Hans Joachim Moser
Encyclopedia
Translated from German Wikipedia
Hans Joachim Moser (b. 25 May 1889; d. Berlin, 14 August 1967) was a German
musicologist, composer
and singer.
Moser was the son of the music-professor Andreas Moser (1859–1925), a pupil and important early biographer of Joseph Joachim
. He studied the History of Music (mainly with Gustav Jenner
and Robert Kahn
), German phililogy and Philosophy in Marburg
, Berlin
and Leipzig
, and studied violin with his father. With the work Musical Confederations in the German Middle Ages he obtained his doctorate in 1910 at Rostock
.
He took part as a Lieutenant during the First World War, was officially accepted as part of the University of Halle in 1919, and in 1922 became extraordinary Professor. In 1925 he followed a call to Heidelberg
. From 1927 to 1933 he was Director of the State Academy for Church and School Music in Berlin
. In 1933 Moser was forcibly pensioned off on political grounds. In 1938 he became the representative leader of the Reichs-authority for Musical Activities in the Reichs-Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
; from 1940 until 1945 he was its General Secretary. He received in 1947 a professorship from the Jena University, but after two months it was withdrawn in the light of his activities in the Propaganda Ministry. From 1950 to 1960 Moser worked as Director at the State Music Conservatory in West Berlin
. In 1963 the Mozart Medal
of the City of Vienna
was bestowed upon him.
Moser wrote studies of numerous composers, like Paul Hofhaimer
, Heinrich Schütz
und Johann Sebastian Bach
as well as his studies in Das deutsche Lied seit Mozart (German Song since Mozart) of 1937. During the 1920s he brought out a History of German Music in three volumes which was published in various forms. After the Second World War Moser wrote a History of Evangelical Church Music in Germany countless biographical essays, like (for example) his Musical History in 100 Life Stories. His Music-Lexikon went through five editions by 1955. Its later development was in the book in the manner of the Germanist Josef Nadler, Music in the German Tradition (1957). Moser carried out the new editing of the Monuments of German Composition (Denkmäler Deutscher Tonkunst, or DDT).
Moser's oeuvre as a composer includes piano pieces, songs, theatre music and choral works.
Moser was the father of the singer Edda Moser
, of the folklorist and literary scholar Dietz-Rüdiger Moser (b. 1939, d. 2010), and of the singer Wolf-Hildebrand Moser (b. 1943).
Hans Joachim Moser (b. 25 May 1889; d. Berlin, 14 August 1967) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
musicologist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and singer.
Moser was the son of the music-professor Andreas Moser (1859–1925), a pupil and important early biographer of Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
. He studied the History of Music (mainly with Gustav Jenner
Gustav Jenner
Gustav Uwe Jenner, , was a German composer, conductor and musical scholar whose chief claim to fame is that he was the only formal composition pupil of Johannes Brahms.Jenner was born in Keitum on the island of Sylt...
and Robert Kahn
Robert Kahn
Robert Kahn may refer to:* Robert Kahn , composer and music teacher* Bob Kahn , Internet pioneer* Robert Kahn, more famous as Bob Kane, the creator of the comic book superhero Batman...
), German phililogy and Philosophy in Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, and studied violin with his father. With the work Musical Confederations in the German Middle Ages he obtained his doctorate in 1910 at Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
.
He took part as a Lieutenant during the First World War, was officially accepted as part of the University of Halle in 1919, and in 1922 became extraordinary Professor. In 1925 he followed a call to Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. From 1927 to 1933 he was Director of the State Academy for Church and School Music in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1933 Moser was forcibly pensioned off on political grounds. In 1938 he became the representative leader of the Reichs-authority for Musical Activities in the Reichs-Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
The Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda was Nazi Germany's ministry that enforced Nazi Party ideology in Germany and regulated its culture and society. Founded on March 13, 1933, by Adolf Hitler's new National Socialist government, the Ministry was headed by Dr...
; from 1940 until 1945 he was its General Secretary. He received in 1947 a professorship from the Jena University, but after two months it was withdrawn in the light of his activities in the Propaganda Ministry. From 1950 to 1960 Moser worked as Director at the State Music Conservatory in West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
. In 1963 the Mozart Medal
Mozart Medal
The Mozart Medal is a name, after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for various awards:* Mozart Medal , awarded by the city of Frankfurt...
of the City of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
was bestowed upon him.
Moser wrote studies of numerous composers, like Paul Hofhaimer
Paul Hofhaimer
Paul Hofhaimer was an Austrian organist and composer. He was particularly gifted at improvisation, and was regarded as the finest organist of his age by many writers, including Vadian and Paracelsus; in addition he was one of only two German-speaking composers of the time who had a reputation in...
, Heinrich Schütz
Heinrich Schütz
Heinrich Schütz was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach and often considered to be one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi...
und Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
as well as his studies in Das deutsche Lied seit Mozart (German Song since Mozart) of 1937. During the 1920s he brought out a History of German Music in three volumes which was published in various forms. After the Second World War Moser wrote a History of Evangelical Church Music in Germany countless biographical essays, like (for example) his Musical History in 100 Life Stories. His Music-Lexikon went through five editions by 1955. Its later development was in the book in the manner of the Germanist Josef Nadler, Music in the German Tradition (1957). Moser carried out the new editing of the Monuments of German Composition (Denkmäler Deutscher Tonkunst, or DDT).
Moser's oeuvre as a composer includes piano pieces, songs, theatre music and choral works.
Moser was the father of the singer Edda Moser
Edda Moser
Edda Moser is a German soprano. She was particularly well-known for her interpretations of music by Mozart. Her 1973 recital LP "Virtuoso Arias by W. A...
, of the folklorist and literary scholar Dietz-Rüdiger Moser (b. 1939, d. 2010), and of the singer Wolf-Hildebrand Moser (b. 1943).
Works
- Editions of Songs, including the newer 2-volume Carl Loewe edition for PetersEdition PetersEdition Peters, also known as C.F.Peters Musikverlag, is a German music publishing house, founded in Leipzig in 1800.From the 1860s it was largely run by members the Hinrichsen family, who were Jewish. The company was confiscated by the Nazis and administered by the "Trustee of Jewish Property"....
. - Das deutsche Lied seit Mozart (Atlantis Verlag, Berlin and Zurich 1937).
Sources
- Ludwig Finscher: Moser, Hans Joachim, in: Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (Music in History and the Present), edited by Ludwig Finscher, 2. new Edition, Personenteil, Vol. 12. (Bärenreiter/ Metzler, Kassel et al. 2004), 528f.
- Ute Lemm: Musikwissenschaft in Westdeutschland nach 1945. (Musicology in West Germany since 1945). Analysen und Interpretationen diskursiver Konstellationen. (University Dissertation, Bonn 2005) (Volltext)
- Heinz Wegener (Editor): Festgabe für Hans Joachim Moser zum 65. Geburtstag. (Festschrift for Hans Joachim Moser on his 65th Birthday). (Hinnenthal, Kassel 1954) (with 91-page Bibliography).