Abstract (eng)
Most of Sigfrid Karg-Elert’s (1877-1933) compositions, which are still part of contemporary repertoire, have been written for church organ. Additionally he was very involved in writing music for harmonium (reed organ) during his early years of composing. Albeit the harmonium never could sustainably succeed in serious art music, at least it had considerable importance for amateur musicians and house concerts.
The present thesis aims to review Karg-Elert’s point of view towards the harmonium and provides a discussion of selected compositions. Based on their titles as well as previous research on the composer’s works, questions for stylistic eclecticism, musical historicism and impressionism in Karg-Elert’s compositions arise. His choice of musical forms and genres and their compositional realization will be explained by short analyses. Karg-Elert’s stylistically integrative and pluralistic, but in general historically informed, method proves to be a characteristic trait of his compositional work as well as his idiomatic use of harmony. Finally these results are discussed against the background of previous and recent aesthetic demands towards Karg-Elert’s music and amateur harmonium musicians as its target group.