A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Klein, Bernhard

KLEIN, BERNHARD, a German composer, born at Cologne, where his father was a bass player, March 6, 1793. His early life was passed in the disturbances of the French occupation of the Rhine, but in 1812 he found means to get to Paris, where Cherubini's advice, the hearing of fine performers, and the study of the library of the Conservatoire, advanced him greatly. On his return to the Rhine he conducted the performances in Cologne Cathedral, and profited by an acquaintance with Thibaut and his fine library at Heidelberg. His first important works were a Mass (1816) and a Cantata on Schiller's 'Worte des Glaubens' (1817). In 1819 he was sent officially to Berlin to make acquaintance with Zelter's system of teaching and to apply it in Cologne Cathedral. He however found it more profitable to remain in Berlin, where he became connected with the recently established School for Organists, and was made director of music in the University, and teacher of singing in the Hochschule. These occupations in no wise checked his productivity. He composed a mass of sonatas and songs, an oratorio 'Job' (Leipzig, 1820), and a grand opera, 'Dido,' to Rellstab's text (1823). In 1823 he married, and went to Rome, where he passed a fine time in intercourse with Baini, and in copying from the ancient treasures of music there. On his return to Berlin he composed an oratorio, 'Jephthah,' for the Cologne Festival, 1828, and another, 'David,' for Halle, 1830.^[1] In 1832, Sept. 9, he suddenly died. Besides the compositions already mentioned he left a Mass in D, a Paternoster for 8 voices, a Magnificat and Respoiisoria for 6 do., an opera and an oratorio, both nearly finished, 8 books of psalms, hymns, and motets for men's voices, and other pieces both sacred and secular. His vocal music was much used by singing societies after his death. Mr. Hullah has reprinted one of the 4-part psalms, 'Like as the hart,' in his excellent collection called 'Vocal Scores.' It is sweet, dignified, religious, music, very vocal in its phrases.

[ G. ]

1. These two oratorios are in the Library of the Sacred Harmonic Society.