Driessler, Johannes

Driessler, Johannes, German composer and pedagogue; b. Friedrichsthal, Jan. 26,1921. He received training in organ, choral conducting, and theory from Karl Rahner at the Saarbriicken Cons, and in composition from William Maler at the Cologne Cons. In 1946 he became a teacher of church music at the North West German Music Academy in Detmold, where he was a prof. of composition (from 1958) and deputy director (1960–83). He was especially adept at composing choral works in an acceptable tonal idiom.

Works

DRAMATIC O p e r a : Claudia amata (1952); Prinzessin Hochmut (1952); Der Umfried, youth opera (1957); Doktor Luzifer Trux (1958). ORCH.: Piano Concerto (1953); Cello Concerto (1954); Ikarus, sym. for 2 Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1960); 3 numbered syms.: No. 1, Dum spiro spero (1964), No. 2, Dum ludo laudo (1966), and No. 3, Amo dum vivo, for Strings and Percussion (1969); Concerto for String Trio and Orch. (1963). ORGAN : 20 Choralsonaten (1954–55). V O C A L: O r a t o r i o s : Dein Reich komme (1949); Gaudia mundana (1951); De profundis for Soloists, 2 Choruses, Winds, Timpani, and Piano (1950–52); Darum seid getrost (1954); Der Lebendige (1956); Der grosse Lobgesang for Mezzo-soprano, Chorus, Winds, and Brass (1959). O t h e r : Denn dein Reich komme, cantata for Soloists, 2 Choruses, and Instruments (1947); Sinfonia sacra for Chorus (1948); Christe eleison, Passion motet (1948); Triptychon, cantata for Chorus and Small Orch. (1950); 12 Spruchmotetten und 10 Spruchkanons for Chorus (1950); Balduin Brummsel, cantata for Soloists and Orch. (1952); Altenberger Messe for Chorus and Winds (1955); Markus-Passion for Chorus (1955); 2 Concerti sacri for Soloist and Organ (1961).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire