Andreas Werckmeister
Encyclopedia
Andreas Werckmeister was an organist, music theorist
, and composer of the Baroque era
.
, Germany, Werckmeister attended schools in Nordhausen
and Quedlinburg
. He received his musical training from his uncles Heinrich Christian Werckmeister and Heinrich Victor Werckmeister. In 1664 he became an organist
in Hasselfelde
; ten years later in Elbingerode
; and in 1696 of the Martinskirche in Halberstadt
.
and described a system of well temperament now known as Werckmeister temperament
.
Werckmeister's writings were well known to Johann Sebastian Bach
, in particular his writings on counterpoint
. Werckmeister believed that well-crafted counterpoint, in particular invertible counterpoint , was tied to the orderly movements of the planets, reminiscent of Kepler's view in Harmonice Mundi
. According to George Buelow, "No other writer of the period regarded music so unequivocally as the end result of God’s work," a view harmonious with that of Bach. Yet in spite of his focus on counterpoint, Werckmeister's work emphasized underlying harmonic principles.
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
, and composer of the Baroque era
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
.
Life
Born in BenneckensteinBenneckenstein
Benneckenstein is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it has been part of the town Oberharz am Brocken. Benneckenstein is in the eastern Harz, 14 km southeast of Braunlage, and 24 km south of Wernigerode....
, Germany, Werckmeister attended schools in Nordhausen
Nordhausen
Nordhausen is a town at the southern edge of the Harz Mountains, in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Nordhausen...
and Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
. He received his musical training from his uncles Heinrich Christian Werckmeister and Heinrich Victor Werckmeister. In 1664 he became an organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
in Hasselfelde
Hasselfelde
Hasselfelde is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated in the eastern Harz, approximately 17 km south of Wernigerode. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Oberharz am Brocken...
; ten years later in Elbingerode
Elbingerode
Elbingerode is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Oberharz am Brocken. Elbingerode has 3.672 inhabitants ....
; and in 1696 of the Martinskirche in Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
.
Musical compositions
Of his compositions only a booklet remains: pieces for violin with basso continuo, with the title Musikalische Privatlust (1689).Theoretical works
Werckmeister is best known today as a theorist, in particular through his writings Musicae mathematicae hodegus curiosus... (1687) and Musikalische Temperatur, oder... (1691), in which he coined the term well temperamentWell temperament
Well temperament is a type of tempered tuning described in 20th-century music theory. The term is modelled on the German word wohltemperiert which appears in the title of J.S. Bach's famous composition, The Well-Tempered Clavier...
and described a system of well temperament now known as Werckmeister temperament
Werckmeister temperament
Werckmeister temperaments are the tuning systems described by Andreas Werckmeister in his writings . The tuning systems are confusingly numbered in two different ways: the first refers to the order in which they were presented as "good temperaments" in Werckmeister's 1691 treatise, the second to...
.
Werckmeister's writings were well known to 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...
, in particular his writings on counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
. Werckmeister believed that well-crafted counterpoint, in particular invertible counterpoint , was tied to the orderly movements of the planets, reminiscent of Kepler's view in Harmonice Mundi
Harmonice Mundi
Harmonices Mundi is a book by Johannes Kepler. In the work Kepler discusses harmony and congruence in geometrical forms and physical phenomena...
. According to George Buelow, "No other writer of the period regarded music so unequivocally as the end result of God’s work," a view harmonious with that of Bach. Yet in spite of his focus on counterpoint, Werckmeister's work emphasized underlying harmonic principles.
List of works
- Musicae mathematicae hodegus curiosus... (1687)
- Musikalische Temperatur, oder... (1691)
- Hypomnemata musica (1697)
- Erweierte und verbesserte Orgel-Probe (1698)
- Cribrum musicum (1700)
- Harmonologia musica (1702)
- Musikalische Paradoxal-Discourse (1707)