# Samuel Kummer

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**Samuel Kummer** (28 February 1968 – 23 April 2024) was a German [organist](/source/Organist), from 2005 to 2022 at the [Frauenkirche](/source/Frauenkirche,_Dresden) in Dresden. When he took the position at the restored church, destroyed by bombing in World War II, with a new [Kern organ](/source/Daniel_Kern_Manufacture_d'Orgues), he programmed a first recital with music by [Bach](/source/Johann_Sebastian_Bach), [Brahms](/source/Johannes_Brahms), [Reger](/source/Max_Reger), [Louis Vierne](/source/Louis_Vierne) and his own. In concerts and in church services, he was particularly known for his [improvisations](/source/Musical_improvisation). He played concerts internationally and made award-winning recordings. He taught at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden from 2007.

## Life and career

### Early life and education

Kummer was born in [Stuttgart](/source/Stuttgart)[1] on 28 February 1968.[2] He studied [church music](/source/Church_music) at the [State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart](/source/State_University_of_Music_and_Performing_Arts_Stuttgart), organ with [Christoph Bossert](/source/Christoph_Bossert), [Werner Jacob](/source/Werner_Jacob) and [Ludger Lohmann](/source/Ludger_Lohmann), and specifically [organ improvisation](/source/Orgelimprovisation) with [Willibald Bezler](/source/Willibald_Bezler), [Hans Martin Corrinth](/source/Hans_Martin_Corrinth) and [Wolfgang Seifen](/source/Wolfgang_Seifen).[1][3] He took [master classes](/source/Master_class) with [Marie-Claire Alain](/source/Marie-Claire_Alain), [Hans Fagius](/source/Hans_Fagius), [Lorenzo Ghielmi](/source/Lorenzo_Ghielmi), [Olivier Latry](/source/Olivier_Latry) and [Jean-Claude Zehnder](/source/Jean-Claude_Zehnder).[3] He passed his [A exam](/source/A_exam) in 1997 with a distinction in improvisation.[1][3]

### International concerts and first church position

Kummer performed in concert from 1988, in Europe, the Americas and Japan.[3][4] He played in concert series including the European Organ Festival in [Maastricht](/source/Maastricht), where in 1996 he won the first prize in the *Concours L'Europe et L'Orgue*, and the International Bach Festival in Warsaw.[1] He gave concerts at the [Cologne Cathedral](/source/Cologne_Cathedral),[4] [Riga Cathedral](/source/Riga_Cathedral), the [Tabernacle in Salt Lake City](/source/Salt_Lake_Tabernacle),[1] [Saint Petersburg Philharmonia](/source/Saint_Petersburg_Philharmonia), and [Suntory Hall](/source/Suntory_Hall) in Tokyo.[4] He played several times at the [Guatemala Cathedral](/source/Guatemala_Cathedral), where he supported the restoration of the 1937 [Walcker organ](/source/Walcker_Orgelbau)[1] in 1999.[3]

In 1998 Kummer was appointed a [Lutheran](/source/Lutheran_Church_in_W%C3%BCrttemberg) district church musician (*[Bezirkskantor](/source/Bezirkskantor)*) in [Kirchheim unter Teck](/source/Kirchheim_unter_Teck).[1][5] During his tenure he conducted several [oratorios](/source/Oratorio), including [Frank Martin](/source/Frank_Martin_(composer))'s *In terra pax*. He instituted a concert series, *Orgelmusik zur Marktzeit* (Organ music at market time),[1][3] and played the complete organ works of [Johann Sebastian Bach](/source/Johann_Sebastian_Bach).[3]

On 11 May 2016, the centenary of [Max Reger](/source/Max_Reger)'s death, he played Reger's *[Variationen und Fuge über ein Originalthema](/source/List_of_compositions_by_Max_Reger#73)*, Op. 73, at the [Konzerthaus Dortmund](/source/Konzerthaus_Dortmund), broadcast live by [WDR](/source/Westdeutscher_Rundfunk).[6]

