A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Kerl, Johann Caspar

by Franz Gehring

KERL, Johann Caspar^[1], celebrated organist, born in 1628, as is to be concluded from the Mortuarium of the old Augustine church of Munich. Mattheson's 'Ehrenpforte' contains the only details known of his life. He came early to Vienna, and learnt the organ from Valentini, then organist, afterwards Capellmeister to the Court, on whose recommendation Ferdinand III. sent him to Rome to study under Carissimi. In all probability he also learnt from Frescobaldi, possibly at the same time as his countryman Froberger. Having returned to Germany he entered the service of the Bavarian Elector on Feb. 22, 1656, and in that capacity was present at the coronation of Leopold I. at Frankfurt (July 22, 1658), where he is said to have been presented by Schmelzer vice-Court-Capellmeister to the Emperor, and invited to improvise on a given theme in presence of the court. Some doubt is thrown on this by the fact that Schmelzer did not become vice-Capellmeister till the 1st of Jan. 1671; but he may well have been in attendance on the Emperor at Frankfort, and at any rate Kerl's reputation as an organist dates from the coronation. Kerl remained at Munich for 15 years. For the Italian singers there he composed a 'Missa nigra' entirely written in black notes, and a duet for two castrati 'O bone Jesu,' the only accompaniment of which is a ground bass passing through all the keys. Besides other church works, sonatas for 2 violins and viol di gamba, and a 'Modulatio organica super Magnificat' (Munich, 1686), Mattheson mentions toccatas, canzonas, ricercars, and batailles of his composition for the organ. In 1673 he threw up his post and went to Vienna, where he subsisted by giving lessons at what was then a high scale of remuneration. When he returned to Munich is not known, but he died there on the 13th of Feb. 1693. His tomb, showing this date, was formerly in the Augustine church, but that is now the custom-house, and the tomb is no longer discoverable. His style is remarkable for the frequent introduction of discords resolved in a new and unexpected manner, in which respect he is deservedly considered a predecessor of Sebastian Bach. He wrote the music of the operas 'Oronte,' 1657; 'Erinto,' 1661; and of the serenata in honour of the birthday of the wife of the Elector (Nov. 6, 1661), 'Il pretensione del Sole.' One of his canzonas has been preserved to the world in a singular but most efficient way—owing to its insertion by Handel in 'Israel in Egypt' to the words 'Egypt was glad when they departed.' The only change made is that of the key, from D minor to E minor. Hawkins gives the canzona in its original form in his History, chap. 124. A toccata in C is given in Pauer's 'Alte Clavier musik' vol. 3.

[ F. G. ]

1. Not von Kerl, as all dictionaries say.