Gregor Aichinger

J.A. VOELKER
Transcribed by David Griffiths

This article is reprinted here with the kind permission of Kevin Knight, who has undertaken a project to transcribe an online version of the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia.

Organist and composer of sacred music, born probably at Ratisbon in 1565; died at Augsburg, 21 January, 1628. He was a priest at least towards the end of his life. As early as 1590 he was the organist to the patrician Jacob Fugger at Augsburg. He paid a visit to Rome in 1599. His musical development was largely influenced by the Venetian school, and especially by Gabrieli. In 1601, or thereabouts, he returned to Augsburg and re-entered the service of the Fuggers. Of his numerous compositions we mention Liturgica, sive Sacra Officia ad omnes dies festos Magnae Dei Matris, (Augsburg 1603); Sacrae cantiones, for four, five, six, eight, and ten voices (Venice 1590); Tricinia Mariana (Innsbruck 1598); Fasciculus Sacr. Harmoniarum (Dillingen 1606). The full list is found in Eitner's Quellen-Lexikon.

Proske thus characterizes Aichinger and his fellow-worker Hassler in the Fugger choir: "Though Hassler excelled in intellect and originality, both masters had this in common: that they combined the solid features of German art with the refined forms of Italian genius, which flourished at that time especially in Rome and Venice, and had stamped their works with freer melody and more fluent harmony. Aichinger in particular distinguishes himself by a warmth and tenderness of feeling bordering on mellowness, which is everywhere imbued with deep devotion. Meanwhile he does not lack sublimity nor solemnity, indeed some of his longest compositions satisfy throughout the strictest demands of art."

KORNMUELLER, Lex. der kirchl. Tonkunst; GROVE, Dict. of Music and Musicians; NAUMANN, Geschichte der Musik. J.A. VOELKER
Transcribed by David Griffiths

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume I
Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company
Online Edition Copyright © 1999 by Kevin Knight
Nihil Obstat, February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor
Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Reprinted by permission of copyright owner.