Ludwig Lenel was born May 20, 1914, in Strasburg, Germany during the German Empire in present-day France, the son of the late Walter and Luise (Borckenhagen) Lenel. During his youth, Lenel met and was strongly influenced by Albert Schweitzer, who frequently stayed with the Lenel family while visiting Heidelberg.[1]
He then later studied organ with Schweitzer, and assisted him on tours of Germany and Switzerland in 1932 and 1936, respectively. In between those tours, Lenel's concert for two violins and string orchestra premiered at the Collegium Musicum in Heidelberg in 1933. In 1935, he was awarded his diploma from Hochschule fuer Musik in Cologne. In 1938, he was awarded a diploma from Basel Music Academy in Switzerland.[2]
After emigrating to the United States, Lenel worked as an organist while continuing his study of music composition at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, where he was awarded his masters of music degree in 1940.
He then joined the faculty of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he taught for 27 years as a music professor. During his tenure at Muhlenberg College, he created the college's music department's curriculum, established its major in music, and served as conductor of the college choir. He initiated a concert series and took the group on tour, and later founded Muhlenberg College's Department of Opera.[3]
In 1979, Lenel retired from Muhlenberg College. In 1989, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the college.[4]
On November 9, 1998, Lenel returned to Heidelberg to attend the performance of his main oeuvre, Death and Atonement in memory of the Holocaust. The 20-minute-long concert, written between 1976 and 1992, is based on Paul Celan's poem Todesfuge and texts by Nelly Sachs. Composer Wolfgang Fortner mentions Lenel and others as witnesses and examples of his teaching Jewish students before and during World War II in the attachment of his Story of Life.
Deathedit
Lenel died on April 22, 2002, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Funeral services were held May 24, 2002, in the Egner Memorial Chapel at Muhlenberg College. His obituary noted that he was the "former husband of Jane Lenel," and that he was survived by a son, two daughters, a brother and a sister, and three grandchildren.[5]
Literatureedit
Anderson, E. Ruth. Contemporary American composers. A biographical dictionary, Second edition, G. K. Hall, 1982.
Borroff, Edith; Clark, J. Bunker. American opera. A checklist, Harmonie Park Press, 1992.
Referencesedit
^"Ludwig Lenel" (obituary). Allentown, Pennsylvania: Morning Call, April 26, 2002.
Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung Heidelberg 4. und 9. November 1998.
Givannini/Moraw (Ed.). Erinnertes Leben – Autobiographische Texte zur jüdischen Geschichte Heidelbergs, Heidelberg 1998.
January 01, 1970
ludwig, lenel, 1914, april, 2002, organist, composer, born, 1914, 1914strasburg, german, empirediedapril, 2002, 2002, aged, bryn, mawr, pennsylvania, occupation, music, educatorinstrument, organyears, active1940, 2022, contents, early, life, education, career,. Ludwig Lenel May 20 1914 April 22 2002 was an organist and composer Ludwig LenelBorn 1914 05 20 May 20 1914Strasburg German EmpireDiedApril 22 2002 2002 04 22 aged 87 Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania U S Occupation s Music educatorInstrument s OrganYears active1940 2022 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Death 4 Literature 5 References 6 SourcesEarly life and education editLudwig Lenel was born May 20 1914 in Strasburg Germany during the German Empire in present day France the son of the late Walter and Luise Borckenhagen Lenel During his youth Lenel met and was strongly influenced by Albert Schweitzer who frequently stayed with the Lenel family while visiting Heidelberg 1 He then later studied organ with Schweitzer and assisted him on tours of Germany and Switzerland in 1932 and 1936 respectively In between those tours Lenel s concert for two violins and string orchestra premiered at the Collegium Musicum in Heidelberg in 1933 In 1935 he was awarded his diploma from Hochschule fuer Musik in Cologne In 1938 he was awarded a diploma from Basel Music Academy in Switzerland 2 After emigrating to the United States Lenel worked as an organist while continuing his study of music composition at Oberlin College in Oberlin Ohio where he was awarded his masters of music degree in 1940 Career editLenel served on the faculties of Monticello College Elmhurst College and Westminster College in Pennsylvania and the New School for Social Research in New York City He then joined the faculty of Muhlenberg College in Allentown Pennsylvania where he taught for 27 years as a music professor During his tenure at Muhlenberg College he created the college s music department s curriculum established its major in music and served as conductor of the college choir He initiated a concert series and took the group on tour and later founded Muhlenberg College s Department of Opera 3 In 1979 Lenel retired from Muhlenberg College In 1989 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the college 4 On November 9 1998 Lenel returned to Heidelberg to attend the performance of his main oeuvre Death and Atonement in memory of the Holocaust The 20 minute long concert written between 1976 and 1992 is based on Paul Celan s poem Todesfuge and texts by Nelly Sachs Composer Wolfgang Fortner mentions Lenel and others as witnesses and examples of his teaching Jewish students before and during World War II in the attachment of his Story of Life Death editLenel died on April 22 2002 in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania Funeral services were held May 24 2002 in the Egner Memorial Chapel at Muhlenberg College His obituary noted that he was the former husband of Jane Lenel and that he was survived by a son two daughters a brother and a sister and three grandchildren 5 Literature editAnderson E Ruth Contemporary American composers A biographical dictionary Second edition G K Hall 1982 Borroff Edith Clark J Bunker American opera A checklist Harmonie Park Press 1992 References edit Ludwig Lenel obituary Allentown Pennsylvania Morning Call April 26 2002 Ludwig Lenel obituary Morning Call Ludwig Lenel obituary Morning Call Ludwig Lenel obituary Morning Call Ludwig Lenel obituary Morning Call Sources editRhein Neckar Zeitung Heidelberg 4 und 9 November 1998 Givannini Moraw Ed Erinnertes Leben Autobiographische Texte zur judischen Geschichte Heidelbergs Heidelberg 1998 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ludwig Lenel amp oldid 1170160947, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
