Christian Erbach
Encyclopedia
Christian Erbach was a German
organist
and composer.
Erbach was born in Gau-Algesheim
, Mainz-Bingen
, now in the Rhineland-Palatinate
Bundesland
, and began to study musical composition at a considerably young age. Aside from the location of his birth and the mere fact that he studied the art of musical composition, the history of Erbach's youth is unknown.
Throughout most of his life, Erbach held the position of assistant or chief organist for the city of Augsburg
. One may consider him a composer of reverence during his lifetime because many of his students, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, were attracted to his extraordinary talent. The influence upon the music of Erbach was primarily Venetian
notwithstanding the indubitable characteristics of Hans Leo Haßler within his keyboard
works. The most popular pieces by Erbach include 'In ihren grossen Nöthen' (1609) and 'Madrigal Tirsi morir'. Erbach died in Augsburg
.
Outside the context of instrumental music, Erbach also wrote pieces for the church services and the liturgical
fêtes. He was considered to have a fine ear for the organ
and was thus consulted during the development of several 17th century instruments.
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...
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...
and composer.
Erbach was born in Gau-Algesheim
Gau-Algesheim
Gau-Algesheim is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde of Gau-Algesheim, a kind of collective municipality.- Location :...
, Mainz-Bingen
Mainz-Bingen
Mainz-Bingen is a district in the east of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Neighboring districts are Rheingau-Taunus, the district-free cities Wiesbaden and Mainz, the districts Groß-Gerau, Alzey-Worms, Bad Kreuznach, Rhein-Hunsrück.-History:During the French occupation under Napoleon the district...
, now in the Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
Bundesland
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
, and began to study musical composition at a considerably young age. Aside from the location of his birth and the mere fact that he studied the art of musical composition, the history of Erbach's youth is unknown.
Throughout most of his life, Erbach held the position of assistant or chief organist for the city of Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
. One may consider him a composer of reverence during his lifetime because many of his students, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, were attracted to his extraordinary talent. The influence upon the music of Erbach was primarily Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
notwithstanding the indubitable characteristics of Hans Leo Haßler within his keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
works. The most popular pieces by Erbach include 'In ihren grossen Nöthen' (1609) and 'Madrigal Tirsi morir'. Erbach died in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
.
Outside the context of instrumental music, Erbach also wrote pieces for the church services and the liturgical
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
fêtes. He was considered to have a fine ear for the organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and was thus consulted during the development of several 17th century instruments.