Music Prize 1962 Art Prize of the Saarland.

Works

  • Sinfonia Sacra op 6
  • Thy kingdom come, oratorio, Op 11 (1950 )
  • Claudia amata, Lyric Opera, Op 17 ( 1952 premiere of Münster)
  • Princess pride, fairy-tale opera, Op 21 ( 1952 premiere, Kassel)
  • The Unfried, Youth Opera (first performed 1957)
  • Doctor Lucifer Trux opera (premiered 1958)
  • Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op 41 No 2
  • Three Little Pieces for Cello and Piano, Op 8
  • Duo for Violin and Cello
  • Fantasy for Cello and Piano, Op 24 No 2
  • Sonata for viola alone ( 1946)
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