Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

April 2, 1798

Death

:

January 19, 1874

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

Genre

:

Vocal

 

August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben was a German poet, writer, and composer who is best known for writing the lyrics to the German national anthem, "Deutschlandlied." Born on April 2, 1798, in Fallersleben, a small town in Lower Saxony, Germany, Hoffmann von Fallersleben was the son of a Lutheran pastor. He showed an early interest in music and began composing at a young age. Hoffmann von Fallersleben received his education at the University of Bonn, where he studied philology, theology, and music. He was particularly interested in the study of folk songs and began collecting and cataloging them during his time at the university. This interest in folk music would later influence his own compositions. In 1823, Hoffmann von Fallersleben became a professor of German language and literature at the University of Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland). During his time there, he continued to collect and study folk songs, and he began to compose his own music. He also wrote poetry and prose, and his work was well-received by his contemporaries. Hoffmann von Fallersleben's most famous work, "Deutschlandlied," was written in 1841. The song was originally titled "Das Lied der Deutschen" ("The Song of the Germans") and was set to music by Austrian composer Joseph Haydn. The song quickly became popular and was adopted as the national anthem of Germany in 1922. In addition to "Deutschlandlied," Hoffmann von Fallersleben composed a number of other works, including choral music, songs, and instrumental pieces. His compositions were influenced by his interest in folk music, and he often incorporated folk melodies and themes into his work. Hoffmann von Fallersleben was also a prolific writer and scholar. He wrote extensively on German language and literature, and he was a strong advocate for the use of the German language in education and government. He was a vocal critic of the Prussian government, which he believed was suppressing the use of the German language in favor of French. Hoffmann von Fallersleben's political views and his outspokenness led to his dismissal from his position at the University of Breslau in 1842. He continued to write and compose, however, and he remained an influential figure in German culture and politics. Hoffmann von Fallersleben died on January 19, 1874, in Corvey, Germany. His legacy as a composer, writer, and scholar continues to be celebrated in Germany and around the world.

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