{{short description|German composer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Peter Herrmann | image = | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1941|12|19}} | birth_place = Chemnitz, Germany | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2015|10|28|1941|12|19}} | death_place = Leipzig, Germany | education = {{plainlist| * Robert-Schumann-Konservatorium Zwickau * Musikhochschule Leipzig }} | occupation = {{plainlist| * Composer * Academic teacher * University rector }} | organizations = {{plainlist| * Theaterhochschule Leipzig * Musikhochschule Leipzig * }} | awards = {{plainlist| * Kunstpreis der Stadt Leipzig * Hanns Eisler Prize * Kunstpreis der DDR }} }} {{confused|Peter Herrmann (social philosopher)}} '''Peter Herrmann''' (19 December 1941 – 28 October 2015) was a German composer and academic teacher. He composed three operas and a ballet, but mainly instrumental music both for orchestra and chamber music. His works have been performed internationally; his second string quartet was awarded a prize at the Prague Spring International Music Festival. He was professor of composition at the Musikhochschule Leipzig from 1969, serving as its rector from 1984 to 1987.
== Life == Herrmann was born in 1941 in Chemnitz.<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen">{{cite web | title=Peter Herrmann | website=komponisten-in-sachsen.de, Landesverband Sachsen | url=https://komponisten-in-sachsen.de/komponisten/peter-herrmann/ | language=de | access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="Hillenbrand">{{cite web | last=Hillenbrand | first=Markus | title=Peter Herrmann (1941–2015) | website=Klassika | url=https://www.klassika.info/Komponisten/Herrmann_Peter/index.html | language=de | access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref> From 1956 to 1960, he studied violin at the {{Ill|Robert-Schumann-Konservatorium Zwickau|de}}.<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen" /> From 1960 to 1965, he studied violin and composition at the Musikhochschule Leipzig with Fritz Geißler and Wilhelm Weismann.<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen" /> During this time he composed his second string quartet and ''Sonatine'' for string orchestra.<ref name="Hillenbrand2">{{cite web | last=Hillenbrand | first=Markus | title=Peter Herrmann (1941–2015): Systematisch-chronologisches Werkverzeichnis | website=Klassika | url=https://www.klassika.info/Komponisten/Herrmann_Peter/wv_thematisch.html | language=de | access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref> The string quartet was awarded second prize at the Prague Spring International Music Festival in 1965.<ref name="Intermezzo" /> From 1965 until 1967, he was Mendelssohn Scholar of the Ministry of Culture of the GDR.<ref name="Intermezzo" />
Herrmann taught at the Theaterhochschule Leipzig from 1967, teaching music to students of acting.<ref name="Intermezzo" /> In 1969, he became scientific assistant for composition, instrumentation and form analysis at the Musikhochschule Leipzig. In the same year he received the Kunstpreis der Stadt Leipzig. Ten years later he received the Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic and the Hanns Eisler Prize by Radio DDR 2. Also in 1979, his Second Symphony was premiered by the Gewandhausorchester conducted by Kurt Masur.<ref name="Intermezzo">{{cite web | title=Peter Herrmann | website=Intermezzo | date= | url=https://www.intermezzoberlin.com/produkt-kategorie/herrmann-peter/ | language=de | access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> He was appointed professor of composition in 1984 at the Musikhochschule, by now named Hochschule für Musik Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, and was its University rector from 1984 to 1987.<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen" /><!-- Among his students are Thomas Christoph Heyde, Stephan König and {{Ill|Andrés Maupoint|de}}.-->
Herrmann died in Leipzig at the age of 73.<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen" /><ref name="Leipziger Biographie">{{cite web | title=Peter Herrmann | website=Leipziger Biographie | url=http://www.leipziger-biographie.de/YMD | language=de | access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
== Work == Herrmann composed music of many genres.<ref name="Hillenbrand2" /><ref name="Intermezzo" /> He wrote three operas and a ballet. He composed the film music for the 1971 ''{{Ill|Zeichner – Zeuge – Zeitgenosse|de}}'', a short documentary of the artist Leo Haas.<ref>{{cite web | title=Zeichner – Zeuge – Zeitgenosse | publisher=DEFA | date= | url=https://www.defa-stiftung.de/filme/filmsuche/zeichner-zeuge-zeitgenosse/ | language=de | access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
Herrmann focused on music for instruments. He wrote orchestral music including four symphonies, ''Concerto for Orchestra'', a chamber symphony, ''Sonatine'' for string orchestra, a violin concerto,<ref name="Staatsarchiv 2019">{{cite web | last= | first= | title=Sächsisches Staatsarchiv | website=sachsen.de | date=16 October 2019 | url=https://archiv.sachsen.de/archiv/bestand.jsp?guid=e0c24353-dfac-4fa1-b156-3487e94f330e | language=de | access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref> a trumpet concerto, two piano concertos, and two cello concertos. He composed chamber music including four string quartets, four piano trios, a piano quintet and an oboe quartet. He composed piano music and works for organ. For voices, he composed Lieder and ''Mater Terra'', a cantata for soprano and chamber ensemble.<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen" /><ref name="Hillenbrand2" />
Herrmann composed a work entitled ''Kant Pop Symphony'' in 2004 to celebrate the anniversary of the philosopher Immanuel Kant. It was premiered at the Musikhochschule Leipzig by a speaker of texts by Kant, a pop singer, tape, flute, oboe, jazz trumpet, saxophone, electric guitar, piano, harmonica and string quartet.<ref>{{cite news | title=Kantiger Jazz: Uraufführung der Kant Pop Symphony | publisher=Neue Musikzeitung | date=9 March 2004 | url=https://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/kantiger-jazz-urauffuehrung-der-kant-pop-symphony | language=de | access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
== Awards == * 1965: 2nd prize at the Prague Spring International Music Festival for the String Quartet No. 2, Mendelssohn Scholarship<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen" /> * 1969: Kunstpreis der Stadt Leipzig<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen" /> * 1979: Hanns Eisler Prize, Kunstpreis der DDR<ref name="Landesverband Sachsen" />
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * ''Peter Herrmann.'' In Peter Hollfelder: ''Geschichte der Klaviermusik.'' Vol. 1, Noetzel, Wilhelmshaven 1989, {{ISBN|3-7959-0436-6}}, {{p.|329}}.
== External links == * {{DNB portal|12390126X}} * {{Official|https://www.peterherrmann-komponist.de/}}
{{authority control}} {{portal bar|Classical music|Germany}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herrmann, Peter}} Category:20th-century German classical composers Category:1941 births Category:2015 deaths Category:Musicians from Chemnitz Category:University of Music and Theatre Leipzig alumni Category:Academic staff of the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig Category:Heads of universities in Germany Category:20th-century German male composers