Alfred Koerppen
Alfred Koerppen (born 16 December 1926) is a German organist, music pedagogue, composer and academic teacher. He was professor of composition and music theory at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover. His compositions focus on choral music with and without accompaniment, but he also wrote symphonies, chamber music and stage works. Life. Koerppen was born in Wiesbaden. His father was a conductor, so he became familiar with music early. He received his first music lessons at the age of six. While still at school, he wrote his own compositions and received lessons in composition and music theory  from Kurt Thomas at the Musisches Gymnasium Frankfurt. After World War II, Koerppen initially worked as an organist and music teacher in Frankfurt. In 1946, his first works were published and he received commissions for compositions. In 1948, Koerppen became a lecturer at the Landesmusikschule Hannover. His opera "Virgilius, der Magier von Rom" to a libretto by the composer after Virgil was premiered in Frankfurt in 1951, and published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1953. In 1960, he was granted a one-year scholarship at the Villa Massimo in Rome. In 1967, he was appointed professor of composition and music theory  at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover. Since 1970, he has also been active internationally, teaching for example as a visiting professor at the Shanghai Academy of Music. In 1983, Koerppen received the Lower Saxony State Prize for culture. He is married to the violinist Barbara Koerppen. They live in Burgdorf near Hanover. Work. Koerppen's works are published by Breitkopf & Härtel, , Bärenreiter, Ferrimontana and ADU-Verlag (today Merseburger-Verlag). He wrote chamber music for strings and piano, among others, organ works, Lieder, numerous choral works a cappella and with accompaniment. Stage works. Source: