Little Postlude

Jan Bender was born in Haarlem, Holland, on Feb. 3. He was drawn to the organ in the Marienkirche after moving to Lübeck, studying with Karl Lichtwark, and then with his successor Walter Kraft. In 1930, he went to Leipzig to study with Karl Straube, but finished his study in Lübeck with Hugo Distler. He was organist at St. Gertrudikirche in Lübeck from 1934-1937, from October 1937–52 organist at Lambertikirche in Aurich and Kirchenmusikdirektor for Ostfriesland, interrupted twice for active duty in the German army. He was wounded during his first tour of duty, losing his left eye to shrapnel. Bender surrendered to Allied forces in France and while in a US POW camp, completed his Auricher Singbüchlein, his Op. 1, (4 volumes of chorale settings, mostly for treble voices) and Op. 2 (90 chorale preludes in 3 volumes). This launched his composition career, which extended to Op. 114 (1989). After a year in Langen near Frankfurt, Bender became Cantor and Organist (1953–60) at the Michaeliskirche in Lüneberg and Kirchenmusikdirektor for Lüneburg. As a result, his compositions became known to several prominent Lutheran church musicians in the USA. In 1954, he was invited to become a “house composer” for Concordia Publishing House. He visited the USA in 1956 & 1959 as a guest professor, and moved there for the remainder of his career, first as Professor at Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE 1960–65 then as Professor of Composition at Wittenberg University 1965–76. In addition to a prolific output of compositions, he played numerous organ recitals and helped prepare the Lutheran Book of Worship. He moved back to Germany to retire, but returned to the USA as Visiting Professor at Valparaiso University (1979) and as Composer-in-Residence, first at Gustavus Adolphus College 1979–81 and then at Lutheran Southern Theological Seminary (spring 1982). He died at his home in Hanerau, Germany Dec. 29, 1994.

This short little postlude is in a collection of various pieces.