Fantasie über Motive aus der Oper “Die Teichprinzess” von Gustav Willscher (2002)

Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) — Fantasie über Motive aus der Oper “Die Teichprinzess” von Gustav Willscher (2002) for organ

[Fantasy on a Motive from the Opera "The Pond Princess" by Gustav Willscher]

“Fantasie über den Motive aus der Oper ‘Die Teichprinzess’ von Gustav Willscher“ (2002) is a fantasy on a musical theme from the opera “Die Teichprinzess” (“The Pond Princess”) by the composer Gustav Willscher. Gustav Willscher was Andreas Willscher’s grandfather. He was born 1882 in Meltsch bei Troppau/Sudentenschleisen and died 1937 in Vienna and was in his time a very successful poet, writer, and composer. Andreas Willscher’s fantasy takes the lighthearted melody through a variety of treatments.

German composer and organist Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) studied composition, theory, and organ in his native Hamburg. In 1971 he was appointed organist of the St. Francis Church in Hamburg and in 2000 at the church of St. Joseph-Wandsbek. In addition, he has been keyboardist for several jazz and rock ensembles. Willscher has received many awards and commissions for his compositions, which range widely in form: from symphonic music and oratorios to cabaret and rock scores. His organ works are very diverse, ranging from large-scale post-tonal pieces to some that blend elements of the traditional repertoire with contemporary jazz and pop influences. In addition to his own composition and performing activities, Willscher has published a number of literary and scientific articles in journals and encyclopedias and has been very active in collecting and preserving lost and forgotten music from earlier eras. In 2015, in honor of his 60th birthday and life’s work as a musician, he was awarded the Johann Wenzel Stamitz Prize from the Arts Guild of Esslingen.