Hermann Kotzschmar
Encyclopedia
Johann Carl Hermann Kotzschmar (July 4, 1829 – April 15, 1908) was a German-American musician, conductor, and composer.
Kotzschmar was born in 1829 in Finsterwalde
, Germany
. His father, Johann Gottfried Kotzschmar, was the town Stadtmusiker and taught his son to play the violin, keyboard, flute, and horn. At age 14, Kotzschmar went to Dresden
to study with Julius Otto, a choral conductor who was the cantor at the Dresden Kreuzkirche
. He studied with Otto for five years, then emigrated to America with a group of other musicians from Dresden who called themselves the Saxonia Band. The group toured New York and Philadelphia with Fry's Italian Opera, then split up when the show folded in Boston.
While in Boston, Kotzschmar met Cyrus Libby Curtis, an amateur musician from Portland, Maine, who suggested he move there to find work. Kotzschmar arrived in Portland in July 1849 and lived with the Curtis family for his first year there. In June 1850, Curtis' first son was born and named Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis
, in Kotzschmar's honor.
In 1851, Kotzschmar was hired to be the organist at the First Parish Church
in Portland, a position he would keep for 47 years. While living in Portland, Kotzschmar was very active as a composer, conductor, and performer. As an organist, he was well known for his improvisational skills. He was also a noted pianist and accompanist. He composed music for a variety of instruments and ensembles and in a variety of formats.
In addition to his position at the First Parish Church, Kotzschmar's other major professional collaboration was as the conductor of the Haydn Association. This group of singers first came together in 1869 to present Haydn's
Creation. After the success of this performance, they decided to form a permanent group called the Haydn Association or, informally, the Haydns.
In December 1872, Kotzschmar married one of his former piano students, Mary Ann Torrey. The couple had two children: Hermann, Jr. (1874-1945) and Dorothea (1878-1931). In 1898, Kotzschmar left his positions at both the First Parish Church and the Haydn Association. He took a position at the State Street Congregational Church and worked there until 1903.
Hermann Kotzschmar died on April 15, 1908, at the age of 78, from a cerebral hemorrhage. Earlier that year, a fire had destroyed the Portland City Hall. When a new city hall was built, Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis, having become a wealthy publisher, donated an organ for an auditorium in the building, on the condition that it be a memorial to Hermann Kotzschmar. The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ
was dedicated on August 22, 1912.
Parkinson-Tucker, Janice. Hermann Kotzschmar: An Appreciation. South Portland, Maine: Casco House Publishing, 2006.
Parkinson-Tucker, Janice. Behind the Pipes: the Story of the Kotzschmar Organ. South Portland, Maine: Casco House Publishing, 2005.
Kotzschmar was born in 1829 in Finsterwalde
Finsterwalde
Finsterwalde is a town in the Elbe-Elster district , in Brandenburg, Germany.-Overview:It is situated on the Schackebach, a tributary of the Kleine Elster, 28 m. W.S.W of Cottbus by rail. Pop. 18,840. The town has a Gothic church , a castle, schools, cloth and cigar factories, iron-foundries,...
, Germany
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...
. His father, Johann Gottfried Kotzschmar, was the town Stadtmusiker and taught his son to play the violin, keyboard, flute, and horn. At age 14, Kotzschmar went to Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
to study with Julius Otto, a choral conductor who was the cantor at the Dresden Kreuzkirche
Kreuzkirche
The Church of the Cross in Dresden is the largest church in Saxony, and home to the Dresdner Kreuzchor boy choir. Known since the early 12th century, it was officially dedicated on 10 June 1388 to the Holy Cross. Since 1491, it has burned down five times...
. He studied with Otto for five years, then emigrated to America with a group of other musicians from Dresden who called themselves the Saxonia Band. The group toured New York and Philadelphia with Fry's Italian Opera, then split up when the show folded in Boston.
While in Boston, Kotzschmar met Cyrus Libby Curtis, an amateur musician from Portland, Maine, who suggested he move there to find work. Kotzschmar arrived in Portland in July 1849 and lived with the Curtis family for his first year there. In June 1850, Curtis' first son was born and named Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis
Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis
Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis was an American publisher of magazines and newspapers, including the Ladies' Home Journal and the Saturday Evening Post.-Biography:...
, in Kotzschmar's honor.
In 1851, Kotzschmar was hired to be the organist at the First Parish Church
First Parish Church (Portland, Maine)
First Parish Church is an historic church at 425 Congress Street in Portland, Maine.It was built in 1825 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.-External links:* The Forecaster, November 30, 2010...
in Portland, a position he would keep for 47 years. While living in Portland, Kotzschmar was very active as a composer, conductor, and performer. As an organist, he was well known for his improvisational skills. He was also a noted pianist and accompanist. He composed music for a variety of instruments and ensembles and in a variety of formats.
In addition to his position at the First Parish Church, Kotzschmar's other major professional collaboration was as the conductor of the Haydn Association. This group of singers first came together in 1869 to present Haydn's
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
Creation. After the success of this performance, they decided to form a permanent group called the Haydn Association or, informally, the Haydns.
In December 1872, Kotzschmar married one of his former piano students, Mary Ann Torrey. The couple had two children: Hermann, Jr. (1874-1945) and Dorothea (1878-1931). In 1898, Kotzschmar left his positions at both the First Parish Church and the Haydn Association. He took a position at the State Street Congregational Church and worked there until 1903.
Hermann Kotzschmar died on April 15, 1908, at the age of 78, from a cerebral hemorrhage. Earlier that year, a fire had destroyed the Portland City Hall. When a new city hall was built, Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis, having become a wealthy publisher, donated an organ for an auditorium in the building, on the condition that it be a memorial to Hermann Kotzschmar. The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ
Kotzschmar Memorial Organ
The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, usually referred to as the Kotzschmar Organ, is a pipe organ located inside the city-owned Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, United States. Built in 1911 by the Austin Organ Co...
was dedicated on August 22, 1912.
Further reading
Thornton-Edwards, George. Music and Musicians of Maine. Portland Maine: Southworth Press, 1928.Parkinson-Tucker, Janice. Hermann Kotzschmar: An Appreciation. South Portland, Maine: Casco House Publishing, 2006.
Parkinson-Tucker, Janice. Behind the Pipes: the Story of the Kotzschmar Organ. South Portland, Maine: Casco House Publishing, 2005.