Klaus Martin Ziegler

Martinskirche, Kassel

Klaus Martin Ziegler(23 February 1929 – 22 September 1993) was a German choral conductor, organist and Protestant church musician.

Career

Ziegler was born inFreiburg.He studied music at theHochschule für Musik Karlsruheand matriculated from 1948 to 1950 as an examined Kapellmeister. He continued studies of sacred music at theKirchenmusikalisches Institut Heidelbergfrom 1950 to 1952 withWolfgang Fortner,Meinhard Hermann PoppenandGerhard Nestler.He wascantor,from 1952 to 1954 inKarlsruhe-Rüppurr and from 1954 to 1960 at the Christuskirche in Karlsruhe. In 1957 he became head of the church music department at the Badische Hochschule für Musik. He also held a teaching position at the Pädagogische Hochschule Karlsruhe.

From 1960 to 1993 he was a cantor at theMartinskirche, Kassel.He founded the Kantorei St. Martin and determined from the beginning to perform both old and new music in services, presenting in his first service music byDieterich Buxtehude,Johann Walther (1755–1822),Hugo DistlerandJoseph Marx,and in an Advent concert Bach'sMagnificatand Stravinsky's Mass.Ziegler founded in 1965 the Vocalensemble Kassel, with whom he performed at theDonaueschingen Festival.In 1967 he was appointed director of church music. In 1968 he became artistic director of the Evangelische Kirchenmusikschule Schlüchtern where he taught contemporary music and choral conducting from 1970 to 1981. He was also the director of the Kantorei (chorale) at the Westfälischen Kirchenmusikschule Herford. From 1981 to 1987 he succeededMarinus Voorbergas director of theSüdfunk-Chor Stuttgart,adding to its artistic profile by featuring contemporary music by composers such asLuciano Berio,Dieter Schnebel,Mathias SpahlingerandAdriana Hölszky.He shaped the festivalKasseler Musiktage,which had been founded in 1933, making Kassel a center of new sacred music in Europe.In 1977, his own former biennial "Woche für geistliche Musik" (Week for sacred music) became part of the festival as "Neue Musik in der Kirche" (New music in the church). He was responsible for the programming there until his death, first withWolfgang Rehm,then with Leo Karl Gerhartz.Numerous sacred works were premiered under his direction, includingHeinz Werner Zimmermann's motetHerr, mache mich zum Werkzeug Deines Friedens(1959, with the Kantorei of the Christuskirche Karlsruhe),Wir haben eine Hoffnung(We have a hope) byDietrich von Bausznern(1965 at the Donaueschingen Festival), and the Mass "Gebet der armen Seele" (Prayer of the poor soul) byGiselher Klebe(Kasseler Musiktage).

He died inKasselat age 64.

Recordings

Ziegler recorded with his Vocalensemble Kassel and soloistsUrsula Buckel,Irma Keller,Theo AltmeyerandJakob Stämpfli,Bach's cantatasfor PentecostAlso hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68,andErschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172.

He recorded thecantataDu sollst nicht tötenbyKarl Heinz Wahren,scored for speaker, jazz soloists, choir and orchestra, with theRIAS Kammerchorand orchestra.

A collection of "Neue Musik in der Kirche", published after his death, demonstrates his proficiency both as a conductor and as an organist. It containsSchoenberg'sDe profundisOp. 50b (1950) andFriede auf ErdenOp. 13 (1907), both performed by the Vocalensemble Kassel,John Cage's organ pieceSouvenir(1983),Dieter Schnebel'sLamento di guerrafor alto and organ (1991),Arne Mellnäs'Omnia tempus habent(1972), andHeinz Werner Zimmermann'sPsalmkonzert(1956), performed by soloistBarry McDaniel,instrumentalists, the choir of the Christuskirche Karlsruhe and theKnabenchor Hannover.

Legacy

A award in his name, the Klaus-Martin-Ziegler-Preis, is given annually in Kassel for new sacred music.It was given to composersLászló Tihanyiin 2002, Dominik Susteck in 2008, and Michael Töpel in 2011, among others.

Literature

• Kantorei an St. Martin Kassel (ed.): Fünfundzwanzig Jahre Kantorei an St. Martin-Vocalensemble Kassel (1985)
• Helmut Fleinghaus, Uwe Karsten Groß, Lebrecht Schilling (ed.): 40 Jahre Westfälische Landeskirchenmusikschule Herford 1948–1988 (1988)
• Alain Pâris:Klassische Musik im 20. Jahrhundert (1997), ps. 62–63
• Heiko Bockstiegel: Meine Herren, kennen Sie das Stück? Erinnerungen an deutschsprachige Chordirigenten des 20. Jahrhunderts (1999), 286–92

External links

• Literature by and about Klaus Martin Zieglerin theGerman National Librarycatalogue