Georg Knepler (21 December 1906 – 14 January 2003) was an Austrian pianist,

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Biology and medicine * Bone conduction, the conduction of sound to the inner ear * Conduction aphasia, a language disorder Mathematics * Conductor (ring theory) * Conductor of an abelian variety * Cond ...

and

musicologist Musicology is the academic, research-based study of music, as opposed to musical composition or performance. Musicology research combines and intersects with many fields, including psychology, sociology, acoustics, neurology, natural sciences, f ...

Life

Born in Vienna, Knepler was a son of the composer and librettist and nephew of the music publisher and impresario . He studied

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

with

Eduard Steuermann Eduard Steuermann (June 18, 1892, Sambor, Austria-Hungary – November 11, 1964, New York City) was an Austrian-born American pianist and composer. Steuermann studied piano with Vilém Kurz at the Lemberg Conservatory and Ferruccio Busoni in ...

from 1926, conducting with

Hans Gál Hans Gál Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE (5 August 1890 – 3 October 1987) was an Austrian composer, pedagogue, musicologist, and author, who emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1938. Life Gál was born to a Jewish family in ...

and

musicology Musicology is the academic, research-based study of music, as opposed to musical composition or performance. Musicology research combines and intersects with many fields, including psychology, sociology, acoustics, neurology, natural sciences, ...

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 ...

, Wilhelm Fischer,

Egon Wellesz Egon Joseph Wellesz, CBE, FBA (21 October 1885 – 9 November 1974) was an Austrian, later British composer, teacher and musicologist, notable particularly in the field of Byzantine music. Early life and education in Vienna Egon Joseph Well ...

Rudolf von Ficker Rudolf (von) Ficker (until 1919, Rudolf Ritter Ficker von Feldhaus; * 11 June 1886 in Munich; † 2 August 1954 in Igls) was an Austrian musicologist. Life Rudolf von Ficker was the son of the historian Julius von Ficker and brother of author/pu ...

and

Robert Lach Robert Lach (1901–1971) was an Austrian cinematographer.Kreimeier p.113 Selected filmography * '' Joyless Street'' (1925) * ''Secrets of a Soul'' (1926) * ''Unmarried Daughters'' (1926) * '' Sex in Chains'' (1928) * ''The Insurmountable'' (1928) ...

at the

University of Vienna The University of Vienna (, ) is a public university, public research university in Vienna, Austria. Founded by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, Duke Rudolph IV in 1365, it is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and among the largest ...

. In 1931 he received his doctorate with the dissertation ''Die Form in den Instrumentalwerken

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; ; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period (music), Romantic period. His music is noted for its rhythmic vitality and freer treatment of dissonance, oft ...

'' as

Dr. phil. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

At the same time he accompanied Karl Kraus at the piano from 1928 to 1931, who performed

Jacques Offenbach Jacques Offenbach (; 20 June 18195 October 1880) was a German-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s to the 1870s, and his uncompleted opera ''The Tales of Hoffmann''. He was a p ...

's operettas in Vienna, Berlin, Prague, Munich and other cities. In the same period he worked as

Kapellmeister ( , , ), from German (chapel) and (master), literally "master of the chapel choir", designates the leader of an ensemble of musicians. Originally used to refer to somebody in charge of music in a chapel, the term has evolved considerably in i ...

, Korrepetitor and conductor at the

Wiener Volksoper The Vienna Volksoper (''Volksoper'' or ''Vienna People's Opera'') is an opera house in Vienna, Austria. It produces three hundred performances of twenty-five German language productions of opera, operetta, musicals, and ballet, during an annual s ...

and at the , from 1930 to 1931 in Mannheim and with

Karl Rankl Karl Rankl (1 October 1898 – 6 September 1968) was a British conductor and composer who was of Austrian birth. A pupil of the composers Schoenberg and Webern, he conducted at opera houses in Austria, Germany and Czechoslovakia until fleeing f ...

in Wiesbaden as well as leader of workers' choirs. The years 1932/33 are marked by the collaboration with

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known as Bertolt Brecht and Bert Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a p ...

and

Hanns Eisler Hanns Eisler (6 July 1898 – 6 September 1962) was a German-Austrian composer. He is best known for composing the national anthem of East Germany, for his long artistic association with Bertolt Brecht, and for the scores he wrote for films. The ...

. He was the piano accompanist of

Helene Weigel Helene Weigel (; 12 May 19006 May 1971) was an Austrian actress and artistic director. She was the second and last wife of Bertolt Brecht until his death in 1956; together they had two children. Personal life Weigel was born in Vienna, Austria ...

