Franz Lehrndorfer


Franz Lehrndorfer was a German organist, composer, and pedagogue.
WWW franzlehrndorfer.de

Biography

Franz Lehrndorfer was born in Salzburg and spent his youth in Kempten. He received his first music lessons from his father, a choir director and musicologist and began to play the organ at age nine. From 1948 until 1951, Lehrndorfer studied sacred music in Munich and obtained a master class diploma in organ performance in 1952. Upon graduation, he worked as music instructor for the Regensburger Domspatzen, under music director Theobald Schrems. In 1962, he began his teaching career at the Musikhochschule München, first as adjunct professor of organ, later as professor and department chair of sacred music and organ performance. From 1969 until 31 October 2002, Lehrndorfer was organist at the Frauenkirche in Munich. He left his cathedral appointment after major disagreements with the cathedral’s music director, Karl-Friedrich Nies.
Lehrndorfer focused on organ improvisations, both in concert and recordings. As a performer, he often included music by Johann Sebastian Bach and Max Reger, as well as works by contemporary composers, such as Karl Höller and Harald Genzmer, in his programs. In 2001, he played the premiere of Genzmer's Concerto for organ, which he subsequently edited for Schott Music.
As an organ consultant, Lehrndorfer was in charge of several major organ projects, such as the 1980 Georg Jann organ at Tegernsee Abbey, or the four organs at the Frauenkirche in Munich.
On the occasion of Lehrndorfers 80th anniversary in 2008, more than 50 of his former students celebrated at the Musikhochschule Munich.
Franz Lehrndorfer died at age 84 in a hospital in Munich.

Awards

Students

Many of Franz Lehrndorfer's former organ students became concert organists, obtained positions at important churches or faculty positions in Germany and abroad:

Compositions

Organ

Eight Variations on "Maria, dich lieben" Nine Choral Preludes on Christmas chorals from the Gotteslob hymnal Theme and eleven Variations on "Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann" Easy Preludes to Advent and Christmas chorals from the "Gotteslob" hymnal Organ Preludes to Easter chorals from the "Gotteslob" hymnal Introduction, Variations, Fugue, and Hymnus on "Gott mit dir, du Land der Bayern" "Nun freut euch, ihr Christen" "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" Concerti antici "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" and "Lobet den Herren" Meditation and Variations on "O du fröhliche" Variations on "Zu Bethlehem geboren" Partita on "Macht hoch die Tür" Fanfare, in: Kölner Fanfaren, ed. Winfried Bönig and Hans-Peter Bähr Alla Marcia mit Musette, in: Festliche Orgelmusik, ed. Wolfgang Bretschneider
  • ''Fifteen Choral Preludes on hymns from the "Gotteslob" hymnal and the Protestant hymnal ''

Piano

Music for Christmas Time "Nun freut euch, ihr Christen"
  • ''Four Variations on "Sankt Martin"''

Piano for four hands

  • ''Music for Christmas Time''

Vocal works

Sah ein Knab ein Röslein stehn & Zogen einst fünf wilde Schwäne for SATB choir Zu Bethlehem geboren & In dulci jubilo for SATB choir Kein schöner Land setting "Kein schöner Land" for SATB choir Schlaf wohl, du Himmelsknabe for two flutes, cello, and SATB choir Kein Feuer, keine Kohle & Das Lieben bringt groß Freud for SATB choir O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig for SATB choir Missa in C major for SATB choir Missa "In gloria Dei" for SATB choir Missa mundi for SATB Choir and organ Missa in memoriam Theobald Schrems for four-part male choir

Editor

Franz Xaver Schnizer: Six Sonatas op. 1 for harpsichord or organ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Intrada and Fugue in C major from K. 399 Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto in D major Johann Melchior Molter: Concerto Pastorale John Stanley: Concerto in D major John Stanley: Concerto in A major John Stanley: Concerto I in E major John Stanley: Concerto III in B major John Stanley: Concerto VI in C major Harald Genzmer: Concerto for organ Harald Genzmer: Sinfonisches Konzert no. 2 for organ Giuseppe Tartini: Eleven slow Sonata movements Joseph Rupert Ignaz Bieling: Concerto in B major and three Sonatas
  • ''George Frideric Handel: Concerto in G minor''