Georg Dietrich Leyding
Encyclopedia
Georg Dietrich Leyding (23 February 1664 – 10 May 1710) was a German
composer
and organist
associated with the North German school.
Born in Bücken
, close to Nienburg
, his father was a riding master in the French lifeguards. Showing an early ability in music, he moved to Braunschweig
(Brunswick) in 1679 to study with organist Jacob Bölsche and in 1684 studied briefly with both Johann Adam Reincken
and Dieterich Buxtehude
in Hamburg
and Lübeck
. He returned to Braunschweig
the same year, where he succeeded Bölsche as organist of the St Ulrich and St Blasius
churches after his death, and later also became organist of the Magnikirche. Towards the end of the 1680s, he learned composition
from the Hofkapellmeister
of Wolfenbüttel
, Johann Theile
. He died in Braunschweig
.
J. G. Walther wrote in his Musicalisches Lexicon that he was 'primarily a composer for the organ', but of the 'many extant keyboard
pieces' that Leyding wrote, only five are now known, all for organ. Three are prelude
s, in B-flat major, C major, and E-flat major, which have significant pedal parts; a setting of the chorale
Wie schön leucht’ uns der Morgenstern; and a set of chorale variations
on Von Gott will ich nicht lassen. They are published in an edition by K. Beckmann as Sämtliche Orgelwerke (Wiesbaden
, 1984).
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...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and organist
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
associated with the North German school.
Born in Bücken
Bücken
Bücken is a municipality in the district of Nienburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany.-History:An Abbey was established here in Bücken in the year 882 by Rimbert, Archbishop of Bremen...
, close to Nienburg
Nienburg
There are two towns named Nienburg in Germany.*Nienburg, Lower Saxony*Nienburg, Saxony-AnhaltThe Name Nienburg means "Neue Burg" ....
, his father was a riding master in the French lifeguards. Showing an early ability in music, he moved to Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
(Brunswick) in 1679 to study with organist Jacob Bölsche and in 1684 studied briefly with both Johann Adam Reincken
Johann Adam Reincken
Johann Adam Reincken was a Dutch/German organist and composer...
and Dieterich Buxtehude
Dieterich Buxtehude
Dieterich Buxtehude was a German-Danish organist and composer of the Baroque period. His organ works represent a central part of the standard organ repertoire and are frequently performed at recitals and in church services...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
. He returned to Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
the same year, where he succeeded Bölsche as organist of the St Ulrich and St Blasius
Saint Blaise
Saint Blaise was a physician, and bishop of Sebastea . According to his Acta Sanctorum, he was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron carding combs, and beheaded...
churches after his death, and later also became organist of the Magnikirche. Towards the end of the 1680s, he learned composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
from the Hofkapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
of Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Oker river about 13 kilometres south of Brunswick. It is the seat of the District of Wolfenbüttel and of the bishop of the Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick...
, Johann Theile
Johann Theile
Johann Theile was a German composer of the Baroque era, famous for the opera Adam und Eva, Der erschaffene, gefallene und aufgerichtete Mensch, first performed in Hamburg on January 2, 1678.- Life :...
. He died in Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
.
J. G. Walther wrote in his Musicalisches Lexicon that he was 'primarily a composer for the organ', but of the 'many extant 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...
pieces' that Leyding wrote, only five are now known, all for organ. Three are prelude
Prelude (music)
A prelude is a short piece of music, the form of which may vary from piece to piece. The prelude can be thought of as a preface. It may stand on its own or introduce another work...
s, in B-flat major, C major, and E-flat major, which have significant pedal parts; a setting of the chorale
Chorale
A chorale was originally a hymn sung by a Christian congregation. In certain modern usage, this term may also include classical settings of such hymns and works of a similar character....
Wie schön leucht’ uns der Morgenstern; and a set of chorale variations
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
on Von Gott will ich nicht lassen. They are published in an edition by K. Beckmann as Sämtliche Orgelwerke (Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, 1984).
Sources
- Horst Walter, 'Leyding [Leiding], Georg Dietrich', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 2007-06-08), http://www.grovemusic.com/