|
| |
    |
| Circa 1880;
Wedding Day 14 August 1885; with son in 1887; with son and daughter circa
1910
|
|
Biography |
| Max Otto Arnold Wagenknecht was born on the 14 August 1857 in
Woldisch
Tychow (currently known as Tychowko), which was at that time part of
Prussia, Germany. His father, Julius Wagenknecht, was a teacher at the
local boarding school. Max was exposed to music from an early age onwards
and studied both piano and organ music.
Around 1875 Max received a scholarship to continue his music studies at
the conservatory ("Hochschule für Music") in Berlin, the
predecessor of the current Universität
der Kunste. |
Teachers' College Franzburg
circa 1880
|
After completing his studies he gained a
position as a lecturer in organ music at the Teachers' College (Königliche
Seminar) in Franzburg
in the early 1880's. He met his future wife, Meta Benz,
in Franzburg and they married on the 14
August 1885. They had two children, Gertrud Wagenknecht (1886, Franzburg -
1970, Berlin) and Georg Wagenknecht (1889, Franzburg - 1951,
Berlin). In
1901 Max took up a position at the Teachers' College in the nearby Anklam
and remained there until his death on the 7 May 1922. Allegedly, he died
due to a heart attack caused by a letter from the Teachers' College
stating that he had to retire when he would turn 65 in August 1922.
While
he worked at the Teachers' Colleges in Franzburg and Anklam, Max
Wagenknecht was also actively involved in the commissioning of new and
restored organs in the region, organised various concerts and conducted a
number of orchestras. |
Farewell Concert Program
Franzburg Teachers' College
29 March 1901
|
|
His Music |
|
Max Wagenknecht published an unknown number of musical
works. The following works have been preserved: Opus 1: Three Polkas for
piano. This work was most likely composed while he was studying at the
conservatory in Berlin Opus 2: "Rheinländer" for violin or
flute to the accompaniment of the piano, published by J.P. Lindner
Sohn in Stralsund Opus 3: Three songs with text by Schanz, Kletke and
Reinick to the accompaniment of the piano, published by J.P. Lindner
Sohn in Stralsund Opus 5: "58 Vor- und Nachspiele", 58 short
pieces of organ music and a Fughette and Fuge, published by J.P. Lindner
Sohn in Stralsund (first edition published in July 1889) Opus 10, 13 and
14: Songs to the accompaniment of the piano. It is unknown whether these
works have been published since only the handwritten originals remain. |
Conductor's baton,
a gift received from
the Choir in Genthin
1 April 1903
|
|
Recordings |
|
| His best known music work is Opus 5. It is particularly
noteworthy for its melodic compositions bringing together traditional
church music with the late 19th century romantic music era
Martin Rost has included a number of pieces from this work on the CD
collection "Pomerania Organ Landscape", available from Amazon
and other music stores. A review can be found at Music
Web International. MP3's of the recordings can be purchased at Music
Match.
This work will be recorded in its entirety in the near future. A number
of samples are available under "Music
Samples" on this website.
|
Lecturers of the Teachers' College,
Anklam, circa 1910
|
| |
|
