Karl Straube (1873-1950) by Christopher S Anderson
The first thorough examination of the most renowned and influential organist in early twentieth-century Germany and of his complex relationship to his country's tumultuous and shifting sociopolitical landscape. In the course of a multifaceted career, Karl Straube (1873-1950) rose to positions of immense cultural authority in a German musical world caught in unprecedented artistic and sociopolitical upheaval. Son of a German harmonium-builder and an intellectually inclined English mother, Straube established himself as Germany's iconic organ virtuoso by the turn of the century. His upbringing in Bismarck's Berlin encouraged him to develop intensive interests in world history and politics. He quickly became a sought-after teacher, editor, and confidante to composers and intellectuals, whose work he often significantly influenced. As the eleventh successor to J. S. Bach in the cantorate of St. Thomas School, Leipzig, he focused the choir's mission as curator of Bach's works and, in the unstable political climate of the interwar years, as international emissary for German art. His fraught exit from the cantorate in 1939 bore the scars of his Nazi affiliations and issued in a final decade of struggle and disillusionment as German society collapsed. Christopher Anderson's book presents the first richly detailed examination of Karl Straube's remarkable life, situated against the background of the dynamic and sometimes sinister nationalism that informed it. Through extensive examination of primary sources, Anderson reveals a brilliant yet deeply conflicted musician whose influence until now has been recognized, even hailed, but little understood.
The definitive work in any languageThe research is impeccable. More than just a biography of an organist, this book puts the reader in the world of German culture and church music from the 1880s to the middle of the 20th century. Highest recommendation. * AMERICAN ORGANIST *
Written with sensitivity, [Anderson's book] goes into factual matters in fine detail but also gives a satisfying sense of [Straube as a] person. Straube's activities during the Third Reich are laid out with care, avoiding both hagiography and [negative] polemics. * MUSIC UND KIRCHE *
[This book's] utterly stunning quantity of information from primary sources... makes it an outstanding reference point not merely in debates around [Straube's] life and work ..., but also for interpreting Reger or for understanding Leipzig's musical history. * ARS ORGANI *
A thorough exploration of the life and work of Karl Straube,...a musician of the highest order [whose] solo organ playing was considered revolutionary. If you want to know a lot more about the life of this extraordinary musician...I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. * ORGANISTS' REVIEW *
With this comprehensive biography, Anderson brings many new sources to light, especially the voluminous unpublished correspondence. It also functions as a mini biography for those in Straube's orbit. The writing in this book is superb [with] consistently engaging prose. Thanks to this book, we finally understand that worrying about the "correct" historic parameters with German musicians from this era misses the point badly. * MUSIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NOTES *
This book is a major achievement, offering fascinating insights into life in Germany in the first half of the twentieth century. -- John Kitchen * JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF ORGAN STUDIES *
Written with sensitivity, [Anderson's book] goes into factual matters in fine detail but also gives a satisfying sense of [Straube as a] person. Straube's activities during the Third Reich are laid out with care, avoiding both hagiography and [negative] polemics. * MUSIC UND KIRCHE *
[This book's] utterly stunning quantity of information from primary sources... makes it an outstanding reference point not merely in debates around [Straube's] life and work ..., but also for interpreting Reger or for understanding Leipzig's musical history. * ARS ORGANI *
A thorough exploration of the life and work of Karl Straube,...a musician of the highest order [whose] solo organ playing was considered revolutionary. If you want to know a lot more about the life of this extraordinary musician...I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. * ORGANISTS' REVIEW *
With this comprehensive biography, Anderson brings many new sources to light, especially the voluminous unpublished correspondence. It also functions as a mini biography for those in Straube's orbit. The writing in this book is superb [with] consistently engaging prose. Thanks to this book, we finally understand that worrying about the "correct" historic parameters with German musicians from this era misses the point badly. * MUSIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NOTES *
This book is a major achievement, offering fascinating insights into life in Germany in the first half of the twentieth century. -- John Kitchen * JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF ORGAN STUDIES *
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON is Associate Professor of Sacred Music, Perkins School of Theology and Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781648250385 |
| ISBN 10 | 1648250386 |
| Title | Karl Straube (1873-1950) |
| Author | Christopher Anderson |
| Series | Eastman Studies In Music |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Boydell & Brewer Ltd |
| Year published | 2022-04-15 |
| Number of pages | 576 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |