Sebastian Knüpfer
Encyclopedia
Sebastian Knüpfer was a German composer
. He was the cantor of the Thomanerchor
in Leipzig from 1657 to 1676, and director of the city’s music.
, Bavaria (now Aš
, Czech Republic
), and was first taught music by his father, a Kantor and organist. He also studied regularly with an unidentified tutor living near Asch, from whom he gained a solid grounding in, and lasting love for, a number of scholastic disciplines. At the age of 13 he entered the Gymnasium Poeticum at Regensburg
and remained there for eight years. During this unusually long period he became well versed in the city's musical traditions (such as the works of Andreas Raselius), studied the organ, perhaps with Augustin Gradenthaler, and mastered a number of humanistic subjects, especially the poetic arts and philology. His gifts as a student were supported by scholarships from the city of Regensburg, and he was commended by influential members of the staff of the Gymnasium and the city council, some of the latter providing him with favourable testimonials when he moved to Leipzig in 1654. It is not known why he went there, but in view of his lifelong desire to improve his mind, it was possibly because he planned to enter the university. He did not, however, do so.
During his first few years in Leipzig, Sebastian Knüpfer gave music lessons and sang as a bass in church choirs, displaying enough talent to take solo parts. He applied for the post of Thomaskantor
when Tobias Michael died on June 26, 1657, and he was appointed on July 17; the four other candidates to whom he was preferred included Adam Krieger
. In Knüpfer the Thomaskirche found a Kantor and the city of Leipzig a director of music who came close to the musical and intellectual calibre of Sethus Calvisius
and Johann Hermann Schein, his two predecessors. During his 19-year tenure Leipzig once again became the leading musical city in central Germany
following the sharp decline resulting from the Thirty Years War, the long Swedish occupation of the city and his protracted illness. Knüpfer thus initiated a final period of musical excellence in Leipzig that culminated in the careers of his three successors, Johann Schelle
, Johann Kuhnau
and Johann Sebastian Bach
. Although never a student at the university, he continued the study of philosophy and philology with members of the faculty and was thought of as a member of the academic community. He was praised for his command of classical sources concerning music, which he mastered from Meibom’s editions published in 1652; he studied the treatises of, among others, Guido of Arezzo, Boethius, Berno of Reichenau and Kircher. In addition to his productive career as Kantor he is known to have travelled to Halle
to direct his own music for the dedication of new organs, for the Marktkirche on February 15, 1664 and the Ulrichskirche on November 16, 1675; also he directed a programme of music for the centenary of the Halle Gymnasium on August 17, 1665. His circle of musical colleagues included many men important in 17th-century German music, such as Pezel, Johann Rosenmüller
and Johann Kaspar Horn, and he may well have known Heinrich Schütz
. He died in Leipzig
, Germany
. That he was regarded as one of Leipzig’s leading intellectual figures is indicated by the unusual honour of his being accorded an academic funeral at the university even though he had never been officially connected with it.
- though with no traces of the latter's uniquely personal style. Large choral forms are enhanced by an orchestra of substantial size (most commonly two violins, three violas, bassoon
with continuo, clarinos, trombone
and timpani
), which supports the choral parts as well as interjecting all manner of colourful concerted effects. The choral writing may be massively chordal or intricately polyphonic, and there are a number of much simpler concerted passages for soloists supported only by the continuo. Knüpfer frequently based his German works on the text and melody of a chorale, and he was a master at deriving contrapuntal ideas from motivic fragmentation of the chorale. In many of these works the chorale verses are treated much as they are in slightly later German cantatas Each verse is set separately. An opening choral movement, usually of large proportions and often repeated at the end of the work, is succeeded by movements designed for soloists. These are often ariosos or include fugal writing in which the chorale melody is passed back and forth between the voices in a duet or trio texture - a technique akin to that found in Bach’s organ chorale preludes. Other movements display dramatic use of expressive recitative: there is a good example in Wer ist, der so von Edom kِommt (excerpt in Schering, 1926, p.162).
Sebastian Knüpfer’s music is primarily serious and profoundly devout, though he did publish a collection of the secular madrigals and canzonettas (1663) that he wrote for the university student with whom he worked in the collegium musicum at Leipzig. His contrapuntal mastery, the powerful drama of his thematic ideas, his brilliant instrumentation and the variety of his vocal scoring all contribute to the impression of him as a worthy predecessor of Bach, many of whose Leipzig church cantatas belong to a tradition first developed by Knüpfer.
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...
. He was the cantor of the Thomanerchor
Thomanerchor
The Thomanerchor is a boys' choir in Leipzig, Germany. The choir was founded in 1212. At present, the choir consists of 92 boys from 9 to 18 years of age...
in Leipzig from 1657 to 1676, and director of the city’s music.
