Johann Ludwig Krebs
Synopsis
German organist and composer
- 12 Oct 1713: Krebs was baptized in Buttelstedt, Weimar, Germany
- 1726-1735 Krebs was a student of Johann Sebastian Bach at Thomasschule, Leipzig. Krebs studied organ, singing, lute, and violin. He sang treble in the Thomasschule choir until at least 1730.
- 1735-1737 Krebs continued his studies at Leipzig University, while assisting J. S. Bach as a copyist, sometimes substituting for Bach on the organ at Thomaskirche, or playing the harpsichord with Bach's Collegium Musicum. Krebs was one of Bach's best and most famous pupils, and was highly praised by Bach himself. Some works attributed to Bach but written in Krebs' hand still create attribution problems for scholars.
- 1737-1744 Krebs accepted a position as organist of the Marienkirche in Zwickau, where he met and married Johanna Sophie Nackens, and where the first of his children was born. The position was ill-paying and the organ badly maintained.
- 1744-1755 Krebs moved to Zeits to become organist of the castle there. He applied for J. S. Bach's position in Leipzig following Bach's death in 1750, but was turned down. Six more of Krebs' children were born here.
- 1755-1780 Krebs became the organist of the castle in Altenberg, at the court of Prince Friedrich of Gotha-Altenburg. His salary was still small, but these were the happiest and most productive years of his life as a musician. He loved the organ at Altenberg and took pride in it. During this period Krebs wrote many pieces for organ and various solo instruments, which could be performed by musicians from the court orchestra. As an organ composer Krebs wrote excellent counterpoint, and was old-fashioned in his compositional style, although he did employ simpler and more classical harmonies interspersed with baroque contrapuntal techniques.
- 1 Jan 1780: Krebs died in Altenberg, Germany
For details, see the Wikipedia article on Johann Ludwig Krebs. Other useful links: Bach Cantatas website http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Krebs-Johann-Ludwig.htm Oxford music online http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/15499pg2?q=Johann+Ludwig+Krebs&search=quick&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit
List of Organ Works
Opus | Title | Year |
---|---|---|
Op. ?? | Title | year |
Op. ?? | Title | year |
Op. ?? | Title | year |
Op. ?? | Title | year |
Op. ?? | Title | year |
Op. ?? | Title | year |
Op. ?? | Title | year |
Background and General Perspectives on Performing Krebs Organ Works
Replace this text with any general perspectives that do not fit under the categories listed below. (For comments on a specific piece or genre, use the list of pieces above to navigate to that page.)
Registration and Organs
Replace this text with information on registration and organs that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
See the footnote in the "Notes" section at the bottom of the page[1]
Fingering and Pedaling
Replace this text with information on fingering and pedaling that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Articulation and Phrasing
Replace this text with information on articulation and phrasing that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Ornamentation
Replace this text with information on ornamentation that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Tempo and Meter
Replace this text with information on tempo and meter that might be applicable to the whole set of pieces
Scores and Editions
- Johann-Ludwig Krebs (2001): Pieces pour orgue et instrument. Paris: Editions Musicales Chanvrelin, SARL. Available at the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, M 183 .K73 P53 2001.
- Johann Ludwig Krebs: Oregelwerke. Volumes 1 and 2. Frankfurt, London, and New York: C. F. Peters. Available at the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, M 7 .K74 P44x.
Recordings
- Johann Ludwig Krebs Complete Organ Works, recorded by Beatrice-Maria Weinberger, available on Amazon with individual pieces on iTunes.
- Fantaisie in F minor for organ and oboe, from Music of the Baroque Period: Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and More, 1999, performed by Vladimir Kurlin, Oboe; Sergei Tsatsorin, Organ, available on Amazon with individual pieces on iTunes.
Free Online
- Fantaisie in F minor for organ and oboe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ofll3_yIck
- Prelude and Fugue in D major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqkcEGzn8fA
- Toccata and Fugue in A minor from Johann Ludwig Krebs Complete Organ Works, volume 1, recorded by Beatrice-Maria Weinberger, available on Amazon with individual pieces on iTunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qfu9oeaE58
Pay to Listen
- Prelude and Fugue in C major: http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.553924
Other Resources
Replace this text with information on other resources that might be pertinent to performing these pieces
Notes
- ↑ This footnote was entered in the "Registration and Organs" section
This space is for automatic insertion of footnotes. To enter a footnote from anywhere in the article, start by typing the tag <ref> and then enter the text, and type the tag </ref> to end the footnote. The footnote will then appear in this "Notes" section automatically.