### Frauenkirche, Dresden

In 2005, Kummer was appointed the organist at the [Frauenkirche](/source/Frauenkirche,_Dresden) in Dresden, when the church was reopened after the completion of its restoration from [destruction](/source/Bombing_of_Dresden) in World War II.[1][7] The restoration included a new [Kern organ](/source/Daniel_Kern_Manufacture_d'Orgues), an instrument for all musical styles, instead of the church's Baroque [Silbermann](/source/Gottfried_Silbermann) organ. For his inaugural recital, Kummer chose music by Bach, [Brahms](/source/Johannes_Brahms), [Reger](/source/Max_Reger), [Louis Vierne](/source/Louis_Vierne) and his own composition.[8] He shaped the profile of music there in many regular services, according to the church adding "depth and spirituality" by his playing, especially in improvisation.[2] He co-founded a concert series, *Dresdner Orgelzyklus* (Dresden Organ Cycle), which includes performances on the organs of three churches in Dresden, the [Kreuzkirche](/source/Kreuzkirche,_Dresden), the [Hofkirche](/source/Hofkirche,_Dresden), and the Frauenkirche.[1] In addition he performed as organ soloist at the Frauenkirche in orchestral works including the *[Organ Symphony](/source/Symphony_No._3_(Saint-Sa%C3%ABns))* by Saint-Saëns with the [Staatskapelle Dresden](/source/Staatskapelle_Dresden) and [Joseph Jongen](/source/Joseph_Jongen)'s *Symphonie Concertante* with the [Chemnitz Philharmonic](/source/Chemnitz_Philharmonic)[3] in 2007.[1]

From 2007, Kummer was also a [dozent](/source/Dozent) for organ repertoire, liturgical performance and improvisation at the [Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden](/source/Hochschule_f%C3%BCr_Kirchenmusik_Dresden).[9]

Kummer was dismissed from the Frauenkirche in 2022 with stated reasons of unreliability and unpunctuality.[7][10] Music journalist Claus Fischer of the [MDR](/source/Mitteldeutscher_Rundfunk) commented at the time that Kummer was perhaps more an artist than an organiser, and thus not ideally suited to the position.[4]

### Personal life

Kummer was married to Irena Renata Budrytė-Kummer.[2] He died on 23 April 2024, at the age of 56. According to his family, he collapsed at [Dresden Main Station](/source/Dresden_Main_Station) on his way to teaching in [Würzburg](/source/W%C3%BCrzburg),[4][7] where he had been appointed to a summer position at the [Hochschule für Musik](/source/Hochschule_f%C3%BCr_Musik_W%C3%BCrzburg).[11]

## Recordings

Kummer recorded a CD with organ music by Bach and [Duruflé](/source/Maurice_Durufl%C3%A9) for [Carus](/source/Carus-Verlag) in 2005, the first CD recorded at the Frauenkirche,[3] to critical acclaim.[1] In 2007, he recorded Louis Vierne's [*Organ Symphonies* Nos. 3](/source/Organ_Symphony_No._3_(Vierne)) and 5,[8] beginning a complete recording of the composer's organ works following the new edition by Carus. It was awarded a [Diapason d'Or](/source/Diapason_d'Or).[3]

In 2020 he recorded Bach's *[The Art of Fugue](/source/The_Art_of_Fugue)* at the organ of [St. Wenzel](/source/St._Wenzel_(Naumburg)) in [Naumburg](/source/Naumburg), built by [Zacharias Hildebrandt](/source/Zacharias_Hildebrandt); the instrument was approved in 1748 by Bach and Silbermann and is the largest extant organ that Bach is known to have played.[12] A reviewer wrote:

Kummer takes great care, as the music progresses and the registrations become more imposing, to maintain clarity at all times in the contrapuntal lines. Never did I hear definition lost at any time throughout. He revels in the textures of the denser fugues, such as Contrapunctus 11 a 4, emphasizing the more subtle lines. Registration choices show ingenuity and resourcefulness. In short, Kummer displays a great maturity of vision.[12]

The recording was awarded the [Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik](/source/Preis_der_deutschen_Schallplattenkritik).[13]

## References

1. Giersch, Steffen (2024). ["Samuel Kummer"](https://www.carus-verlag.com/personen/samuel-kummer/) (in German). *Carus-Verlag*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240425102211/https://www.carus-verlag.com/personen/samuel-kummer/) 25 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

1. Noth, Maria & Engelhardt, Markus (24 April 2024). ["Gedenken an Samuel Kummer"](https://www.frauenkirche-dresden.de/in-memoriam/samuel-kummer) (in German). *Frauenkirche, Dresden*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240424221337/https://www.frauenkirche-dresden.de/in-memoriam/samuel-kummer) 24 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

