Paul Homeyer
Encyclopedia
Paul Homeyer was a German organist
who had an active international concert career during the late 19th century and early 20th century. His repertoire encompassed works from a variety of musical periods from ancient to contemporary works. He was particularly admired for his performances of the compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach
, Robert Schumann
and Felix Mendelssohn
. In 1903 he was given special recognition for his work by King George of Saxony
.
, Homeyer began studying music at an early age with his father, organist Henry Homeyer, and his grandfather, Josef Maria Homeyer. After attending high school in Hildesheim, he studied at Göttingen and at the Leipzig Conservatory. His teachers there were the professors Benjamin Robert Papperitz and Salomon Jadassohn
.
In 1881 he started appearing in concerts in Leipzig that were organized by Carl Riedel
's music club. Three years later he began performing regularly at the Gewandhaus
in Leipzig. In 1885 he joined the faculty of the Leipzig Conservatory where he taught for the rest of his life. Among his pupils were the composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert
and the Anglo-Canadian conductor and keyboardist Harry Dean
.
From the mid-1880s up until his death, Homeyer traveled extensively as a recitalist. He gave performances in Italy and Austria as well as cities throughout Germany. Franz Liszt
attended one of these performances in 1883 in Karlsruhe and became an admirer of his artistry. He died in Leipzig at the age of 54.
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...
who had an active international concert career during the late 19th century and early 20th century. His repertoire encompassed works from a variety of musical periods from ancient to contemporary works. He was particularly admired for his performances of the compositions of 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...
, Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
and Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
. In 1903 he was given special recognition for his work by King George of Saxony
George of Saxony
-Life:George was born in the Saxon capital Dresden. He was the second son of King John of Saxony and his wife Princess Amelia of Bavaria , daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria ....
.
Life
Born in Osterode am HarzOsterode am Harz
For the town in East Prussia formerly called Osterode, see Ostróda.Osterode am Harz often simply called Osterode, is a town in south-eastern Niedersachsen on the south-western edge of the Harz mountains. It is the seat of government of the district of Osterode. The town is twinned with Scarborough,...
, Homeyer began studying music at an early age with his father, organist Henry Homeyer, and his grandfather, Josef Maria Homeyer. After attending high school in Hildesheim, he studied at Göttingen and at the Leipzig Conservatory. His teachers there were the professors Benjamin Robert Papperitz and Salomon Jadassohn
Salomon Jadassohn
Salomon Jadassohn was a German composer and a renowned teacher of piano and composition at the Leipzig Conservatory.-Life:...
.
In 1881 he started appearing in concerts in Leipzig that were organized by Carl Riedel
Carl Riedel
Carl Riedel was a German conductor and composer. Born in Cronenberg, Wuppertal, he initially worked as a dyer of silk before conductor Karl Wilhelm discovered his musicical talent and encouraged him to pursue a music career...
's music club. Three years later he began performing regularly at the Gewandhaus
Gewandhaus
Gewandhaus is a concert hall in Leipzig, Germany. Today's hall is the third to bear this name; like the second, it is noted for its fine acoustics. The first Gewandhaus was built in 1781 by architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe. The second opened on 11 December 1884, and was destroyed in the...
in Leipzig. In 1885 he joined the faculty of the Leipzig Conservatory where he taught for the rest of his life. Among his pupils were the composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert
Sigfrid Karg-Elert
Sigfrid Karg-Elert was a German composer of considerable fame in the early twentieth century, best known for his compositions for organ and harmonium.-Biography:...
and the Anglo-Canadian conductor and keyboardist Harry Dean
Harry Dean (musician)
Harry Dean was a Canadian conductor, pianist, organist, and music educator of English birth. He was a particularly influential figure within the field of music education in Halifax, notably founding the Maritime Academy of Music and the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers' Association...
.
From the mid-1880s up until his death, Homeyer traveled extensively as a recitalist. He gave performances in Italy and Austria as well as cities throughout Germany. Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
attended one of these performances in 1883 in Karlsruhe and became an admirer of his artistry. He died in Leipzig at the age of 54.
Sources
- Franz Neubert (Hrsg.), Deutsches Zeitgenossenlexikon, Leipzig (1905).