Georg Caspar Wecker
Encyclopedia
Georg Caspar Wecker was a German
Baroque
organist
and composer
. A minor composer of the Nuremberg school, Wecker is now best remembered as one of Johann Pachelbel
's first teachers.
Wecker was born and spent all his life in Nuremberg
. He received first music lessons from his father Johann, and at the age of 15 was already allowed to play the church organ. From 1651 he served as organist of St. Walpurg, then in 1654 he became organist of the Frauenkirche. Four years later he became organist of the Egidienkirche, the third most important position of its kind in the city. He spent 28 years working there, until in 1686 he got the job at the main Nuremberg parish church of the time, St. Sebald. Wecker occupied this position until his death in 1695 and was succeeded by Johann Pachelbel
.
An acclaimed teacher, Wecker was, along with Heinrich Schwemmer
, an important link in the 17th century Nuremberg teacher-pupil tradition. Himself a pupil of Kindermann
, he taught keyboard instruments and composition to Johann Krieger
and Johann Pachelbel. Few of his works survived to this day: several cantatas, some 40 songs and a keyboard fugue.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. A minor composer of the Nuremberg school, Wecker is now best remembered as one of Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher, who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secular music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most...
's first teachers.
Wecker was born and spent all his life in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
. He received first music lessons from his father Johann, and at the age of 15 was already allowed to play the church organ. From 1651 he served as organist of St. Walpurg, then in 1654 he became organist of the Frauenkirche. Four years later he became organist of the Egidienkirche, the third most important position of its kind in the city. He spent 28 years working there, until in 1686 he got the job at the main Nuremberg parish church of the time, St. Sebald. Wecker occupied this position until his death in 1695 and was succeeded by Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher, who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secular music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most...
.
An acclaimed teacher, Wecker was, along with Heinrich Schwemmer
Heinrich Schwemmer
Heinrich Schwemmer was a German music teacher and composer.He was born in Gumpertshausen bei Hallburg, Lower Franconia, and moved with his mother to Weimar after his father’s death in 1627, to get away from the Thirty Years War. After his mother's death in 1638, he moved to Coburg, then in 1641 to...
, an important link in the 17th century Nuremberg teacher-pupil tradition. Himself a pupil of Kindermann
Johann Erasmus Kindermann
Johann Erasmus Kindermann was a German Baroque organist and composer. He was the most important composer of the Nuremberg school in the first half of the 17th century.-Life:...
, he taught keyboard instruments and composition to Johann Krieger
Johann Krieger
Johann Philipp Krieger was a German Baroque composer and organist. He was the elder brother of Johann Krieger.-Early years:...
and Johann Pachelbel. Few of his works survived to this day: several cantatas, some 40 songs and a keyboard fugue.