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Born: December 29, 1903 - Mauersberg, Erzgebirge region, Germany
Died: December 11, 1982 - Leipzig, Germany |
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The German conductor, Erhard Mauersberger, was a member of the choir of the Thomaskirche from 1914 to 1920, before going on to study church music in Leipzig.
In 1925, after graduating, Erhard Mauersberger succeeded his elder brother Rudolf Mauersberger in the post of choirmaster-organist in Aachen, went to Mainz in 1928 and in 1930 once again succeeded his brother, this time in the post of choirmaster-organist at St Georgen in Eisenach - the church in which J.S. Bach was christened. At the same time, he became director of church music for the Land of Thuringia, retaining both offices until 1961. In addition, he taught choral conducting in Weimar and became the first head of the Thuringian church music school in Eisenach, which was founded inn 1950.
When Erhard Mauersberger was appointed Thomaskantor in 1961, his brother Rudolf Mauersberger (1889-1971) had already been directing Dresdner Kreuzchor for thirty years. The connection led to the series of projects combining the two boys’ choirs. This collaboration climaxed in several performances of the B minor Mass (BWV 232) and the recording of the St Matthew Passion (BWV 244) in 1970, in which the two brothers shared the conducting - Rudolf Mauersberger taking most of the choruses and Erhard the solo movements.
Only highlights during Erhard Mauersberger’s term of office were the celebrations marking the 750th anniversary of the Thomasschule in 1962 and the 800th celebrations of the city of Leipzig in 1965.
In 1972 Erhard Mauersberger resigned from office but maintained his connection with the choir of the Thomaskirche composing a series of motets for it and occasionally returning to conduct performances of cantatas. |
