|
UPDATED 09/18/2007
 | |
- (b Wechmar, Thuringia, 1665; d Schleswig, winter 1711–12 ). German composer and organist. Mattheson reported that
for four years from the age of seven, in 1688, he studied keyboard performance and composition with Hanff in
Hamburg. Before 1696 Hanff was appointed court organist to the Prince-Bishop of Lübeck at his residence at Eutin.
When the court at Eutin was dissolved after the death of Bishop August Friedrich in 1705, he apparently returned to
Hamburg; at least two of his sons were born there during the next few years, in 1706 and 1711 respectively (Mattheson
was godfather on the latter occasion). Hanff was promised the post of cathedral organist at Schleswig, but the position
did not become vacant until 1711; he took over the position on 26 August 1711 but died a few months later. Of his
compositions only three church cantatas and six organ chorale preludes survive. The cantatas are good examples of
those that follow north German models, with a typical reliance on contrasting performing groups (e.g.
chorus-soloist-chorus) as well as on sections in different tempos. The chorale preludes, which exist in copies made by
J.G. Walther, are generally in the style developed by Buxtehude with the chorale melodies expressively ornamented in
the upper keyboard part. One example, however, Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott, has a two-part form concluding with
a chorale fugue that is perhaps more typical of Hanff's middle German, Thuringian musical heritage (see ApelG).
| | |
|
