Rolf Schweizer (14 March 1936 – 6 June 2016) was a German
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and def ...
,
choirmaster and church music director, who was based primarily at
Pforzheim
Pforzheim () is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city of over 125,000 inhabitants in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, in the southwest of Germany.
It is known for its jewelry and watch-making industry, and as such has gained the ...
. Schweizer was part of the movement
Neues Geistliches Lied, and his compositions, several of which appear in the Protestant hymnal ''
Evangelisches Gesangbuch'' (EG), were heavily influenced by contemporary secular music, especially jazz.
Life
Schweizer was born in Mundingen (now a suburb of
Emmendingen). His first musical instruction was as a member of the local brass band. He studied Protestant
church music at the
Evangelische Kirchenmusikalischen Institut in
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; ; ) is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, fifth-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, and with a population of about 163,000, of which roughly a quarter consists of studen ...
, with
Wolfgang Fortner
Wolfgang Fortner (12 October 1907 – 5 September 1987) was a German composer, academic composition teacher and conductor.
Life and career
Fortner was born in Leipzig. From his parents, who were both singers, Fortner very early on had intense ...
, , Wolfgang Dallmann,
Heinz Werner Zimmermann and others.
From 1956 to 1966 he was choirmaster of St John's in
Mannheim
Mannheim (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: or ), officially the University City of Mannheim (), is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, second-largest city in Baden-Württemberg after Stuttgart, the States of Ger ...
. In 1966 he became district choirmaster of
Pforzheim
Pforzheim () is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city of over 125,000 inhabitants in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, in the southwest of Germany.
It is known for its jewelry and watch-making industry, and as such has gained the ...
, a position he retained until his retirement. In 1969 he was promoted to
Kirchenmusikdirektor (church music director), and in 1975 he became state choirmaster (''Landeskantor'') for
Mittelbaden.
In 1980 Schweizer turned down the role of Professor of church music at
Erlangen
Erlangen (; , ) is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the administrative district Erlangen-Höchstadt (former administrative district Erlangen), and with 119,810 inhabitants (as of 30 September 2024), it is the smalle ...
, but he was granted the title of Professor
by the
Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg,
Lothar Späth.
He was well known for his pedagogical work well beyond his own region.
The city of Pforzheim granted Schweizer its honour ring in 1991 and
honorary citizenship
Honorary citizenship is a status bestowed by a city or other government on a foreign or native individual whom it considers to be especially admirable or otherwise worthy of the distinction. The honor usually is symbolic and does not confer an ...
in 1998, for his more than 35 years of service in the field of church music.
He retired in 2010 and lived in south Baden with his wife, Frohmut. The couple has three daughters. One of the daughters, Constanze Schweizer-Elser is currently the
church choir director at
Selb in
north-eastern Bavaria.
and the second daughter, Felicitas Schewizer-Kostner, a violin player, lives in Ortisei, north Italy, Ladin region. http://www.chor.it/eg/biography.htm
Music
Schweizer composed religious music for songs, brass bands and especially for children's choirs as well as large choir, orchestra and organ pieces.
He belonged to the
contemporary worship music
Contemporary worship music (CWM), also known as praise and worship music, is a distinct genre of Christian music used in contemporary worship. It has evolved over the past 60 years and is stylistically similar to pop music. The songs are of ...
movement and was heavily influenced by 1960s pop music, especially
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
.
Since 1961, his various musical settings of new sacred songs have been published in hymnals (including
EG / EM), pamphlets, music books, choir and band arrangements by the publishers (Munich),
Hänssler (Stuttgart),
Verlag Dohr (Bergheim-Ahe), Verlag Neue Musik, the
Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag (Fulda) and
Carus-Verlag. Well-known songs include ''O Herr, mach mich zu einem Werkzeug deines Friedens'' (O Lord, make me a tool of Thy peace) ''Das ist ein köstlich ding, dem herren danken'' (It is good to praise the Lord), and ''Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied'' (Sing a new song to the Lord, since he does wonders).
His recordings with the
Motettenchor Pforzheim include works by
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...
, such as choral movements from
cantatas
A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
The meaning ...
with the orchestra
L'arpa festante, the motets, the
Magnificat for Christmas Vespers, BWV 243a, the ''
St Matthew Passion'', ''
Christmas Oratorio'' and ''
Easter Oratorio''.
Schweizer wrote extensively on church music, stressing its therapeutic value, especially with respect to youth. He also argued that church music should engage with contemporary trends in secular music, such as jazz, in order to maintain its vibrancy. A compilation of his writings, entitled ''Ritual und Aufbrach'' was published in 1997 in honour of his 60th birthday.
''Horntage''
Since 2000, Rolf Schweizer has been employed as the leader of the ''Internationales Schwarzwälder Hornorchester'' (International Black Forest Horn Orchestra), which has performed several works composed by Schweizer himself at the ''Internationalen Schwarzwälder Horntage'' (International Black Forest Horn Days). Since 2006, these ''Horntage'' have served as masterclasses for brass players, organised by Schweizer. The event is held in the BDB Music Academy in
Staufen under the professional leadership of Peter Arnold.
Works
Hymns
* ''O Herr, mach mich zu einem Werkzeug deines Friedens'' (1962; text by
Francis of Assisi
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italians, Italian Mysticism, mystic, poet and Friar, Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Chris ...
) EG 416
* ''Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, denn Er tut Wunder'' (1963; text: Psalm 98.1) EG 287
* ''Das ist ein köstlich Ding, dem Herren danken'' (1966; text: Psalm 92.2-6) EG 285
* ''Siehe, das ist Gottes Lamm'' (Kanon) (1972; text: Joshua 1.29) EG 190,4/714
* ''In Euren Wänden seid ihr zuhause'' (1972; text: , 1972)
* ''Bevor die Sonne sinkt'' (1974; text: Christa Weiss/
Kurt Rommel, 1965) EG 491
* ''Einer trage des andren Last'' (1976; text and melody)
* ''Der Frieden Kind, der Frieden'' (1980; Text: , 1980)
* ''Damit aus Fremden Freunde werden'' (1982; text and melody) EG 657
* ''Seht, das Brot, das wir hier teilen'' (1983; text:
Lothar Zenetti, 1972) EG 226
* ''Lied von der verborgenen Stadt'' (1986; text: , 1986)
* ''Tischlied zum Sabbat'' (2001; text: , 2001)
* ''Gast sein auf Erden'' (2001; text: 2001)
Orchestra & choir pieces
* ''Einer trage des andern Last''; Fidula-Verlag (1977)
* ''Die zwei Blinden''; Hänssler-Verlag (1978)
* ''Lied der Sternsinger''; Hänssler-Verlag (1978)
* ''Das Sorgen''; Hänssler-Verlag (1979)
* ''Drei Kantaten für Männerchor''; Verlag Singende Gemeinde (1982)
* ''Psalm in blue''; Strube-Verlag (1987)
* ''Geistliche Spruchkanons''; Fidula-Verlag (1989)
* ''Sinfonietta ’90''; Strube-Verlag (1990)
* ''Sonata sacra''; Pro Organo (1991)
* ''Ludi organi''; Pro Organo (1992)
* ''Sechs geistliche Songs und neue Lieder''; Strube-Verlag (1992)
* ''Sabbath der Schöpfung''; Strube-Verlag (1993)
* ''Sonata da chiesa Nr. 2''; Edition Walhall (1994)
* ''Psalmkantate „Lebendige Steine“'', Edition Musica Rinata (1995)
* ''Musik zu Psalm 104''; Strube-Verlag (1995)
* ''Drei Spiritual-Impressionen''; Strube-Verlag (1995)
* ''Singendes Gottesvolk''; Strube-Verlag (1996)
* ''Hymnus I–III''; 1988/1989/2007, Dohr Verlag (1997)
* ''Ruf-Partita zu Jesaja 58''; Strube-Verlag (1997)
* ''Sonata festivo''; Strube-Verlag (1997)
* ''Psalm in Swing''; Strube-Verlag (1997)
* ''Das vierfache Ackerfeld''; Carus-Verlag (1998)
* ''Klang des Lebens''; (Text: Hartmut Handt);'Strube-Verlag (1998)
* ''Salz der Erde, Licht der Welt''; Strube-Verlag (1999)
* ''Europäische Weihnachtslieder-Suite''; Strube-Verlag (1999)
* ''Klangbilder der Hoffnung Schweizer''; Strube-Verlag (1999)
* ''Ihr seid die lebendigen Steine''; Edition Musica Rinata (2000)
* ''Jona, geh’ nach Ninive''; Strube-Verlag (2001)
* ''Ein Lied klingt durch die Welt''; Möseler (2002)
* ''Psalmsprüche''; Bärenreiter-Verlag 2003
* ''Präludium in swing''; Strube-Verlag (2004)
* ''Sinfonietta concertante''; Strube-Verlag (2004)
References
External links
Entryin the database of the
Deutsches Musikinformationszentrum
Works of Rolf Schweizer
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schweizer, Rolf
1936 births
2016 deaths
People from Emmendingen
People from the Republic of Baden
German composers
German choral conductors
German male conductors (music)
Kirchenmusikdirektor