Naumann, (Karl) Ernst

views updated

Naumann, (Karl) Ernst

Naumann, (Karl) Ernst, German organist, conductor, and composer, grandson of Johann Gottlieb Naumann; b. Freiberg, Saxony, Aug. 15, 1832; d. Jena, Dec. 15, 1910. He studied in Leipzig with Hauptmann, Richter, Wenzel, and Langer, and received his Ph.D. in 1858 from the Univ. of Leipzig with the dissertation Über die verschiedenen Bestimmungen der Tonverhältnisse und die Bedeutung des pythagoreischen oder reinen Quintensystems für unsere heutige Musik (pub. in Leipzig, 1858); also took organ lessons in Dresden with Johann Schneider. In 1860 he was appointed music director and director of academic concerts at the Univ. of Jena. He also served as city organist. He was made a prof, in 1877, retiring in 1906. He ed. 6 vols, of Bach’s cantatas and works for keyboard for the collected edition of the Bach Gesellschaft, and later ed. several organ works for the Neue Bach Gesellschaft. He also ed. a practical edition of Bach’s organ music in 9 vols. (1899–1904). His own compositions include chamber music, sacred works, and lieder.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire