Walter von Forster (Composer)

Born: 1915 - Nürnberg; Bavaria, Germany
Died: 2002 - Herrsching, Bavaria, Germany

Life

The German composer, Walter von Forster, learned from the age of six piano and harmony with Leonhard Stirnweiß. He obtained a degree in composition and church music in Munich.

Early on, Walter von Forster devoted himself to his own compositions, some of which were already performed during the visit of the master-class by Joseph Haas, in chamber concerts of contemporary music in Nürnberg. These include works for piano, string quartet and Lieder cycles.

During World War II, Walter von Forster gave private lessons in 1943 and received a job as choir director and organist at Stephanuskirche in München-Nymphenburg. In 1946 he moved to the newly opened Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Munich. He taught there music theory and was eventually promoted to Professor. After his retirement in 1979, he lived as a freelance composer.

Walter von Forster composed hundreds of works. The focus of his work are the works of vocal and chamber music and instrumental music for solo instruments. His estate is located in the Collections of the Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek in Munich. His compositions are all the originals or in printed notes, but much of his work has never been performed and has not been published until recently.

Works (Selection)

Praeludium fuqaque, for organ (Verlag Merseburger, Kassel)
Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, for organ (Verlag Merseburger, Kassel)
12 Kirchenlieder und 5 Volkslieder (12 hymns and folk songs, for 3-5 voice mixed choir
Solokantate im alten Stil. (Psalm 45), for alto, flute & string quartet
Alpinum musicale, for harpsichord or other keyboard instruments

Source: German Wikipedia Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (April 2013)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2013)

Walter von Forster: Short Biography | Arrangements/Transcriptions: Works | Recordings

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Bibliography