Life
Most of the biographical data about Sebastian Knüpfer come from a published obituary. He was born in AschAsch
Asch may refer to:In People:*Frank Asch , American writer*Moe Asch , founder of Folkways Records, son of Sholem Asch*Nathan Asch , American writer*Peter Asch , American water polo player...
, Bavaria (now Aš
Aš
Aš is a town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic.-History:Previously uninhabited hills and swamps, the town of Asch was founded in the early 11th century by German colonists. Slavic settlements in the area are not known. The dialect spoken in the town was that of the Upper Palatinate,...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
), and was first taught music by his father, a Kantor and organist. He also studied regularly with an unidentified tutor living near Asch, from whom he gained a solid grounding in, and lasting love for, a number of scholastic disciplines. At the age of 13 he entered the Gymnasium Poeticum at Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
and remained there for eight years. During this unusually long period he became well versed in the city's musical traditions (such as the works of Andreas Raselius), studied the organ, perhaps with Augustin Gradenthaler, and mastered a number of humanistic subjects, especially the poetic arts and philology. His gifts as a student were supported by scholarships from the city of Regensburg, and he was commended by influential members of the staff of the Gymnasium and the city council, some of the latter providing him with favourable testimonials when he moved to Leipzig in 1654. It is not known why he went there, but in view of his lifelong desire to improve his mind, it was possibly because he planned to enter the university. He did not, however, do so.
During his first few years in Leipzig, Sebastian Knüpfer gave music lessons and sang as a bass in church choirs, displaying enough talent to take solo parts. He applied for the post of Thomaskantor
Thomaskantor
The Thomaskantor is the musical director of the Thomanerchor in Leipzig, founded in 1212. He is appointed by Leipzig's city council and his duties are to lead the weekly services called Motette, Sunday services and other services in the Thomaskirche, also to conduct recordings and tours.Johann...
when Tobias Michael died on June 26, 1657, and he was appointed on July 17; the four other candidates to whom he was preferred included Adam Krieger
Adam Krieger
Adam Krieger was a German composer. Born in Driesen, Neumark, he studied organ with Samuel Scheidt in Halle. He succeeded Johann Rosenmüller as organist at Leipzig's Nikolaikirche and founded the city's Collegium Musicum before settling for the rest of his career in Dresden.Krieger composed and...
. In Knüpfer the Thomaskirche found a Kantor and the city of Leipzig a director of music who came close to the musical and intellectual calibre of Sethus Calvisius
Sethus Calvisius
Sethus Calvisius or Setho Calvisio, originally Seth Kalwitz was a German music theorist, composer, chronologer, astronomer, and teacher of the late Renaissance....
and Johann Hermann Schein, his two predecessors. During his 19-year tenure Leipzig once again became the leading musical city in central 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...
following the sharp decline resulting from the Thirty Years War, the long Swedish occupation of the city and his protracted illness. Knüpfer thus initiated a final period of musical excellence in Leipzig that culminated in the careers of his three successors, Johann Schelle
Johann Schelle
Johann Schelle was a German baroque composer.Schelle was born in Geising and died in Leipzig. He was the cantor of the Thomanerchor from 1677 to 1701....
, Johann Kuhnau
Johann Kuhnau
Johann Kuhnau was a German composer, organist and harpsichordist.-Biography :Kuhnau was born in Geising, Saxony. He grew up in a religious Lutheran family. At age nine, he auditioned successfully for the Kreuzschule in Dresden...
and 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...
. Although never a student at the university, he continued the study of philosophy and philology with members of the faculty and was thought of as a member of the academic community. He was praised for his command of classical sources concerning music, which he mastered from Meibom’s editions published in 1652; he studied the treatises of, among others, Guido of Arezzo, Boethius, Berno of Reichenau and Kircher. In addition to his productive career as Kantor he is known to have travelled to Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
to direct his own music for the dedication of new organs, for the Marktkirche on February 15, 1664 and the Ulrichskirche on November 16, 1675; also he directed a programme of music for the centenary of the Halle Gymnasium on August 17, 1665. His circle of musical colleagues included many men important in 17th-century German music, such as Pezel, Johann Rosenmüller
Johann Rosenmüller
Johann Rosenmüller , was a German Baroque composer, who played a part in transmitting Italian musical styles to the north....
and Johann Kaspar Horn, and he may well have known 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...
. He died in 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...
, 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...
. That he was regarded as one of Leipzig’s leading intellectual figures is indicated by the unusual honour of his being accorded an academic funeral at the university even though he had never been officially connected with it.
