Giselher Wolfgang Klebe (28 June 1925 – 5 October 2009) was a German composer, and an academic teacher. He composed more than 140 works, among them 14 operas, all based on literary works, eight symphonies, 15 solo concerts, chamber music, piano works, and sacred music.

Giselher Klebe
The composer at his desk in April 2008
Born(1925-06-28)28 June 1925
Mannheim, Germany
Died5 October 2009(2009-10-05) (aged 84)
Detmold, Germany
Occupations
  • Composer
  • Academic teacher
OrganizationHochschule für Musik Detmold
SpouseLore Klebe
AwardsAcademy of Arts

Biography edit

Giselher Klebe was born in Mannheim, Germany. He received musical tuition early in his life from his mother, the violinist Gertrud Klebe. The family relocated in 1932 to Munich, where his mother's sister, Melanie Michaelis, continued the training. His father's profession required a further relocation in 1936 to Rostock.[1]

Following the separation of his parents, Klebe moved with his mother and sister to Berlin. During 1938, the 13-year-old sketched his first compositions. In 1940, he began studies in violin, viola, and composition, supported by a grant from the city of Berlin.

After serving his term in the Reich Labour Service, Klebe was conscripted to military service as signalman. After the German surrender, he was taken prisoner of war by the Russian forces. Due to ill health, he was soon released.

Having convalesced, Klebe continued his music studies in Berlin (1946–1951), first under Josef Rufer, then in master classes by Boris Blacher. He worked for the radio station Berliner Rundfunk until 1948, when he began to work full-time as a composer.

Klebe was inspired and influenced by works of authors and artists, especially his contemporaries. In 1951 he composed Die Zwitschermaschine Op. 7, (The Twittering Machine), based on the painting by Paul Klee.[2] His first opera, based on Friedrich Schiller's play Die Räuber (The Robbers), was produced in 1957.[2] He composed two operas based on plays by Ödön von Horváth.

In 1957, Klebe succeeded Wolfgang Fortner as docent for the subjects of Composition and Music Theory at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold. He was appointed professor in 1962 and, over the years, taught many students who went on to become well-known composers: Theo Brandmüller, Peter Michael Braun [de], Hans Martin Corrinth [de], Matthias Pintscher, and Lars Woldt.[1]

Honors and legacy edit

Marriage and family edit

On 10 September 1946 Klebe married the violinist Lore Schiller. They had two daughters, Sonja Katharina and Annette Marianne. Lore Klebe wrote the librettos for some of his operas, including Der Jüngste Tag (Doomsday).[1]

Klebe died on 5 October 2009 in Detmold at the age of 84 after a long illness.[3]

Works edit

Opus Title Translation Category
4 Piano sonata Piano sonata
7 Die Zwitschermaschine Orchestral
13 Wiegenlieder für Christinchen Piano
22 Elegia appassionata Piano trio
25 Die Räuber The Robbers Opera
26 4 Inventions Piano
27 Die tödlichen Wünsche The Deadly Wishes Opera
29 Cello Concerto No. 1 Cello concerto
32 Die Ermordung Cäsars The Murder of Caesar Opera
36 Alkmene Opera
37 Adagio and Fugue with a motif from Wagner's Die Walküre Orchestral
39 9 Duettini per pianoforte e flauto Duo
40 Figaro läßt sich scheiden Figaro Gets Divorced Opera
49 Jacobowsky und der Oberst Jacobovsky and the Colonel Opera
50 Concerto a cinque Concerto
53 Symphony No. 3 (1966) Symphony
55 Das Märchen von der schönen Lilie The Fairy Tale of the Fair Lily Opera
61 Das Testament Orchestral
69 Ein wahrer Held A True Hero Opera
70 Nenia Chamber music
72 Das Mädchen aus Domrémy The Girl from Domrémy Opera
73 Orpheus Orchestral
75 Symphony No. 5 (1976–77) Symphony
76 9 Piano pieces for Sonja Piano
78 Das Rendezvous Opera
82 Der Jüngste Tag Doomsday Opera
87 String Quartet No. 3 String quartet
90 Die Fastnachtsbeichte Carnival Confession Opera
91 Feuersturz Piano
103 Glockentürme Piano
107 Agitato Trombone Quartet
111 Nachklang Piano
119 Gervaise Macquart Opera
120 Symphony No. 6 (1996) Symphony
133 Mignon Violin concerto
134 Chara Duo
149 Chlestakows Wiederkehr Khlestakov's Return Opera

References edit

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Schäfer, Brigitte (28 June 2005). "Giselher Klebe" (in German). Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Giselher Klebe", Naxos, accessed 19 February 2023
  3. ^ a b Giselher Klebe, profile, City of Detmold (in German)

Sources

External links edit