Sollt' ich meinem Gott nicht singen

Ernst Pepping(1901 - 1981)

The distinguished German composer and pedagogue, Ernst Pepping, began to study composition at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik with Walter Gmeindl.

In 1934 Ernst Pepping was appointed professor of music theory and composition at the Protestant Kirchenmusikschule of the Johannes-Stift in Berlin-Spandau. From 1935 to 1938 he lectured at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. In 1947 (or 1953) he was nominated Professor for Church Music and, being appointed as professor of composition at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik, held his lectures until 1968.

Ernst Pepping is regarded as one of the most important Protestant composers mainly for sacred music of our time.

He was a significant composer of German chorales (for example the Spandauer Chorbuch) but also selected secular vocal works, a considerable quantity of organ music as well as compositions for orchestra.

This small chorale prelude is followed by Johann Schopp's chorale in (I presume) his own setting.

I must confess I did not really follow Pepping's dynamics in this prelude.
Shame on me.