Theodor Pröpper (26 May 1896 – 31 July 1979) was a German church organist and

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 ...

. Pröpper was born in Balve and spent most of his career there as an organist at Saint Blasius church.

Career

Pröpper studied at the church music school in Paderborn from 1912 to 1914, after which he became organist at the St. Blaise parish church in Balve. He later studied at the State Academy of Music in

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(with Joseph Haas among his teachers) and also had private composition lessons from Gottfried Rüdinger, returning to Balve in 1925. From 1930 to 1934 he held a position in the local government but was removed by the

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s. In February 1946 he became deputy mayor of Balve. Pröpper received a number of church honours and appointments throughout his career. In 1966 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit (first class) and in 1974, the Orlando di Lasso medal. He died in Balve and was buried there.

Volunteering

Theodor Pröpper was the co-founder of Sauerländer Heimatbund.

Selected works

* ''Tu es Petrus'', cantata *''Johanneskantate'', cantata * ''Klingemund'', songbook *''Das Balver Zeitwendspiel'', drama *'' Franz Hoffmeister. Leben und Werk'', Verlag Bonifatius Druckerei, Paderborn 1949

Recordings

*''Tu es Petrus'' (op. 26) Märkisches Jugendsinfonieorchester and Oratorienchor Letmathe, director: Gerhard Michalski, recorded by Johannes Freiherr von Linden, mpc records 58802002, in cooperation with Festspiele Balver Höhle :Naira Gloudschadze (soprano) :Marie-Helen Joel (contralto) :Terence Vanden Berg (tenor) :Dieter Goffing (bass) :Gebhard Reichmann (organ)

References

''Kurzporträt Pröppers''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Propper, Theodor 1896 births 1979 deaths People from Märkischer Kreis German classical organists People from the Province of Westphalia Westphalia culture Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 20th-century German composers 20th-century German organists 20th-century German male musicians Kirchenmusikdirektor German male classical organists