Felix, Werner 1927–

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Felix, Werner 1927–

PERSONAL: Born July 30, 1927, in Weissenfels, Germany; son of a tradesman; married Beate Riehmann. Education: Weimar Music Academy, completed state exams in music pedagogy, 1951; Halle and Berlin universities, promotion, 1956.

ADDRESSES: Home—Otto-Schmiedt-Strasse 2B, Leipzig, Germany 7033. Office—Höchschule für Musik, Grassi-Strasse 8, Leipzig, Germany 7033.

CAREER: Musicologist, educator, and writer. Expert adviser at State Secretariat for Education, 1951–52; College of Music, Weimar, Germany, history of music lecturer, 1952, rector, 1955–65, professor, 1959; Erfürt Conservatory, director, 1953; College of Music, Weimar, professor, 1956, ord. professor, 1974, head of musicology department, beginning 1975; Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig, Germany, manager, 1968–71; National Research and Memory Places of J.S. Bach, Leipzig, general director, 1979–; Music Academy, Leipzig, rector, beginning 1987. Also member of Erfürt District Council, 1958–63; executive council member of GDR Music Council; executive member of board, Neue Bach Gesellschaft (New Bach Society).

MEMBER: East German Chopin Society (president, 1962–87).

AWARDS, HONORS: Fatherland's Merit Order in Bronze, 1977.

WRITINGS:

Die Musik der deutschen Klassik, E.A. Seemann (Leipzig, Germany), 1954.

Franz Liszt: Ein Lebensbild, P. Reclam (Leipzig, Germany), 1961, second edition, 1986.

Christoph Willibald Glück, P. Reclam (Leipzig, Germany), 1965.

(With Armin Schneiderheinze and Winfried Hoffman) Johann Sebastian Bach: Lebendiges Erbe, Johann-Sebastian-Back Komitee (Germany), 1973, published in English translation as Johann Sebastian Bach, Orbis (London, England), 1985.

Aus der Geschichte des Thomaskantorates zu Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel (Wiesbaden, Germany), 1980.

(Editor, with others) Musikgeschichte: Ein Grundriss, Deutscher Verlag für Musik (Leipzig, Germany), 1984.

Contributor to numerous professional publications.

SIDELIGHTS: German musicologist Werner Felix has authored several studies on composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt, and Christoph Willibald Glück. J.P. Ambrose, who reviewed Felix's Johann Sebastian Bach: Lebendiges Erbe for Choice, called the book's lavishly illustrated text "beautifully planned and designed" and "highly recommended" the work for "both public and academic libraries at all levels." Los Angeles Times Book Review contributor Marc Shulgold called the work a "well-organized survey of Bach's music" that is "peppered with appropriate musical examples."