Kretschmer, Edmund

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Kretschmer, Edmund

Kretschmer, Edmund, German organist and composer; b. Ostritz, Aug. 31, 1830; d. Dresden, Sept. 13, 1908. He studied with Julius Otto (composition) and Johann Schneider (organ) in Dresden, where he was its court organist (1863–1901). He was a successful composer. His choral work Geisterschlacht won a prize at the Dresden singing festival (1865), and his 3-part Mass for Men’s Chorus won the Brussels Academy’s prize in 1868. He wrote several operas to his own librettos in a Wagnerian manner, at least 2 of which were successful: Die Folkunger (Dresden, March 21, 1874) and Heinrich der Löwe (Leipzig, Dec. 8, 1877). He also produced 2 light operas: Der Flüchtling (Ulm, 1881) and Schön Rotmut (Dresden, 1887), several choral works for festive occasions, church music, etc.

Bibliography

O. Schmid, E. K. (Dresden, 1890).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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