Diethard Hellmann
Encyclopedia
Diethard Hellmann was a German Kantor
and an academic in Leipzig, Mainz and Munich.
, Dietmann Hellmann was a member of the Thomanerchor
. He studied church music in Leipzig
with Günther Ramin
. Hellmann was the organist for early recordings of Bach cantata
s by Ramin. He was Kantor at the Friedenskirche in Leipzig from 1948 to 1955. At the same time, he was a teacher for organ at the Musikhochschule Leipzig, conducting the choir of the Hochschule, and until 1951, a teacher at the Fürstenschule in Grimma. In 1950, he won a prize for organ at the first International Bach Competition. He started teaching choral conducting in 1952 and was appointed vice director of the department for church music in 1954.
In 1955, he became Kantor of the Christuskirche
in Mainz
, where he conducted the Kantorei, which in 1965, was named the Bachchor . In November 1955, he performed a concert of Bach cantatas. In 1958, he was awarded a prize by German broadcaster Südwestfunk (SWF) for his composition Musik auf Christi Himmelfahrt (Music for Ascension).
Hellmann was a teacher for Protestant church music at the Peter Cornelius conservatory of Mainz, and from 1963, at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz as well. He published sheet music, including reconstructions of Bach's Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186a for the Third Sunday in Advent, Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190
and the St Mark Passion
.
Hellmann took the Bachchor on concert tours to France, Poland and Israel. He collaborated with singers such as Peter Schreier
, Aldo Baldin, Ria Bollen, Ursula Buckel
, Eva Csapó, Agnes Giebel
, Julia Hamari
, Ernst Haefliger
, Philippe Huttenlocher
, Georg Jelden, Helena Jungwirth, Siegfried Lorenz, Adalbert Kraus
, Horst Laubenthal, Karl Markus, Barbara Martig-Tüller, Friedreich Melzer, Klaus Mertens
, Siegmund Nimsgern
, Ernst-Gerold Schramm, Verena Schweizer, Jakob Stämpfli
, Ortrun Wenkel
, Kurt Widmer and Edith Wiens. They recorded more than 100 Bach cantatas, broadcast by SWF once a week.
Hellmann conducted the Requiem of Jean Gilles
, Haydn's Harmoniemesse
, the Oratorio de Noël
of Saint-Saens, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis
, the four Choralkantaten of Max Reger
, and Frank Martin's Golgotha.
In 1974, he was appointed professor at the Musikhochschule München, where he was the director from 1981 to 1988. Among his students were Gabriel Dessauer
and Pierre Even
.
Hellmann died in 1999 in Deisenhofen
. In a memorial service in the Christuskirche, the Bachchor performed Bach's Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19, because Hellmann had loved the tenor aria Bleibt, ihr Engel, bleibt bei mir! (Stay, ye angels, stay with me).
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
and an academic in Leipzig, Mainz and Munich.
Professional career
Born in GrimmaGrimma
Grimma is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany on the left bank of the Mulde, southeast of Leipzig. Founded in c. 1170, it is part of the Leipzig district.- Location :...
, Dietmann Hellmann was a member 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...
. He studied church music 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...
with Günther Ramin
Günther Ramin
Günther Werner Hans Ramín was an influential German organist, conductor, composer and pedagogue in the first half of the 20th century....
. Hellmann was the organist for early recordings of Bach cantata
Bach cantata
Bach cantata became a term for a cantata of the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach who was a prolific writer of the genre. Although many of his works are lost, around 200 cantatas survived....
s by Ramin. He was Kantor at the Friedenskirche in Leipzig from 1948 to 1955. At the same time, he was a teacher for organ at the Musikhochschule Leipzig, conducting the choir of the Hochschule, and until 1951, a teacher at the Fürstenschule in Grimma. In 1950, he won a prize for organ at the first International Bach Competition. He started teaching choral conducting in 1952 and was appointed vice director of the department for church music in 1954.
In 1955, he became Kantor of the Christuskirche
Christuskirche (Mainz)
The Christuskirche is a Protestant church located in Mainz. The Christuskirche was built between 1896 and 1903 designed by Eduard Kreyßig. It was consecrated on 2 July 1903...
in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, where he conducted the Kantorei, which in 1965, was named the Bachchor . In November 1955, he performed a concert of Bach cantatas. In 1958, he was awarded a prize by German broadcaster Südwestfunk (SWF) for his composition Musik auf Christi Himmelfahrt (Music for Ascension).
Hellmann was a teacher for Protestant church music at the Peter Cornelius conservatory of Mainz, and from 1963, at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz as well. He published sheet music, including reconstructions of Bach's Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186a for the Third Sunday in Advent, Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied , BWV 190, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote it in Leipzig for the New Year's Day and first performed it on 1 January 1724...
and the St Mark Passion
St Mark Passion (Bach)
The St Mark Passion , BWV 247, is a lost Passion setting by Johann Sebastian Bach, first performed in Leipzig on Good Friday, 23 March 1731 and again on Good Friday 1744 in a revised version...
.
Hellmann took the Bachchor on concert tours to France, Poland and Israel. He collaborated with singers such as Peter Schreier
Peter Schreier
Peter Schreier is a German tenor and conductor.-Early life:Schreier was born in Meissen, Saxony, and spent his first years in the small village of Gauernitz, near Meissen, where his father was a teacher, cantor and organist...
, Aldo Baldin, Ria Bollen, Ursula Buckel
Ursula Buckel
Ursula Buckel was a German soprano singer, known for singing works of Johann Sebastian Bach.- Professional career :...
, Eva Csapó, Agnes Giebel
Agnes Giebel
Agnes Giebel is a German soprano. She was born in Heerlen, in the Netherlands, where she lived the first years of her life. She studied at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen and made her first public appearance as a singer in 1947. Her career lasted until the 1990s during which she established a...
, Julia Hamari
Julia Hamari
Julia Hamari, originally Hamari Júlia , is a Hungarian mezzo-soprano and alto singer in opera and concert, appearing internationally. She is an academic voice teacher in Stuttgart.- Professional career :...
, Ernst Haefliger
Ernst Haefliger
Ernst Haefliger was a Swiss tenor.Haefliger was born in Davos, Switzerland and studied at the Zürich Conservatory. He studied with Fernando Capri in Geneva and Julius Patzak in Vienna....
, Philippe Huttenlocher
Philippe Huttenlocher
Philippe Huttenlocher is a Swiss baritone.He was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He first studied violin at the conservatory in Neuchâtel, and then voice in Fribourg...
, Georg Jelden, Helena Jungwirth, Siegfried Lorenz, Adalbert Kraus
Adalbert Kraus
Adalbert Kraus is a German tenor in opera and concert, known for singing the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.- Biography :...
, Horst Laubenthal, Karl Markus, Barbara Martig-Tüller, Friedreich Melzer, Klaus Mertens
Klaus Mertens
Klaus Mertens is a German bass and bass-baritone singer who is known especially for his interpretation of the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach.-Professional career:Klaus Mertens took singing lessons while attending school...
, Siegmund Nimsgern
Siegmund Nimsgern
Siegmund Nimsgern is a German bass-baritone, born in Sankt Wendel, Saarland, Germany.After leaving school in 1960 he studied singing and musical education at the Hochschule für Musik Saar with Sibylle Fuchs, Jakob Stämpfli and Paul Lohmann.He made his debut at the Saarländisches Staatstheater in...
, Ernst-Gerold Schramm, Verena Schweizer, Jakob Stämpfli
Jakob Stämpfli (bass)
Jakob Stämpfli is a Swiss bass concert singer and an influential academic teacher and director of the conservatory in Bern, also a teacher in Saarbrücken.-Biography:...
, Ortrun Wenkel
Ortrun Wenkel
Ortrun Wenkel is a German operatic contralto. She notably portrayed the roles of Erda and Fricka in the 1983 recording of Richard Wagner's The Ring Cycle which won a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording and which was conducted by Marek Janowski for RCA.-References:...
, Kurt Widmer and Edith Wiens. They recorded more than 100 Bach cantatas, broadcast by SWF once a week.
Hellmann conducted the Requiem of Jean Gilles
Jean Gilles
Jean Gilles may refer to:*Jean Gilles *Jean Gilles...
, Haydn's Harmoniemesse
Harmoniemesse
The Harmoniemesse in B-flat major by Joseph Haydn, Hob. XXII:14, Novello 6, was written in 1802. It is because of the prominence of the winds in this mass and "the German terminology for a kind of wind ensemble, Harmonie," that this mass setting is called "Harmoniemesse" or "Wind-Band Mass."...
, the Oratorio de Noël
Oratorio de Noël
The Oratorio de Noël, Opus 12, by Camille Saint-Saëns, also known as Christmas Oratorio, "in dimensions hardly exceeds the limits of a cantata, but musically is constructed in oratorio style." "The Christmas Oratorio of Saint-Saens [sic] is a delightful substitute for endless Messiah performances."...
of Saint-Saens, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis
Missa Solemnis (Beethoven)
The Missa solemnis in D Major, Op. 123 was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven from 1819-1823. It was first performed on April 7, 1824 in St. Petersburg, under the auspices of Beethoven's patron Prince Nikolai Galitzin; an incomplete performance was given in Vienna on 7 May 1824, when the Kyrie,...
, the four Choralkantaten of Max Reger
Max Reger
Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger was a German composer, conductor, pianist, organist, and academic teacher.-Life:...
, and Frank Martin's Golgotha.
In 1974, he was appointed professor at the Musikhochschule München, where he was the director from 1981 to 1988. Among his students were Gabriel Dessauer
Gabriel Dessauer
Gabriel Dessauer is a German cantor, concert organist and academic. He has been responsible for the church music at St. Bonifatius, Wiesbaden, since 1981. He is an internationally known organ recitalist and an organ teacher on the faculty of the Gutenberg University of Mainz...
and Pierre Even
Pierre Even
Pierre Even is a Luxembourgian composer.He is a descendant of the Even family from Beaufort, Luxembourg and Metz...
.
Hellmann died in 1999 in Deisenhofen
Oberhaching
Oberhaching is a municipality in Bavaria, Germany, with 13,100 inhabitants on an area of 26.6 km². It is located some 15 km south of Munich city center and looks back at a 1,250 year history....
. In a memorial service in the Christuskirche, the Bachchor performed Bach's Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19, because Hellmann had loved the tenor aria Bleibt, ihr Engel, bleibt bei mir! (Stay, ye angels, stay with me).
Selected recordings
- Bach / Pergolesi: Psalm 51 (Kurrende 1966)
- Camille Saint-Saëns: Oratorio de NoëlOratorio de NoëlThe Oratorio de Noël, Opus 12, by Camille Saint-Saëns, also known as Christmas Oratorio, "in dimensions hardly exceeds the limits of a cantata, but musically is constructed in oratorio style." "The Christmas Oratorio of Saint-Saens [sic] is a delightful substitute for endless Messiah performances."...
(recorded by SWF in 1976) - Bruckner: motets, Kodály: Laudes organiLaudes organiLaudes Organi is a piece of music for organ and choir by Zoltan Kodaly. It was composed in 1966 for the National Convention of The American Guild of Organists.The text for Laudes Organi can be found...
, Hedwig Bilgram, organ (1979) - Mozart: Vesperae de Dominica (1980)
- Reger: Choralkantaten (1980, later CD)
- Chorales and Choruses from Bach's Christmas OratorioChristmas OratorioThe Christmas Oratorio BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 incorporating music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a...
(1980) - Haydn: HarmoniemesseHarmoniemesseThe Harmoniemesse in B-flat major by Joseph Haydn, Hob. XXII:14, Novello 6, was written in 1802. It is because of the prominence of the winds in this mass and "the German terminology for a kind of wind ensemble, Harmonie," that this mass setting is called "Harmoniemesse" or "Wind-Band Mass."...
(LP 1981) - Bach: St Mark PassionSt Mark Passion (Bach)The St Mark Passion , BWV 247, is a lost Passion setting by Johann Sebastian Bach, first performed in Leipzig on Good Friday, 23 March 1731 and again on Good Friday 1744 in a revised version...
(1983)
External links
- Diethard Hellmann (Conductor, Organ) bach-cantatas.com
- Diethard Hellmann & Bach-Chor & Bach-Orchester Mainz / Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works bach-cantatas.com
- Entries for Diethard Hellmann on WorldCatWorldCatWorldCat is a union catalog which itemizes the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries and territories which participate in the Online Computer Library Center global cooperative...