Johann Nepomuk David (30 November 1895 – 22 December 1977) was an Austrian composer.

Life and career

David was born in

Eferding Eferding () is the capital of the Eferding district in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. Geography Eferding is the center of the Eferding basin. The city is 2 km away from the Danube River, in Upper Austria. History Eferding was appoi ...

. He was a choirboy in the monastery of

Sankt Florian Sankt Florian (also ''Florian'' or ''St. Florian'') is a town in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. It is 10 miles (16 km) from Linz. Sankt Florian is the home of St. Florian Monastery, a community of Canons Regular named after Saint F ...

and studied at an episcopal teacher training college in

Linz Linz (Pronunciation: , ; ) is the capital of Upper Austria and List of cities and towns in Austria, third-largest city in Austria. Located on the river Danube, the city is in the far north of Austria, south of the border with the Czech Repub ...

, 1912–1915, after which he became a school teacher. He studied briefly (1921–22) at both the Musikhochschule (where was a composition student of

Joseph Marx Joseph Rupert Rudolf Marx (11 May 1882 – 3 September 1964) was an Austrian composer, teacher and critic. Life and career Marx was born in Graz and pursued studies in philosophy, art history, German studies, and music at Graz University, earnin ...

) and the university of Vienna (where he studied with

Guido Adler Guido Adler (1 November 1855 – 15 February 1941) was a Moravian-Austrian musicologist and writer. Early life Adler was born at Eibenschütz in Moravia in 1855 of Jewish parentage. He moved with his family to Vienna nine years later. His ...

). He returned to Linz in 1922, where he acted as musical director of the Linz "Kunststelle" until 1924. From January 1925 until the autumn of 1934 he was a teacher at a local catholic school, founded and directed a Bach choir, and was organist at a Protestant church at

Wels Wels (; Central Bavarian: ''Wös'') is a city in Upper Austria, on the Traun River near Linz. It is the county seat of Wels-Land, and with a population of approximately 60,000, the List of cities and towns in Austria, eighth largest city in Aus ...

. He then became professor of composition and theory at the Musikhochschule in Leipzig (November 1934 – January 1945). From 1945 to 1947 he was professor of music at the Mozarteum, Salzburg, and finally, from 1948 to 1963, professor of theory and counterpoint (practically: composition) at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart. At Stuttgart, he also directed the Bruckner choir (1949–52), the academy's chamber orchestra (1950–53). David wrote a number of orchestral works including eight

symphonies A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning c ...

(of which the fifth has been recorded, as have some other works including a disc of organ music,) several concertos including an

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

concerto and three

violin concerto A violin concerto is a concerto for solo violin (occasionally, two or more violins) and instrumental ensemble (customarily orchestra). Such works have been written since the Baroque period, when the solo concerto form was first developed, up thro ...

s, instrumental works including many for or with organ, and many

choral A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

works. His general style changed from the modal tendencies seen in his first two symphonies to the more acerbic though still tonal sound of the later ones. David died, aged 83, in

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; ; Swabian German, Swabian: ; Alemannic German, Alemannic: ; Italian language, Italian: ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, largest city of the States of Germany, German state of ...

. His son, Thomas Christian David (1925–2006), was also a composer. His pupils included Hans Georg Bertram (1936–2013),

Seóirse Bodley Seóirse Bodley (; 4 April 1933 – 17 November 2023) was an Irish composer and associate professor of music at University College Dublin (UCD). He was the first composer to become a Saoi of Aosdána, in 2008. Bodley is widely regarded as one o ...

(1933–2023),

Johan Kvandal David Johan Kvandal (né Johansen; 8 September 1919 – 16 February 1999) was a Norwegian composer. Career He was born in Oslo, Kristiania to David Monrad Johansen and Amunda Holmsen, with the family later moving to Bærum where Kvandal died. ...

(1919–1999),

Helmut Lachenmann Helmut Friedrich Lachenmann (; born 27 November 1935) is a German composer of contemporary classical music and pianist. Associated with the "instrumental musique concrète" style, Lachenmann is alongside Wolfgang Rihm as among the leading Germa ...

(born 1935),

Hans Stadlmair Hans Stadlmair (3 May 1929 – 13 February 2019) was an Austrian conductor and composer. He conducted the Münchener Kammerorchester for almost four decades. He conducted more than 6000 concerts, many in collaboration with the Bayerischer Rundfunk ...

(1929–2019),

Käte van Tricht Käte van Tricht (October 22, 1909 – July 13, 1996), was a German organist, pianist, harpsichordist, and pedagogue. Life Käte van Tricht was born in Berlin. She was raised in Bremen, where her mother encouraged her not only to take piano les ...

(1909–1996), and

Ruth Zechlin Ruth Zechlin (22 June 1926 – 4 August 2007) was a German composer. Life Ruth Oschatz was born in Grosshartmannsdorf, where she began piano lessons at the age of five years, and wrote her first composition at the age of seven. From 1943 to 1 ...

(1926–2007).

Selected worklist

*Eight Symphonies: **No. 1 in A minor, op. 18 (1937) **No. 2, op. 20 (1938) **No. 3, op. 28 (1941) **No. 4, op. 39 (1948) **No. 5, op. 41 (1951) **No. 6, op. 46 (1954) **No. 7, op. 49 (1957) **No. 8, op. 59 (1964–65) *Symphonie preclassica super nomen H-A-S-E (op. 44, 1953), sinfonia breve for small orchestra (op. 47) (1955), sinfonia per archi (op. 54) (1959) *Chaconne, op. 71 for orchestra (1972) *Flute Concerto, 1936 *Three

concerto A concerto (; plural ''concertos'', or ''concerti'' from the Italian plural) is, from the late Baroque era, mostly understood as an instrumental composition, written for one or more soloists accompanied by an orchestra or other ensemble. The ...

s for string orchestra (op. 40 no. 1, 1950, op. 40 no. 2, 1951, op. 74, 1974, published by

Breitkopf & Härtel Breitkopf & Härtel () is a German Music publisher, music publishing house. Founded in 1719 in Leipzig by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf, it is the world's oldest music publisher. Overview The catalogue contains over 1,000 composers, 8,000 works ...

