Andreas Kneller
Andreas Kneller (1649-1724; also known as Kneller, Knöller, Knüller, Kniller) was a German organist and composer.
Life
Kneller was born in 1649. From 1667 he was the organist at the Market church in Hannover, and from 1685 at St. Petri, Hamburg. He passed away in 1724.
Works
Two works on Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland are found in the Walther manuscripts D-B Mus.ms. 22541/1 and /2 with composer "A. K." and "A. Kniller". These are also found in a 8-variation cycle in D-B Mus.ms. 30439/1 also marked "A. Kniller". After style-critical analysis, this eight-variation set was connected with the composer Andreas Kneller. This remains the only composition from this composer which has survived.
| Source | Text | Incipit | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-B Mus.ms. 22541/1 p.7-8 D-B Mus.ms. 22541/2 p.25-26 |
[/1:] Nun kom der Heÿden Heÿland. / Vers: i. / A. K. [/2:] Nun kom der Heÿden Heÿland. / A. Kniller. Vers: i. |
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| D-B Mus.ms. 22541/1 p.8-9 D-B Mus.ms. 22541/2 p.26 |
[/1:] Vers: 2. [/2: no title] |
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| D-B Mus.ms. 30439/1 |
In 1907, the two variations in the Walther manuscripts were published by Karl Straube where he interpreted "A. Kniller", as Anton Kniller, a name which can not be found anywhere in the history of North-German organ music.
References
Beckmann, Klaus, Die Norddeutsche Schule. Teil II: Blütezeit und Verfall. Mainz: Schott, 2009. 210.
