Lecture and Opening of the Exhibition

Valentin Rathgeber (* April 3, 1682 in Oberelsbach, † June 2, 1750 in the Monastery of Banz) was the most productive Frankonian monastic composer of the Baroque era. As a southern German antipode to Telemann he is an important link between the Baroque and the Classical era. Thus, he is one answer to the often asked question how Mozart was possible so shortly after Bach.

Although his main area was sacred vocal music, he us well-known mainly due to the so-called "Augsburger Tafelconfect", a collection of amusing songs. With his personal style which combines facility, brevity and suavity to a successful synthesis he created attractive vocal music for smaller ensembles that was appreciated very much in the Catholic area till the middle of the 19th century.

The Touring Exhibition traces the phenomenon Rathgeber in a range of different topics, integrates him within his time and shows the context in which he has operated.

The lecture comments especially on the relationship of Rathgeber to the residential city Wuerzburg where he lived 12 years as a student and as a schoolmaster. Not only the ecclesiastical and university context of Rathgeber, but also the performance of Rathgeber's music in Wuerzburg already at his lifetime should be worked out.

Speaker: Private Professor Dr. Erasmus Gass

Friday, Oktober 17, 2008, 6.15 pm, Catholic Cathedral School Wuerzburg

Procedure: Lecture, Talk, Opening of the Exhibition