Works
Sebastian Knüpfer’s output consisted almost entirely of sacred works to Latin or German texts. Many are lost, and of those that survive few have been published in modern editions. Most are in the traditional style and form of the 17th-century vocal concerto, incorporating many of the characteristics of similar works by Heinrich SchützHeinrich 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...
- though with no traces of the latter's uniquely personal style. Large choral forms are enhanced by an orchestra of substantial size (most commonly two violins, three violas, bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
with continuo, clarinos, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
and timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
), which supports the choral parts as well as interjecting all manner of colourful concerted effects. The choral writing may be massively chordal or intricately polyphonic, and there are a number of much simpler concerted passages for soloists supported only by the continuo. Knüpfer frequently based his German works on the text and melody of a chorale, and he was a master at deriving contrapuntal ideas from motivic fragmentation of the chorale. In many of these works the chorale verses are treated much as they are in slightly later German cantatas Each verse is set separately. An opening choral movement, usually of large proportions and often repeated at the end of the work, is succeeded by movements designed for soloists. These are often ariosos or include fugal writing in which the chorale melody is passed back and forth between the voices in a duet or trio texture - a technique akin to that found in Bach’s organ chorale preludes. Other movements display dramatic use of expressive recitative: there is a good example in Wer ist, der so von Edom kِommt (excerpt in Schering, 1926, p.162).
Sebastian Knüpfer’s music is primarily serious and profoundly devout, though he did publish a collection of the secular madrigals and canzonettas (1663) that he wrote for the university student with whom he worked in the collegium musicum at Leipzig. His contrapuntal mastery, the powerful drama of his thematic ideas, his brilliant instrumentation and the variety of his vocal scoring all contribute to the impression of him as a worthy predecessor of Bach, many of whose Leipzig church cantatas belong to a tradition first developed by Knüpfer.
Sacred works
- Ach Herr, lass deine lieben Engelein, SSATB, 2 vn, 2 violettas, bn, 2 clarinos, tamburi, 2 fl, bc
- Ach Herr, strafe mich nicht (Ps 6), SSATB, 2 vn, 2 violettas, bn, 2 clarinos, 2 fl, tamburi, bc
- Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein, 5vv, ripieno 5vv, 2 vn, 2 va, 2 cornetts, 3 trombones, vle, bc
- Ach, wenn kommet doch die Stunde, aria, A/T, 3 va, vle, bc
- Alleluja, man singet mit Freuden, 5vv, 8 insts
- Asche, die des Schöpfers Händ, 5vv, lost, extant in parody version by Z. Haenisch,
- Der Gerechte wird grünen wie ein Palmbaum, SSATB, 2 vln, violetta, 2 va, 2 cornetts, 3 trombones, viole, bc
- Der Herr ist König, SSAATTBB, 2 vln, 5 va, 7 trombones, bc
- Der Herr ist mein Hirt, B, violine, 3 violas, bc
- Der Herr schaffet deinen Gränzen Friede, ATB, 2 vln, trombone, bc
- Der Seegen des Herren machet reich, SAATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, bc
- Dies ist der Tag, den der Herr macht, SSATB, ripieno SSATB, 2 vln, 2 va, bn, 2 clarinos, 2 trbn, bc
- Dies ist der Tag des Herrn, a 16 - SSATB, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 clarini, timpani, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc
- Die Turteltaube lässt sich hören - SSATB, 2 violins, 2 violas, 4 clarini, timpani, bassoon, bc
- Erforsche mich, Gott - SATB, SATB, bc, funeral motet, 14 May 1673
- Erheb dich, meine Seele, SATB, funeral motet, 1676
- Erhöre, Jesulein, mein sehnlichs, S, 4 strings
- Erstanden ist der heilge Christ, SSATB, 2 vln, 4 va, bn, bombard, 2 clarinos, 2 tpt, tamburi, bc
- Es haben mir die Hoffärtigen - SATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, bassoon, bc
- Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüsten, SATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, bassoon, bc
- Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl, SSAATTBB, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 cornetts, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc
- Gelobet sey Gott, SSATB, instruments, bc
- Gen Himmel zu dem Vater mein, SSATTB, 2 vn, 2 clarinos, timp, 2 trbn, bn, bc
- Gott sei mir gnädig nach deiner Güte, SSATB, (ripieno SSATB?), 4 va, bn, vle, bc
- Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn - SSATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 cornetts, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc
- Herr, hilf uns, wir verderben, SATB, 2 vn, 2 va, bn, bc
- Herr, ich habe lieb die Stätte deines Hauses, ATB, 2 vn, va, bc
- Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch, SSATB, (ripieno SSATB?), 2 vn, violone/bassoon, bc
- Herr, lehre mich thun nach deinem, SATTB, (ripieno SATTB?), 2 vn, 3 va, bn, bc
- Herr, lehre uns bedenken, SSATTB, 2 vn, 3 va, bn, bc
- Herr, strafe mich nicht in deinem Zorn - SATB, 3 violas, violone/bassoon, bc
- Herr, wer wird wohnen in deinen Hütten, SAB, 2 cornetts, 3 va, bc
- Ich freue mich in dir, SSATB, 2 vn, 2 va, 3 trbn, 2 fl, vlne, bc
- Ich habe dich zum Licht der Heiden gemacht, SATTB, (ripieno SATTB?), 2 vn, 3 va, bn, 2 cornettinos, 3 trbn, bc
- Ich will singen von der Gnade, SATB, (ripieno SATB), 2 vn, 3 va, bn, bc
- Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt, SATB, SATB, 2 vn, 3 va, bn, 2 clarinos, 2 cornettinos, tpt, 2 trbn, bc
- Jesu, meine Freud und Wonne, 5vv, 5 insts
- Jesus Christus, unser Heiland - SSATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, bassoon, bc
- Justus ut palma florebit, SATB, bc
- Komm du schöne Freudenkrone, SSATB, 2 vn, 3 violettas, violetta/bn, 2 clarinos, tamburi, 3 trbn, bc
- Komm heilger Geist, SATB, (ripieno SATB), 4 va, 4 trbn, bc
- Kommet herzu, lasset uns den Herzen frohlocken, SSATB, 2 vln, vla, bc
- Lass dir gefallen, 2vv, 4 insts
- Lauda Jerusalem, SATB, 2 vln, vlne, bn, bc
- Machet die Thore weit, SSATB, (ripieno SSATB), 2 vn, 4 va, 2 cornetts/bombards, 3 trbn, bc
- Mein Gott, betrübt ist meine Seele, SSATTB, bc, funeral motet, 20 Oct 1667
- Mein Herz hält dir für dein Wort, SAT, 2 vn, bn, bc
- Missa (brevis) super Freu dich selig, SSAATTB, 2 vln, 5 vla, bc
- Missa (brevis) super Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott, SSATTB, 2 vln, 5 vla, bc
- Missa (brevis) super O welt ich muss dich lassen, SSAATTB, 2 vln, 5 vla, bc
- Nun dancket alle Gott, SSATTB, 2 vn, 3 va, bc
- Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gemein, SSTTB, 2 vn, 2 va, bn, bc
- O benignissime Jesu, ATB, 2 vn/cornettinos, va da gamba/bombard, bc
- Quaemadmodum desiderat cervus - B solo, SSATB, bc
- Quare fremuerunt gentes, SSATTB, 2 vn, 3 va, 2 cornetts, 4 trbn, bc
- Sende dein Licht, SATB, (ripieno SATB), 2 vn, 2 va, bn, bc
- Super flumina Babylonis - SATB, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 cornettini, 3 trombones, bassoon, bc
- Surgite populi: De resurrectione et ascensione Domini, SATB, SATB, 2 vn, 3 va, bn, 2 cornettinos, cornett, 5 tpt, 3 trbn, timp, bc
- Veni Sancte Spiritus, SSATB, 2 vn, 2 va, bn, 4 clarinos, 2 cornettinos, 3 trbn, timp, bc
- Victoria, die Fürsten sind geschlagen, 5vv, 2 vn, 2 va, bn, 3 trbn, bc
- Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her:
- chorus angelorum: SSS, 3 violas; SSS, 3 violins ripieni
- choro dei pastori: ATB, 3 bombardi
- choro pieno: SATB, 2 clarini, timpani, harp, bc
- Was mein Gott will, das geschen allzeit - SSATTB, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 cornetti, 3 tromboni, bassoon, bc
- Was sind wir Menschen doch, SATB, funeral ode, 22 May 1672
- Was werden wir essen, dialogue, SATB, 4 vla, bc
- Weichet von mir, ihr Boshaftigen, SSATTB, funeral motet, 16 June 1661
- Welt Vater du! O Adam deine Kinder, 2 S, 3 va, vle, bc
- Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist - SATB, 2 violins, 2 violas, violone, bc
- Wer ist, der so von Edom Kommt - SAB, 4 violas, bc
- Wer ist, der so von Edom Kommt - SSATB, 2 violins, 2 violas, 4 trombetti, timpani, bassoon, bc
- O Traurigkeit, o Hertzeleid, Grab-Lied über die Begräbnis … Jesu Christi (J. Rist), 4vv, in G. Vopelius, Gesangbuch (Leipzig, 1682)