Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von Königslöw
Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von Königslöw (16 March 1745 – 14 May 1833) was a German composer and musician active at the St. Mary's Church, Lübeck.
Life
Born in Hamburg, he studied piano and singing with his father. At 13 years old, the boy became a soprano in the Lübeck Marienkirche under Adolph Kunzen, who taught him composition, organ, and violin. He also learned the cello. Königslöw became his assistant in 1772, taking over the direction of the Abendmusiken in 1773, and succeeding Kunzen in 1781.[1] From 1773 he was organist at the church.[2] In 1776, he married Margarete Catharina Friedlein.[3]
Königslöw was a leading figure in Lübeck's musical activities. He conducted Good Friday concerts, annual evening concerts, promoted amateur concerts, and founded a choral society.[4] In 1810, he discontinued the evening concerts due to financial problems, and later in 1823 also stopped conducting the amateur concerts. Königslöw continued conducting the Good Friday until 1832. He died in 1833 in Lübeck.[3]
Music
The composer wrote several oratorios for the Abendmusiken (most of which are lost), cantatas, orchestra works, and keyboard music.[1] His music show the influence of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.[3] Most of Königslöw's compositions were composed for the Abendmusiken. They are mostly within the Classical style, except for various stylistic choices. His fugues for organ are examples of the transition towards the Classical style in organ music.[4]
Works
Data from Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.[3]
Oratorios
- Des jungen Tobias Verheirathung (1781)
- Die Zuhausekunft des jungen Tobias (1782)
- Saras Ankunft bey Tobias (1783)
- Joseph (1784)
- Davids Thronbesteigung (1785)
- Joajada, der Hohepriester (1786)
- Esther (1787)
- Die Rettung des Kindes Mose (1788), in three parts
- Der geborene Weltheiland (1788), in two parts
- Die eheme Schlange (1789), in two parts
- Petrus (1791), in two parts
- Paulus (1792), in two parts, with part one by M. A. Bauck
- Davids Klage am Hermon nach dem 42sten Psalm (1793), in one part
- Davids Sieg über die Philister (1797)
- Saul und David im Kriege (1800)
Cantatas
- Musik fürs Gymnasium (1799)
- Michaelismusik (1801)
- Michaelismusik (1802), with parts from Die Zuhausekunft des jungen Tobias
- Kirchenmusik am Neujahrstage
- Johannismusik, with parts from Der geborene Weltheiland
- Lobet den Herrn
Orchestral works
- Harpsichord Concerto (1781)
- Overtures
Organ works
- Five volumes of 12 fugues each, 12 Fugen für Freunde und Liebhaber des Orgelspiels (volume 1 not extant), including two fugues for two organs
- Book of Organ chorales for the Lübecker
References
- ^ a b Slominsky, Nicolas; Kuhn, Laura; McIntire, Dennis (2001). "Königslöw, Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von". In Kuhn, Laura (ed.). Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Vol. 3 (9th ed.). New York: G. Schirmer, Inc. p. 1929. ISBN 0028655281. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ Riemann, Hugo, ed. (1897). "Königslöw, Joh. Wilh. Cornelius von". Dictionary of Music. Translated by John South Shedlock. London: Augener & Co. p. 406. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d Schnoor, Arndt (1994). "Königslöw, Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von". In Finscher, Ludwig (ed.). Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (in German). Vol. Personenteil 10 (2nd ed.). Kassel: Bärenreiter. col. 496–497. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ a b Karstädt, Georg; Schnoor, Arndt (2001). "Königslöw, Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers. pp. 777–778. ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.
External links
- Karstädt, Georg; Schnoor, Arndt (25 July 2013). "Königslöw, Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.15331. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
- Schnoor, Arndt (November 2016). "Königslöw, Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von". In Lütteken, Laurenz (ed.). Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (in German). New York, Kassel, Stuttgart: Bärenreiter. Retrieved 7 August 2025.