Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

September 18, 1684 in Erfurt, Germany

Death

:

March 23, 1748 in Weimar, Germany

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Johann Gottfried Walther was a German composer, organist, and music theorist who lived from 1684 to 1748. He was born in Erfurt, Germany, into a family of musicians. His father, Johann Jakob Walther, was a composer and violinist, and his uncle, Georg Christoph Walther, was an organist and composer. Johann Gottfried Walther showed an early aptitude for music and began studying the organ with his uncle at a young age. In 1702, at the age of 18, Walther moved to Weimar to study with Johann Sebastian Bach, who was then the court organist. Bach was impressed with Walther's talent and took him on as a student. Walther studied with Bach for several years, learning not only the organ but also composition and music theory. In 1707, Walther returned to Erfurt and became the organist at the Church of St. Severus. He held this position for the rest of his life, and it was during this time that he composed most of his music. Walther was also active as a music theorist, and he wrote several treatises on music theory and composition. Walther's music is primarily for the organ, and he is best known for his chorale preludes. These are short pieces based on Lutheran hymns, and they were intended to be played as part of the church service. Walther's chorale preludes are notable for their contrapuntal complexity and their use of chromaticism. They are also notable for their expressive power, which was unusual for music of this type at the time. In addition to his chorale preludes, Walther also composed several larger works for the organ, including preludes and fugues. These works are similar in style to those of Bach, and they demonstrate Walther's mastery of counterpoint and his ability to create complex musical structures. Walther's music was highly regarded during his lifetime, and he was considered one of the leading organists and composers of his time. His music was widely performed and published, and it had a significant influence on the development of organ music in Germany. In addition to his work as a composer and organist, Walther was also active as a music theorist. He wrote several treatises on music theory and composition, including the "Musicalisches Lexicon," which was a comprehensive dictionary of musical terms. This work was highly influential and was widely used by musicians and composers for many years. Walther's legacy as a composer and music theorist has endured to the present day. His music is still performed and studied, and his treatises on music theory and composition are still considered important works in the field. Walther's contributions to the development of organ music and music theory have had a lasting impact on the history of classical music.

More....