Johann Caspar Vogler
Encyclopedia
Johann Caspar Vogler was a German organist
and composer
taught by Johann Sebastian Bach
.
; from 1706 he studied with Johann Sebastian Bach
, who was at that time organist there, and was also taught, in Rudolstadt
, by P. H. Erlebach
and Nicolaus Vetter
. He moved to Weimar
to study further with Bach from 1710 to 1715, during which time he copied Jacques Boyvin
's two livres d'orgue. He was appointed organist at Stadtilm in 1715, leaving in May 1721 to take up bach's former post of organist to the Weimar court.
He failed in two applications in 1729 for organ posts at the Nikolaikirche, Leipzig
, and Sts Peter und Paul, Görlitz
, which were filled by Bach pupils Johann Schneider and David Nicolai. The Leipzig judges remarked that he 'played too fast and confused the congregation'; this did not deter him from boastig of his 'swiftness of hand and feet' in the second application.
He was selected for the post of organist of the Marktkirche
in Hanover
in 1735, but forbidden from leaving Weimar by Duke Ernst August, the same prohibition that Duke Wilhelm Ernst
had imposed years before on Bach. Nevertheless, he became deputy mayor
of Weimar as some consolation, and mayor two years later; he remained there for the rest of his life.
which is now lost, and only three of his works, all organ chorale
s, are now known. His setting of Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod, BWV Anh 57 (modelled on O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross, BWV 622, in Bach's Orgelbüchlein
) is one of the most elaborately decorated chorales in the whole repertoire, with the chorale melody embellished by hemidemisemiquavers and even shorter notes. He published the two other chorales as Vermischte musikalische Choral-Gedanken (Weimar, 1737; in Incognita organo XXXVI, Hilversum, 1988) are of a similar style to Bach's 'Arnstadt' chorales with expressive, improvisational interludes to a full harmonised chorale; there are other features resembling Bach's 'Leipzig' chorales
, BWV 651–668.
There are some copies of Bach's compositions in his hand; he was formerly known in the Bach literature as 'Anonymous 18' before his identity was established. The copy he made of the Prelude
and Fughetta in C major, BWV 870a, is valued in performance practice studies, for its written-out fingering
s.
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...
and 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...
taught by 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...
.
Biography
He was born in Hausen, near ArnstadtArnstadt
Arnstadt is a town in Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, situated on the Gera River. It is one of the oldest towns in Thuringia and is nicknamed Das Tor zum Thüringer Wald, The Gate to the Thuringian Forest....
; from 1706 he studied with 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...
, who was at that time organist there, and was also taught, in Rudolstadt
Rudolstadt
Rudolstadt is a town in the German Bundesland of Thuringia, close to the Thuringian Forest to the southwest, and to Jena and Weimar to the north....
, by P. H. Erlebach
Philipp Heinrich Erlebach
Philipp Heinrich Erlebach was a German Baroque composer.- Life :...
and Nicolaus Vetter
Nicolaus Vetter
Andreas Nicolaus Vetter was a German organist and composer.He was born in Herschdorf, Thuringia. He first studied music with G.K. Wecker in Nuremberg and was a student at the Rudolstadt Gymnasium from 1683 to 1688...
. He moved to Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
to study further with Bach from 1710 to 1715, during which time he copied Jacques Boyvin
Jacques Boyvin
Jacques Boyvin was a French Baroque composer and organist.He was probably born in Paris, and studied there. One of his first jobs was that of organist of the parisian church des Quinze-Vingts, and in 1674 he was appointed titular organist of the Rouen Cathedral, where Jean Titelouze served as...
's two livres d'orgue. He was appointed organist at Stadtilm in 1715, leaving in May 1721 to take up bach's former post of organist to the Weimar court.
He failed in two applications in 1729 for organ posts at the Nikolaikirche, 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...
, and Sts Peter und Paul, Görlitz
Görlitz
Görlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
, which were filled by Bach pupils Johann Schneider and David Nicolai. The Leipzig judges remarked that he 'played too fast and confused the congregation'; this did not deter him from boastig of his 'swiftness of hand and feet' in the second application.
He was selected for the post of organist of the Marktkirche
Marktkirche
The Marktkirche , officially Marktkirche S. Georgii et Jacobi, dedicated to St. George and St. James, is the main Lutheran church in Hanover. It was built in the 14th century and, together with the nearby Old Town Hall, is considered the southernmost example of the "North German brick gothic" ...
in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
in 1735, but forbidden from leaving Weimar by Duke Ernst August, the same prohibition that Duke Wilhelm Ernst
William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Wilhelm Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Weimar was a duke of Saxe-Weimar.He was born in Weimar, the eldest son of Johann Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg....
had imposed years before on Bach. Nevertheless, he became deputy mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Weimar as some consolation, and mayor two years later; he remained there for the rest of his life.
Works
He composed a St Mark PassionPassion music
In church music, Passion is a term for sung musical settings, normally at least partly choral, of the Gospel texts covering the Passion of Jesus, the events leading up to the Crucifixion of Jesus, and emphasising his suffering...
which is now lost, and only three of his works, all organ 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....
s, are now known. His setting of Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod, BWV Anh 57 (modelled on O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross, BWV 622, in Bach's Orgelbüchlein
Orgelbüchlein
The Orgelbüchlein was written by Johann Sebastian Bach during the period of 1708–1714, while he was court organist at the ducal court in Weimar...
) is one of the most elaborately decorated chorales in the whole repertoire, with the chorale melody embellished by hemidemisemiquavers and even shorter notes. He published the two other chorales as Vermischte musikalische Choral-Gedanken (Weimar, 1737; in Incognita organo XXXVI, Hilversum, 1988) are of a similar style to Bach's 'Arnstadt' chorales with expressive, improvisational interludes to a full harmonised chorale; there are other features resembling Bach's 'Leipzig' chorales
Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes
The Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668, are a set of chorale preludes for organ prepared by Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig in his final decade 1740-1750, from earlier works composed in Weimar, where he was court organist...
, BWV 651–668.
There are some copies of Bach's compositions in his hand; he was formerly known in the Bach literature as 'Anonymous 18' before his identity was established. The copy he made of the 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...
and Fughetta in C major, BWV 870a, is valued in performance practice studies, for its written-out fingering
Fingering
In music, fingering is the choice of which fingers and hand positions to use when playing certain musical instruments. Fingering typically changes throughout a piece; the challenge of choosing good fingering for a piece is to make the hand movements as comfortable as possible without changing hand...
s.
Sources
- Russell Stinson: 'Vogler, Johann Caspar', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 2007-06-13), http://www.grovemusic.com/