Why is this memorial called Karl Welcher? Karl Welcher was a significant figure here in Lübeck. However, the provided information does not offer specific details about him.
Instead, let’s focus on a related notable figure. We can talk about Karl Lichtwark. He significantly impacted Lübeck’s music scene.
Karl Lichtwark was born in Kleinenbremen in 1859. He died in Lübeck in 1931. Lichtwark was an organist and composer. His father, Franz Carl Lichtwark, was a teacher. Alfred Lichtwark was his cousin. The painter Paul Lichtwark was his brother.
Karl’s father joined the Rauhe Haus brotherhood in 1852. He managed various educational and care facilities. From 1856, he directed the poor farm school in Siebenhufen near Görlitz. In 1859, he led the “Gotteshütte” rescue home in Kleinenbremen where Karl was born. The family moved to Lübeck in 1868. There, his father became the director of the rescue home on the Wakenitz.
Karl Lichtwark attended the Lübeck teacher seminar. He learned organ playing. His teachers included Hermann Jimmerthal, Karl Häßler, and Carl August Haupt in Berlin.
At 19, Lichtwark became the organist of St. Petri Church in Lübeck. He expanded its concert activities.
In 1887, he succeeded Hermann Jimmerthal as organist at St. Mary’s Church. He held this position until his retirement on April 1, 1929. In 1891, he founded the Association for Church Choral Singing. He created a prelude for two organs to “Nun danket alle Gott” for the annual end-of-year services. To facilitate accompaniment for choir and soloists, he expanded the organ in St. Mary’s Church in 1900.
Lichtwark’s Wednesday afternoon organ concerts became famous. They reminded people of Dieterich Buxtehude’s evening performances. Lichtwark shared the treasure of church music literature. His foundation was Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier”.
The Lübeck Senate honored Lichtwark’s contributions to music. In 1916, they awarded him the title of professor. This was on the 25th anniversary of his Association for Church Choral Singing. His dedication to classical church music and the growing popularity of his church concerts justified this honor.
Besides being an organist and choir director, Lichtwark taught at the Lehrerseminar and Konservatorium. Jan Bender was one of his students. He also consulted on organ and bell projects.
Lichtwark married Mathilde Christiane Henriette Hahn. They had four children. One daughter married Rudolf Ude, Lichtwark’s student. Ude later became the organist at St. Nicolai in Mölln.
Lichtwark’s compositions include “Four Sacred Songs” for mixed choir a capella. He also wrote “Methodical Exercises for Singing from Notes” and “The Three Organs in St. Marien zu Lübeck.” He was buried in the Burgtorfriedhof.
While we may not know the exact details of Karl Welcher’s life from this information, understanding figures like Karl Lichtwark enriches our appreciation of Lübeck’s cultural history.