Music by an Almost Forgotten Composer – Beer-Walbrunn Days in Kohlberg
The composer Anton Beer-Walbrunn was long considered forgotten. At the
Beer-Walbrunn Days in Kohlberg, his work was once again brought to life
— with a harmonium, a reading, and plenty of passion.
The St. Nicholas Church in Kohlberg was once again dedicated to Anton
Beer-Walbrunn. The composer, who was born in Kohlberg and died in Munich in 1929, had fallen into obscurity for decades—until Martin Valeske
rediscovered him in 2009 through a newspaper article. He found original manuscripts in the Munich City Library and began transcribing Beer-Walbrunn’s works to make them suitable for performance.
Since 2014, the annual Beer-Walbrunn Days have honored the
composer. This year, pianist and harmonium player Lars David
Kellner performed selected pieces on the harmonium. Although the instrument is rarely used in today’s music world, Beer-Walbrunn’s compositions suited it surprisingly well.
The concert was complemented by Susanne Sperrhake, who, using excerpts from letters, provided insights into the artist’s life and thinking. Even though
the church was not filled to capacity, the organizers’ goal remains clear: to preserve Anton Beer-Walbrunn’s work from being
forgotten once again.
Philipp Gehringer