, who sang Eisler's ''Wiegenlieder einer proletarischen Mutte'' (Lullabies of a Proletarian Mother) at workers' meetings. From 1933 onwards, the Jew and communist Knepler was forbidden any activity and he returned to Austria. Since he had joined the banned

Communist Party of Austria The Communist Party of Austria (, KPÖ) is a communist party in Austria. Established in 1918 as the Communist Party of Republic of German-Austria, German-Austria (KPDÖ), it is one of the world's oldest Communist party, communist parties. The KP� ...

in Vienna in April 1933 and distributed Communist newspapers, he was arrested in January 1934, but was able to emigrate to England the same year. There he turned more and more intensively to the teachings of

Karl Marx Karl Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, political theorist, economist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. He is best-known for the 1848 pamphlet '' The Communist Manifesto'' (written with Friedrich Engels) ...

and

Friedrich Engels Friedrich Engels ( ;"Engels"
''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''.Communist Party of Austria The Communist Party of Austria (, KPÖ) is a communist party in Austria. Established in 1918 as the Communist Party of Republic of German-Austria, German-Austria (KPDÖ), it is one of the world's oldest Communist party, communist parties. The KP� ...

(KPÖ). From 1949 Knepler worked in

East-Berlin East Berlin (; ) was the partially recognised capital of East Germany (GDR) from 1949 to 1990. From 1945, it was the Soviet occupation sector of Berlin. The American, British, and French sectors were known as West Berlin. From 13 August 1 ...

, where the

German Democratic Republic East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

was founded in the same year, retaining his Austrian citizenship. In 1957 he was transferred from the KPÖ to the

Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (, ; SED, ) was the founding and ruling party of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) from the country's foundation in 1949 until its dissolution after the Peaceful Revolution in 1989. It was a Mar ...

Teaching activity in Berlin

In 1950 Knepler founded the German Academy of Music Berlin, of which he became

Rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

, and which he directed until 1959. In 1964 it was given the name

Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" ' (, plural: ') is the generic term in German for institutions of higher education, corresponding to ''universities'' and ''colleges'' in English. The term ''Universität'' (plural: ''Universitäten'') is reserved for institutions with the right to ...

in Berlin. His concept was aimed at the education of musicians and singers of "new type", who, in addition to their professional qualifications, should also actively participate in social life. From 1959 to 1970, he headed the Musicological Institute of the

Humboldt University of Berlin The Humboldt University of Berlin (, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin, Germany. The university was established by Frederick William III on the initiative of Wilhelm von Humbol ...

, where he concentrated on the development of Marxist-oriented teaching and research in response to bourgeois musicology. In 1964 Knepler became a full member of the

German Academy of Sciences at Berlin The German Academy of Sciences at Berlin, , in 1972 renamed the Academy of Sciences of the GDR (''Akademie der Wissenschaften der DDR (AdW)''), was the most eminent Research institute, research institution of East Germany (German Democratic Repub ...

. Knepler died on 14 January 2003 in the hospital of

Köpenick Köpenick () is a historic town and locality (''Ortsteil'') in Berlin, situated at the confluence of the rivers Dahme and Spree in the south-east of the German capital. It was formerly known as Copanic and then Cöpenick, only officially ado ...

at age 96, leaving behind his wife Florence Knepler (1910-2011), ''née'' Wiles.

Awards

* 1960

Vaterländischer Verdienstorden The Patriotic Order of Merit (German: ''Vaterländischer Verdienstorden'', or VVO) was a national award granted annually in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It was founded in 1954 and was awarded to individuals and institutions for outstanding ...

in Bronze * 1962

Nationalpreis der DDR The National Prize of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) () was an award of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic (GDR) given out in three different classes for scientific, artistic, and other meritorious achievement. With scien ...

* 1971

Banner der Arbeit The Banner of Labor () was an Order (honour), order issued in the East Germany, German Democratic Republic (GDR). It was given for "excellent and long-standing service in strengthening and consolidating the GDR, especially for achieving outstandi ...

* 1976 Vaterländischer Verdienstorden in Gold * 1981

Stern der Völkerfreundschaft The stern is the back or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Origi ...

in Gold * 1986 Ehrenspange zum Vaterländischen Verdienstorden in Gold

Work

* ''Musikgeschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts''. Berlin 1961. * ''Geschichte als Weg zum Musikverständnis. Zur Theorie, Methode und Geschichte der Musikgeschichtsschreibung''. Leipzig 1977, 2. überarbeitete Fassung 1982. * ''Gedanken über Musik. Reden, Versuche, Aufsätze, Kritiken''. Berlin 1980. * ''Karl Kraus liest Offenbach''. Berlin 1984. * ''Wolfgang Amadé Mozart, Annäherungen''. Berlin 1991; New edition 2005. :* ''Mozart in seiner Zeit und in der unseren. Auszug aus dem letzten Kapitel von "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Annäherungen''. In ''Zwischenwelt. Zeitschrift für Kultur des Exils und des Widerstands''. Jg. 19, Nr. 4; Vienna February 2003, , . * ''Macht ohne Herrschaft. Die Realisierung einer Möglichkeit''. , Berlin 2004, .

