Henning Frederichs (Composer)

Born: May 8, 1936 - Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany
Died: December 28, 2003 - Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

The German composer, conductor and a music paedagogue, Henning Frederichs, studied after his graduation music and theology in Hamburg, Cologne and Bochum.

After completion of his studies in the year 1960, Henning Frederichs was active as Kantor, organist and a pianist in Hamburg, Braunschweig and Cologne. Later he worked as a university teacher in Bochum and Cologne. At the Ruhr-Universität Bochum it received the title of aUniversity Mnusic Director. Here he taught the subjects of harmony, counterpoint and composition. Last he was active as teachers at the Musikhochschule in Cologne, where he trained church musicians in the area of the choir and orchestra conducting. He died in 2003.

His composition work is very extensive and varied. It covers chamber music, orchestra music, stage works as well as compositions for organ and piano. Beyond that he created several comissioned compositions. In his compositions Henning Frederichs argued with priority with sacred and liturgical topics. The performances of his compositions ensured his world-wide fame Among his pupils: Gereon Krahforst, Thomas Schmidt (church musician), Rainer Johannes Homburg (conductor, organist, harpsichordist and church musician).

works (Selection)

Thomas-Müntzer-Kantate, for speakers, choir & organ
Oratorio Passionserzählung der Maria Magdalena
Tu es Petrus, oratorio for vocal soloists, choir & ensemble
Missa in pacem
Friedensmesse
Motet Gleichnis vom Sämann
Ballade von Zweifel und Zuversicht
Drei Sätze, for violin & violoncello
Sonata da chiesa, for guitar & organ
Glossolalie, choral phantasy for clarinet
Shir ha-shirim, for oboe & organ
Nachklänge, for organ
Vater unser im Himmelreich, for organ
Vier Tageszeiten, for piano

Writings:
Das Verhältnis von Text und Musik in den Brockespassionen Keisers, Händels, Telemanns und Matthesons: Mit einer Einführung in ihr Enstehungs- und Rezeptionsgeschichte sowie den Bestand ihrer literischen und musickalischen Quellen (Musikverlag Emil Katzbichler, München-Salzburg, 1975)

Source: German Wikipedia Website (November 2011), English translation by Aryeh Oron (April 2013)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2013)

Henning Frederichs: Short Biography | Arrangements/Transcriptions: Works | Recordings

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Bibliography