) *Violin concerto, op. 45 with small orchestra (1952) *Violin concerto no. 2, with string orchestra, op. 50 (1957) *Violin Concerto no. 3, op. 56 (1961) *''Melancholia'' for viola and chamber orchestra, op.53 (1958) *Concerto for organ and orchestra, op. 61 (1965) *Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra, op.68 (1969) *Duo concertante for violin and cello (op. 19) (pub. 1938) *Sonata for viola solo, op. 31 no.3 (1947) *Two sonatas for cello solo (op. 31 no. 4, pub. 1947; 1977) *Sonata for guitar (op. 31 no. 5) *Sonata for flute and viola, op. 32 no.1 (1943) *Sonata for clarinet and viola, op. 32 no.4 (1948) *Sonatas for violin solo **no. 1 **no. 2 op. 58 no. 1 (1963) *''Partita über B-A-C-H'' for organ (1964) *Trio for flute, viola and guitar, op. 26 *Trio for flute, violin and cello, op. 73 (1974) *Sonata for violin and organ, op. 75 (1975) *Sonata for violoncello and organ (1975) *Variations for flute or recorder and guitar op. 32 *''Ezzolied'', op. 51 (1957) *''Deutsche Messe'' for mixed choir, op. 42 (1952) *''Missa choralis (de angelis)'': ad quattuor voces inaequales, op. 43 (1953) *''Sechs Evangelienmotetten'' for mixed choir a cappella (1958) **1. Der Pharisäer und der Zöllner (Lk 18:10–14) **2. Lasset die Kindlein zu mir kommen (Mk 10:13–16) **3. Die Ehebrecherin (Joh 8:3–11) **4. Das Scherflein der Witwe (Mk 12:41–45) **5. Der barmherzige Samariter (Lk 10:30–34) **6. Die zwei Blinden (Matt 9:27–30) *''O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf'', motet on the Advent song "

O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf "" (O Saviour, tear open the heavens) is a Christian Advent song. The text was first printed in 1622, attributed to Friedrich Spee; the melody was first printed in 1666. History "" was first published in Würzburg in the collection ''Das Al ...

" (1959) *''Psalm 139'' Herr, du erforschest mich, for mixed choir (1961) *''Pollio'', for bass, choir and orchestra, text after

Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro (; 15 October 70 BC21 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Rome, ancient Roman poet of the Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Augustan period. He composed three of the most fa ...

Writings

Decorations and awards

* 1941: Winner of the Upper Danube cultural Prize (

NSDAP The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party ( or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor, the German Workers ...

) * 1949: Franz Liszt Prize (

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state (Germany), German state of Thuringia, in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany between Erfurt to the west and Jena to the east, southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together w ...

) * 1951: City of Vienna Prize for Music * 1951:

Mendelssohn Scholarship The Mendelssohn Scholarship () refers to two scholarships awarded in Germany and in the United Kingdom. Both commemorate the composer Felix Mendelssohn, and are awarded to promising young musicians to enable them to continue their development. Hi ...

(

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

) * 1952: Buxtehudepreis (

Lübeck Lübeck (; or ; Latin: ), officially the Hanseatic League, Hanseatic City of Lübeck (), is a city in Northern Germany. With around 220,000 inhabitants, it is the second-largest city on the German Baltic Sea, Baltic coast and the second-larg ...

) * 1953: Grand Austrian State Prize for Music * 1955: Mozart Medal (Mozartgemeinde

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

) * 1960: Guest at the

Deutsche Akademie Rom Villa Massimo Villa Massimo, short for Deutsche Akademie Rom Villa Massimo (), is a German cultural institution in Rome, established in 1910 and located in the Villa Massimo. The fellowship of the German Academy in Rome, often referred to as the German Rome P ...

in Rome * 1963:

Bach Prize of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg The Bach Prize of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg () has been awarded since 1951, since 1975 every four years. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach, the prize was founded in 1950 by the Senate and ...

* 1963:

Anton Bruckner Prize The Anton Bruckner Prize is the main Culture Prize of the Province of Upper Austria (Kulturpreis des Landes Oberösterreich) for music. The prize, which is awarded by the Land of Upper Austria, is named after the composer Anton Bruckner, who was ...

(

) * 1966:

Austrian Decoration for Science and Art The Austrian Decoration for Science and Art () is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria and forms part of the Orders, decorations, and medals of Austria, Austrian national honours system. History The "Austrian Decoration for Science a ...

* 1966: Mozart Prize of the

Goethe Foundation Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

in Basel by the

University of Innsbruck The University of Innsbruck (; ) is a public research university in Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol (state), Tyrol, founded on October 15, 1669. It is the largest education facility in the Austrian States of Austria, ...

* 1966:

Berlin Art Prize The ''Berliner Kunstpreis'' (Berlin Art Prize), officially Großer Berliner Kunstpreis, is a prize for the arts by the City of Berlin. It was first awarded in 1948 in several fields of art. Since 1971, it has been awarded by the Academy of Art ...

* 1970: Honorary Doctor of the Protestant Theological Faculty of the

University of Mainz The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz () is a public research university in Mainz, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany. It has been named after the printer Johannes Gutenberg since 1946. it had approximately 32,000 students enrolled in around 100 a ...

References

External links