Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

March 17, 1906

Death

:

January 22, 1999

Period

:

Renaissance

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

Josef Ulsamer was a renowned German conductor, harpsichordist, and musicologist who made significant contributions to the field of early music. He was born on August 21, 1917, in Munich, Germany, and grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so he was exposed to music from a young age. Ulsamer began his musical education at the Munich Conservatory, where he studied piano, composition, and conducting. He later studied harpsichord with Eduard Müller and musicology with Friedrich Blume at the University of Munich. During World War II, Ulsamer served in the German army, but he was captured by the Allies and spent several years as a prisoner of war in England. After the war, Ulsamer returned to Germany and began his career as a conductor and harpsichordist. He founded the Ulsamer Collegium in 1955, which became one of the most important early music ensembles in Europe. The group specialized in performing music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, using historically informed performance practices. Ulsamer's performances with the Ulsamer Collegium were highly acclaimed, and he became known for his sensitive and expressive interpretations of early music. He also made numerous recordings with the ensemble, including works by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann, and Antonio Vivaldi. In addition to his work as a performer, Ulsamer was also a respected musicologist. He published several books and articles on early music, including a study of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was particularly interested in the history of the harpsichord and its repertoire, and he made significant contributions to the understanding of early keyboard music. Ulsamer's contributions to the field of early music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1977, and he received the Bavarian Order of Merit in 1987. He was also made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London and the American Musicological Society. Ulsamer continued to perform and record with the Ulsamer Collegium until his retirement in the 1990s. He died on December 14, 2000, in Munich, Germany, at the age of 83. His legacy as a performer, conductor, and musicologist continues to inspire musicians and scholars around the world.

More....