Born: March 4, 1938 - Mengersgereuth, Thuringia, Germany
Died: May 23, 2006 - Nürnberg (Nuremberg), Germany

The German organist and composer, Werner Jacob, studied until 1961 organ with Walter Kraft, harpsichord, composition with Wolfgang Fortner, and conducting with Carl Ueter at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg, and privately organ with Anton Nowakowski.

Werner Jacob was from 1969 to 1991 Kantor at St. Sebald in Nuremberg, and continued as titular organist. From 1985 to 2003, he was artistic director of the International Organ Week in Nuremberg (ION) - Musica Sacra. From 1976 to 1998 he taught at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart in a special program of organ playing.

Besides his organ work Werner Jacob composed in almost all genres. His compostion include numerous organ pieces; organ chamber music, including: Verbum mei (1996) for horn and organ in F for a Responsorium "Maulbronn-Lichtentahler Antiphonale" (1996); ... Sine nomine super nominam ... I, fantasaia for organ, timpani and percussions (1985); Quartet for oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon (1960). Choral works, including: De visione resurrectionis for mixed choir, baritone solo, two percussion groups and organ (1966); Telos nomou for speaker and instruments; Biblische Szene Babel for speaker, 5 Soliloquenten and mixed choir; Canticum II-Canticum Canticorum for soloists, chorus and instrumentalists; Canticum III: Canticum Caritatis Wenn ich mit Menschen und Engelszungen redete for soprano, 2 gongs and tam-tam (1991). Up to last days, he wrote a still unfinished work for large symphony orchestra.

Werner Jacob recorded on EMI Classics the complete organ works of J.S. Bach and the great organ works of Max Reger.

Werner Jacob died on May 23, 2006, after a long illness at the age of 68.

Source: German Wikipedia Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2007)

Wener Jacob: Short Biography | Recordings of Non-Vocal Works
Reviews of Non-Vocal Recordings: Five Recordings of Bach’s Orgelbüchlein

Links to other Sites

Werner Jacob (Wikipedia) [German]

Prof. Werner Jacob (BR Online) [German]

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