
Wilhelm Killmayer
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About Wilhelm Killmayer
A single note is very precious for me - like a crystal or a flower. (Wilhelm Killmayer)
Wilhelm Killmayer was born in Munich on 21 August 1927. He spent his early childhood in Mitterndorf near Dachau, but subsequently moved to Munich with his family on the death of his father. Killmayer received regular piano tuition from the age of six. After passing his Abitur, he studied conducting and composition at Hermann Wolfgang von Waltershausen’s Musikseminar in Munich (1945-1951). Alongside courses in musicology given by Rudolf von Ficker and Walter Riezler, Killmayer simultaneously undertook private studies with Carl Orff (1951-1953) and subsequently entered his master class at the Staatliche Musikhochschule in Munich (1953/54). From 1955, Killmayer taught music theory and counterpoint at the Trappsches Konservatorium in Munich and was employed by the Bavarian State Opera as ballet conductor between 1961 and 1964. After two scholarship sojourns in Rome in the Villa Massimo (1958 and 1965/66), Killmayer became a freelance composer and settled in Frankfurt am Main in 1968. He was appointed as professor of composition at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Munich in 1973. From becoming emeritus professor in 1992 to his death in 2017 in Starnberg, Killmayer divided his time between Munich and Lake Chiemsee.
As early as the post-war decades, the young composer had turned his back on the theoretical dogmas of serial music and developed his own personal style born primarily out of his study of 19th century musical traditions. Orchestral works such as Nachtgedanken (1973), the three Sinfonien (“Fogli”, 1968; “Ricordanze”, 1968/69 and “Menschen-Los”, 1972/73 rev. 1988) and the three Kammermusiken (The woods so wilde, 1970; Schumann in Endenich, 1972 and Kindertage, 1973) were created within the conflicting fields of ostinato repeats of individual motives and rhythms and a frequently radical reduction of compositional devices. In his stage works La Buffonata (1959/60) and Yolimba (new version 1970), both set to texts by Tankred Dorst, Killmayer enabled the stylistic mediums of parody and musical humour to permeate the realms of contemporary music.
The individual note and its melodic power lie at the core of Wilhelm Killmayer’s aesthetics. The voice is the most natural medium for melody and this concept was borne out by Killmayer in many of his vocal compositions. During the 1980s, he composed the three cycles of Hölderlin Lieder which exist in two versions with either piano or orchestral accompaniment, subsequently followed by the Eichendorff Lieder (1991), Trakl Lieder (1993 and 1996) and Härtling Lieder (1993). In 2006, Killmayer composed a setting of Heinrich Heine’s ballad Ali Bey, and a year later Eduard Mörike’s Der Feuerreiter.
In 1954, Killmayer was awarded the prize by the Music Foundation in Chicago for his Missa brevis. In 1957, he received the Kulturpreis from the City of Munich for Une leçon de français and in 1965 the Prix Italia. Killmayer was awarded a scholarship by the Cité des Arts in Paris and participated in the Rostrum of Composers, also in Paris, in 1974 with his Sinfonia 1 “Fogli”. In 1989, he received the Paul Hindemith Prize under the auspices of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, in 1993 the Bayerische Maximiliansorden for Science and Art and in 2010 the chamber music prize presented by the Christoph und Stephan Kaske Foundation.
Killmayer has been a full member of the Bavarian Akademie der Schönen Künste (since 1972) and the Berlin Akademie der Künste (since 1980).
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Chronology
Spends his childhood in Mitterndorf near Dachau until 1932, lives in Munich from 1932
Products
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Zyklus, Teil IIIComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Schott Choral Music
Instrumentation: men's choir (TTBB)Product number: C 49019Product TypeIn stockAs low as €2.99Incl. Tax -
Zyklus, Teil IIComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Schott Choral Music
Instrumentation: men's choir (TTBB)Product number: C 49018Product TypeIn stockAs low as €2.99Incl. Tax -
Zyklus, Teil IComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Schott Choral Music
Instrumentation: men's choir (TTBB)Product number: C 49017Product TypeIn stockAs low as €2.99Incl. Tax -
Acht Chorlieder für Männerchor (TTBB) a cappella nach Gedichten von Joseph von EichendorffComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Choral scoreInstrumentation: men's choir (TTBB)Product number: C 49525Product TypeIn stockAs low as €4.99Incl. Tax
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Acht Chorlieder für Männerchor (TTBB) a cappella nach Gedichten von Joseph von EichendorffComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Choral scoreInstrumentation: men's choir (TTBB)Product number: C 49524Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax
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Acht Chorlieder für Männerchor (TTBB) a cappella nach Gedichten von Joseph von EichendorffComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Choral scoreInstrumentation: men's choir (TTBB)Product number: C 49523Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax
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Konzertwalzer für KammerorchesterComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: chamber orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for Cello soloComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerSeries: Cello Library
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: celloProduct number: CB 210Product TypeIn stockAs low as €11.99Incl. Tax -
Product TypeIn stockAs low as €14.99Incl. Tax
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für Tenor, Violine, Klarinette in B, Fagott, Klavier und SchlagzeugComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: tenor, violin, clarinet in Bb, bassoon, piano and percussionLanguage: German, EnglishHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Lobgesang des Franz von AssisiComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Performing scoreSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: soprano, tenor recorder, bongo drum, 3 Tom-toms and timpaniProduct number: ED 7303Product TypeIn stockAs low as €10.99Incl. Tax -
NocturnesProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €16.99Incl. Tax
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CDCDIn stock€18.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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für Bariton, Orchester und kleinen Männerchor (ad lib.)Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: baritone, orchestra and small men's choirLanguage: LatinHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q51387MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50827MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q51405MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50824MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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für Bariton und neun InstrumenteComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: baritone and 9 instrumentsLanguage: GermanHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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2. ZyklusProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €13.99Incl. Tax
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1. ZyklusComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsInstrumentation: soprano, clarinet in A, violin, cello and pianoProduct number: ED 6114Print editionPrint editionIn stock€20.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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TrioComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: Piano TrioProduct number: ED 6764Product TypeIn stockAs low as €24.99Incl. Tax -
"A colomba il sole"Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Schott Choral Music
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB)Product number: C 43265 Q9002E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€3.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Schott Choral Music
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB) with soloists (ST)Product number: C 39799 Q9045E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€3.99Incl. Tax -
begleitet von Bläsern und SchlagzeugComposer: Karl Amadeus HartmannEditor: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Piano reduction with solo partInstrumentation: viola, piano, wind instruments and percussionProduct number: VAB 13Product TypeIn stockAs low as €27.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Schott Choral Music
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB)Product number: C 52770Product TypeIn stockAs low as €1.99Incl. Tax -
Version for clarinet (A and Bb) and pianoComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerSeries: Clarinet Library
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: clarinet and pianoProduct number: KLB 73Product TypeIn stockAs low as €18.99Incl. Tax -
Five RomancesComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: viola and pianoProduct number: ED 8345Print editionPrint editionIn stock€24.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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für OrchesterComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: OrchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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für OrchesterComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Product TypeIn stockAs low as €19.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: baritone and pianoProduct number: ED 5831Product TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax -
for high voice and pianoComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerEdition: Separate editionSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: high voice and pianoProduct number: ED 23004Product TypeIn stockAs low as €27.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50834MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q51355MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50825MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50832MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50828MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50838MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50830MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q51393MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerInterpreter: Siegfried Mauser | Markus SchaeferMedia Type: MP3 downloadProduct number: WER 73512 Q50829MP3 downloadMP3 downloadIn stock€0.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: cello and pianoProduct number: ED 7986Print editionPrint editionIn stock€24.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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SchnellpolkaComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: violin and pianoProduct number: ED 8314Product TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax -
für StreichorchesterComposer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: string orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Fin al punto
Instrumentation: string orchestraProduct number: ED 7144Print editionPrint editionIn stock€24.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerOrchestra/ensemble: Muenchener Kammerorchester | Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen RundfunksConductor: Hans Stadlmair | Hiroshi WakasugiMedia Type: CDProduct number: WER 66062CDCDIn stock€18.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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IV-VIIIPrint editionPrint editionIn stock€24.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Wilhelm KillmayerMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: cello and pianoProduct number: ED 7829Print editionPrint editionIn stock€28.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping