Silvius Von Kessel au oratoire St-Joseph

Silvius Carlos Benedict von Kessel (born 20 February 1965) is a German organist, improviser,

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 Defi ...

and choirmaster.

Career

Von Kessel was born in Oldenburg. He is Cathedral Organist and Choirmaster of Erfurt Cathedral, the capital of the Free State of Thuringia in Germany, as well as honorary professor of

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

music at the

Hochschule für Musik "Franz Liszt", Weimar The University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar (in German: Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar) is an institution of music in Weimar, Germany. The Hochschule Franz Liszt, who spent a great deal of his life in Weimar, encouraged the founding of ...

. He is President of the festival ''Thüringer Bachwochen''. relating to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach who was born 1685 in Eisenach, Thuringia. The ''Thüringer Bachwochen'' festival is the biggest festival of classical music in Thuringia. Silvius von Kessel founded the "International BACH/LISZT Organ Competition Erfurt-Weimar". He studied organ music and church music at the Folkwang Hochschule Essen with Professor

Gisbert Schneider Gisbert Schneider (14 January 1934 – 1 December 2018) was a German professor for artistic organ playing and improvisation at the Folkwang Hochschule Essen as well as Kirchenmusikdirektor. Life Born in Wattenscheid, Schneider grew up in Weim ...

from 1986 to 1991 passing his A Exam with distinction. He continued his organ study from 1991 to 1994 in Paris with Professor Olivier Latry getting the "Diplôme de Concertiste" in 1994. In the same year he was appointed Cathedral Organist and Choirmaster of Erfurt Cathedral. He has lately composed a big symphonic mass (Missa Cum Jubilo, taking about 70 minutes) for Soloists, Mixed Choir, Children´s Choir, Organ and Symphonic Orchestra. The première has taken place in september 2019 in Erfurt Cathedral and has created an enormous positive echo.

Family

Silvius von Kessel is married to Christine Countess of Königsmarck and they have five children. He is a cousin of the actress Sophie von Kessel.

Writings/Musicology

* Silvius von Kessel: ''Original oder Adaptation? Eine Untersuchung an fünf Paaren Gregorianischer Gesänge gleicher Melodie bei verschiedenem Text'' (in: Beiträge zur Gregorianik, Heft 18, ConBrio Verlagsgesellschaft Regensburg 1994)

Audio recordings

Die Orgeln und Glocken des Erfurter Domberges
(1997)
Wachet auf - Symphonische Orgelmusik im Erfurter Dom
(2001)
Orgelland Thüringen - Vol. 5: Die Orgel in der Wallfahrtskirche St. Antonius zu Worbis
(2013), recording made together with Prof.

Michael Kapsner Michael Kapsner (born 29 June 1961) is a German composer, organist, conductor, improvisator and music educator. He teaches at the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar. Life Born in Passau, Kapsner received his first organ lessons from Toni ...

(Weimar)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessel, Silvius von 1965 births Living people German organists German male organists People from Oldenburg (city) 21st-century organists 21st-century German male musicians