Adam Gumpelzhaimer (Composer)

Born: 1559 - Trostberg, Upper Bavaria, Germany
Died: November 1625

The German composer, Adam Gumpelzhaimer [Gumpeltzhaimer], was instructed in music by Father Jodocus Enzmüller of the convent of S. Ulrich, Augsburg. He may have studied briefly with Orlando di Lassus, and also in Italy.

In 1575 Adam Gumpelzhaimer went into the service of the Duke of Würtemberg as musician, and gained considerable reputation as composer of songs both sacred and secular. He had Except for a short period he was also in in Stuttgart. In 1581 he was appointed teacher and Kantor at St. Anna Gymnasium in Augsburg, retaining the post till 1621.

Adam Gumpelzhaimer's sacred songs or hymns, generally for several voices, sometimes as many as eight, are considered almost equal to those of Lassus. He also wrote Compendium muaicae latinum-germanicum (Augsburg, 1591), with examples taken from the music of contemporary German composers, which remained a standard textbook in southern Germany until the late seventeenth century. Up to 1675, twelve editions of which were published. His Neue teutsche geistliche Lieder, for three voices, was printed at Augsburg, 1591, and a series of similar things for four voices in 1594. A Contrapunctus for four and five voices appeared in 1595, Sacrorum concentuum lib. I in 1601, lib. 2 in 1614, Ps. li. a 8 in 1619, and hymn-books at various dates. He composed psalms and sacred songs, and motets which use polychoral effects.

Source: Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1952 Edition); HOASM Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (December 2005)

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

2 schöne Weihenacht Lieder, ... Gelobet seist du Jesu Christ ... Vom Himmel hoch, 4 St. . ... Item das alte Gelobet, Fit porta Christi u. alte Joseph, 5 St., Incerti autoris [a 5-pt. setting of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ]

Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ

1618

Links to other Sites

HOASM: Adam Gumpelzhaimer
Gumpelzhaimer, Adam (1559 - 1625) (Karadar) [German]
Adam Gumpelzhaimer (Grainger)

GUMPELZHAIMER (Gumpeltzhaimer), Adam (BBKL) [German]
Adam Gumpelzhaimer (1559-1625) (klassiekemuziekgids) [German]

Bibliography