Literature

Bernd-Rainer Barth Bernd-Rainer Barth (born East Berlin 1957) is a German historian of the modern period. Life The son of an East German diplomat, Barth spent a large part of his early life in Hungary, studying between 1977 and 1983 at the Eötvös Loránd Universit ...

Knepler, Georg
in 5th edition. Vol. 1, Ch. Links, Berlin 2010, * Susanne Blumesberger, Michael Doppelhofer, Gabriele Mauthe: ''Handbuch österreichischer Autorinnen und Autoren jüdischer Herkunft 18. bis 20. Jahrhundert.''''Handbuch österreichischer Autorinnen und Autoren jüdischer Herkunft : 18. bis 20. Jahrhundert''
oN WorldCat Vol. 2: ''J–R.'' Edit. by der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek. Saur, Munich 2002, , . *''

Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon The ''Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon'Oesterreichisch'' with ''Oe'' is the spelling of the print and online output. (, ) is a five-volume music encyclopedia founded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences' Commission for Music Research. It was offic ...

''. Vol. 3. publishing house of the

Austrian Academy of Sciences The Austrian Academy of Sciences (; ÖAW) is a legal entity under the special protection of the Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every fi ...

, Vienna 2004, , . * Renate Göllner & Gerhard Scheit: ''„… bestünde Lieb' und Bruderbund“ – Georg Knepler zum Gedächtnis. Ein Nachruf''. In ''Zwischenwelt. Zeitschrift für Kultur des Exils und des Widerstands''. Jg. 19, Nr. 4; Vienna February 2003, , . * Gerhard Scheit: ''Also Raunzen können die Engländer überhaupt nicht.'' From an interview with Georg Knepler on resistance, anti-Semitism and exile (conducted by G. Scheit on 2 and 3 May 1992 in Berlin-Grünau). In ''Zwischenwelt. Zeitschrift für Kultur des Exils und des Widerstands''. Jg. 19, Nr. 4; Vienna February 2003, , . * Golan Gur: ''The Other Marxism: Georg Knepler and the Anthroplogy of Music.'' In ''Musicologia Austriaca.'' May, 2016
Article
* Anne C. Shreffler: Berlin Walls: ''Dahlhaus, Knepler, and Ideologies of Music History''. In ''Journal of Musicology''. Autumn, 2003, Vol. 20, No. 4,
Abstract
(Englisch) * Gerhard Oberkofler: ''Über das musikwissenschaftliche Studium von Georg Knepler an der Wiener Universität. Eine archivalische Notiz zu seinem hundertsten Geburtstag''. Communications of the Alfred Klahr Society, Nr. 3/2006. * ''Knepler, Georg.'' In ''Brockhaus-Riemann Musiklexikon.'' CD-Rom, Directmedia Publishing, Berlin 2004, , . * Gerhard Oberkofler und Manfred Mugrauer: Georg Knepler. Musikwissenschaftler und marxistischer Denker aus Wien rochured StudienVerlag Wien / Innsbruck 2014

References

External links

*
Georg Knepler
on LexMusikNS * Peter H. Feist
''Obituary''
der Leibniz-Sozietät der Wissenschaften 2003 (with illustration) * Günter Mayer
''Nachruf auf Georg Knepler''
In ''Kulturation'' 1/2003 * Georg Knepler:
Vom Wunderkind zum Genie
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart zum 250. Geburtstag. Grundzüge seiner musikalischen Begabung''. In ', 27 January 2006
Georg Knepler im O-Ton
im Online-Archiv der

Österreichische Mediathek The Österreichische Mediathek ("Austrian Mediatheque") is the Austrian archive for sound recordings and videos on cultural and contemporary history. It was founded in 1960 as Österreichische Phonothek (Austrian Phonothek) by the Ministry of Educ ...

Georg-Knepler-Archiv
im Archiv der

Academy of Arts, Berlin The Academy of Arts () is a state arts institution in Berlin, Germany. The task of the Academy is to promote art, as well as to advise and support the states of Germany. The academy's predecessor organization was founded in 1696 by Elector F ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knepler, Georg 20th-century Austrian musicologists Austrian conductors (music) Austrian classical pianists Austrian male classical pianists Academic staff of the Humboldt University of Berlin Members of the German Academy of Sciences at Berlin Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit (honor clasp) Recipients of the Banner of Labor Jewish emigrants from Austria after the Anschluss to the United Kingdom Socialist Unity Party of Germany members 1906 births 2003 deaths Writers from Vienna 20th-century Austrian male musicians Austrian emigrants to East Germany Jewish communists Austrian emigrants to England