1. ["Samuel Kummer"](http://www.konzertwinter.de/scripts/Biographie%20Kummer-Samuel.html) (in German). *konzertwinter.de*. 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240424224345/http://www.konzertwinter.de/scripts/Biographie%20Kummer-Samuel.html) 24 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

1. ["Ehemaliger Organist der Dresdner Frauenkirche unerwartet gestorben"](https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/dresden/dresden-radebeul/organist-frauenkirche-tot-samuel-kummer-100.html) [Former organist of the Dresden Frauenkirche dies unexpectedly] (in German). *[MDR](/source/Mitteldeutscher_Rundfunk)*. 24 April 2024. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240424103257/https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/dresden/dresden-radebeul/organist-frauenkirche-tot-samuel-kummer-100.html) 24 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

1. Siegfried Bauer (ed.): *Tasten-Spiele. Das Klavierbuch zum Evangelischen Gesangbuch.* .

1. ["Ehemaliger Organist der Dresdner Frauenkirche unerwartet gestorben"](https://konzerthaus-dortmund.com/page/MediaLib/file/Programmheft/201516/Prog-Kummer.pdf) (in German). *[Konzerthaus Dortmund](/source/Theater_Dortmund)*. 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2024.

1. ["Früherer Organist der Dresdner Frauenkirche gestorben"](https://www.saechsische.de/dresden/lokales/frueherer-organist-der-dresdner-frauenkirche-gestorben-5992920.html) [Former organist of the Dresden Frauenkirche has died] (in German). *Sächsische Zeitung*. 24 April 2024. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240424101503/https://www.saechsische.de/dresden/lokales/frueherer-organist-der-dresdner-frauenkirche-gestorben-5992920.html) 24 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

1. Wilson, Brian (September 2008). ["Louis Vierne (1870–1937) / Symphonie No.3, Op.28 / Symphonie No.5, Op.47"](http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/sept08/Vierne_carus83405.htm). *musicweb-international.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240425085933/http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/sept08/Vierne_carus83405.htm) 25 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 April 2024.

1. ["Frauenkirchenorganist Samuel Kummer"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240424111442/https://www.kirchenmusik-dresden.de/dozenten/dozenten/?dozstat=l&dozid=1479) (in German). *Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden*. Archived from [the original](https://www.kirchenmusik-dresden.de/dozenten/dozenten/?dozstat=l&dozid=1479) on 24 April 2024.

1. Klempnow, Bernd (21 June 2023). ["Dresden: Gericht bestätigt Kündigung des Frauenkirchen-Organisten"](https://www.saechsische.de/dresden/kultur/gericht-bestaetigt-kuendigung-des-frauenkirchen-organisten-5874977.html) [Dresden: Court confirms dismissal of Frauenkirche organist] (in German). *Sächsische Zeitung*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240424094721/https://www.saechsische.de/dresden/kultur/gericht-bestaetigt-kuendigung-des-frauenkirchen-organisten-5874977.html) 24 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

1. ["Abschied: Trauer um Samuel Kummer"](https://hfm-wuerzburg.de/news/abschied-13) (in German). *Hochschule für Musik Würzburg*. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.

1. Greenbank, Stephen (July 2021). ["Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) / The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080"](https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Jul/Bach-fugue-AE11291.htm). *musicweb-international.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240424233310/https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Jul/Bach-fugue-AE11291.htm) 24 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

1. ["Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik Bestenliste 04/2021"](https://aeolus-music.com/ae_de/Alle-Tontraeger/AE11291-Bach-Johann-Sebastian-The-Art-of-Fugue/Preis-der-deutschen-Schallplattenkritik) (in German). *aeolus-music.com*. April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2024.[dead link]

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.samuelkummer.de/)
- [Samuel Kummer: Choral varié "](https://www.youtube.com/u-h3ZoPm_GM)[Es kommt ein Schiff geladen](/source/Es_kommt_ein_Schiff,_geladen)" (2016, at his house organ) on YouTube
- [In memoriam Samuel Kummer (Sortie Improvisée, Kern organ, Frauenkirche Dresden, 2021)](https://www.youtube.com/NIVIPLNFMWg) on YouTube

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Samuel Kummer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Kummer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Kummer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.