Heinz Werner Zimmermann
Encyclopedia
Heinz Werner Zimmermann is a German composer.
Zimmermann had his first composition instruction from 1946 to 1948 with Julius Weismann and studied from 1950 to 1954 in Heidelberg with Wolfgang Fortner
as well as at the Institut for Protestant Church Music there. After passing his examinations at the Freiburg Conservatory under Harald Genzmer
, he became Fortner’s successor in Heidelberg. Here he maintained close contacts with the musicologist Thrasyboulos Georgiades, whose rhythm and language studies influenced him the most, along with his occupation with American spirituals and jazz
. From 1963 to 1976 Heinz Werner Zimmermann was director of the Berlin
Church-Music School in Spandau
, and then from 1975 to 1996 as successor to Kurt Hessenberg
as composition teacher at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
(Brusniak 2001).
Zimmermann’s best-known works are his sacred motets with plucked contrabass, his organ psalms, and his "Prosalieder". Among his chief works are his Missa profana, the spiritual oratorio The Bible of Spirituals as well as his Symphonia sacra.
Amongst other honors, Zimmermann has been awarded the Music Prizes of the cities of Stuttgart and Berlin, a Villa Massimo Stipend
in 1965/66, and received in 1982 the Johann Sebastian Bach Prize. The American Wittenberg University in Springfield bestowed upon him an honorary doctorate, Zimmermann wrote three American theses, including one at the Stanford University
in California. Zimmermann is married to the organist Renate Zimmermann.
Zimmermann had his first composition instruction from 1946 to 1948 with Julius Weismann and studied from 1950 to 1954 in Heidelberg with Wolfgang Fortner
Wolfgang Fortner
Wolfgang Fortner was a German composer, composition teacher and conductor.-Life:Fortner was born in Leipzig. From his parents - both singers - Fortner very early on had intense contact with music...
as well as at the Institut for Protestant Church Music there. After passing his examinations at the Freiburg Conservatory under Harald Genzmer
Harald Genzmer
Harald Genzmer was a German composer of contemporary classical music.-Biography:Born in Blumenthal, near Bremen, Germany, he studied composition with Paul Hindemith at the Berlin Hochschule für Music beginning in 1928.From 1938 he taught at the Volksmusikschule Berlin-Neukölln...
, he became Fortner’s successor in Heidelberg. Here he maintained close contacts with the musicologist Thrasyboulos Georgiades, whose rhythm and language studies influenced him the most, along with his occupation with American spirituals and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. From 1963 to 1976 Heinz Werner Zimmermann was director of the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
Church-Music School in Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
, and then from 1975 to 1996 as successor to Kurt Hessenberg
Kurt Hessenberg
Kurt Hessenberg was a German composer and professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt am Main.- Life :...
as composition teacher at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
The Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts is a state Hochschule for Music, Theater and Dance in Frankfurt and is the only one of its kind in the Federal State of Hesse. It was founded in 1938....
(Brusniak 2001).
Zimmermann’s best-known works are his sacred motets with plucked contrabass, his organ psalms, and his "Prosalieder". Among his chief works are his Missa profana, the spiritual oratorio The Bible of Spirituals as well as his Symphonia sacra.
Amongst other honors, Zimmermann has been awarded the Music Prizes of the cities of Stuttgart and Berlin, a Villa Massimo Stipend
Villa Massimo
Villa Massimo, short for Deutsche Akademie Rom Villa Massimo , is a German art institute in Rome, established in 1910 and located in the Villa Massimo....
in 1965/66, and received in 1982 the Johann Sebastian Bach Prize. The American Wittenberg University in Springfield bestowed upon him an honorary doctorate, Zimmermann wrote three American theses, including one at the Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in California. Zimmermann is married to the organist Renate Zimmermann.
Sources
- Brusniak, Friedhelm. 2001. "Zimmermann, Heinz Werner". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan Publishers.
- Brusniak, Friedhelm. 2005. Heinz Werner Zimmermann. Tutzing: Schneider. ISBN 3-7952-1178-6
- Brusniak, Friedhelm, and Heinz Werner Zimmermann. 2000. Komposition und Kontemplation. Tutzing: Schneider. ISBN 3-7952-1013-5