Passacaglia, op. 32, no. 3 (1936)

Hans Friedrich Micheelsen (1902–1973) — Passacaglia, op. 32, no. 3 (1936) for organ

Hans Friedrich Micheelsen (1902–1973) was born in Holstein region of Germany. The son of a musician, he began composing music in early childhood and in 1933 enrolled at the Hochschule in Berlin where he studied composition with Paul Hindemith. He wrote that “From Hindemith’s method and works I received a lasting impression. It was to my advantage that I came to work with him in my more mature years as I avoided the danger of copying his style. All the essentials of my tonal language were the result of my early attempts, now refined with Hindemith’s affirmation, teaching, and guidance.” Micheelsen shared Hindemith’s interest in the Gebrauchsmusik (“useful music”) movement; he was also active in the German Lutheran church reforms of the times. In 1935 Micheelsen was appointed organist/cantor at St. Mathäi and his compositions began to receive national attention and publication. In 1938, he became artistic director for the new church music school in Hamburg (later the Hochschule). Micheelsen retired from teaching in 1962 to have more time for composing. Throughout his career he composed and published many works in all forms. His works for organ display the neo-baroque principles that inspired much German organ music (as well as organ-building) during those years: lean, transparent textures coupled with clear forms (often inspired by the old styles) with a harmonic language combining traditional modality with contemporary harmonic color.

Published Barenreiter-Verlag in “Das holsteinische Orgelbüchlein” (out-of-print)