Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen

East side of Market Church of Our Dear Lady in Halle, Germany

Where Zachow was employed 1684 to 1712

Source: Wikipedia

Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen

Looking east to small (not main) organ above altar where Zachow taught Handel

Source: Wikipedia

Born in Leipzig, Germany, on 14 November 1663, Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow was the son of a piper among Leipzig's town musicians and studied music as a youth. Relocating with his family to Eilenburg in 1676, he probably studied there with town organist, Johann Hildebrand. Zachow became cantor and organist at the Marktkirche in Halle in 1684. Also called Liebfrauenkirche or Marienkirche, Zachow remained there his whole career. Though a minor composer in the annals of music history, Zachow was initial teacher to George Frideric Handel until the latter became employed at age 18 in 1702. Zachow is probably also less known on his own than that J.S. Bach made himself familiar with him. Zachow is best known for his church cantatas, writing above a hundred of them, though seventy are lost. He also wrote some fifty organ preludes (chorales). One might assume that chorale preludes were originally purposed to introducing choirs but they quickly became examinations or virtuosic ventures in themselves. Other compositions by Zachow included several masses since lost.

Not used in this presentation are the "LV" (Lohmann Verzeichnis) numbers from Heinz Lohmann's 1966 'Gesammelte Werke für Tasteninstrumente'. Nor is stacking below chronological. Zachow composed his church cantatas in Halle from 1684 to 1712 so titles without identified dates fall sometime therein. We begin with several sacred choral cantatas and end with a few instrumental works.

 Sacred Works

'Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe'   Aria by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

From the cantata 'Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe' ('Lord if I only have you')   1698

Soprano: Constanze Backes of Accademia Amsterdam

'Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe'   Christmas cantata by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

'Lord if I only have you'   1698 [Vanderbilt]

Composed for SATB solos / SATB choir / 2 violins / 2 violas / harp / continuo

Das Kleine Konzert / Rheinische Kantorei / Hermann Max

'Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele'   Christmas cantata by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

'Praise the Lord, my soul'   Luke 1: 46-55 (King James)   1702 [Vanderbilt]

Composed for SSATB / bassoon / 2 hunting horns / 2 oboes / 2 violins / viola / continuo

Accademia Amsterdam / Capella Frisiae

 Ludger Remy (harpsichord) / Constanze Backes (soprano)

'Siehe, ich bin bei euch alle Tage'   Sacred cantata by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

'Behold, I am with you always'   Matthew 28:20   1702 [Vanderbilt]

Composed for SATB solos / 2 clarini (trumpets) / 2 violins / viola / continuo

Das Kleine Konzert / Rheinische Kantorei / Hermann Max

'Preiset mit mir den Herren'   Christmas cantata by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

'Praise the Lord with me'   Written for New Year's Eve or Day   Composed ?

Aurelius Sängerknaben Calw / Johannes Sorg

 Tenor: Knut Schoch   Treble: Kai Podack   Alto: Ralph Popken   Bass: Jelle Draijer

'In dulci jubilo'   Chorale prelude in G major for organ by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

'In sweet rejoicing'   Composed ?

 Organ: Andreas Osiander

Secular Works

'Suite in B minor' for harpsichord by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

1. Allemand   2. Courant   3. Saraband   4. Fuga finalis   Composed ?

 Harpsichord: Carole Cerasi

'Trio sonata in F major' by Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow

For flute / fagot (bassoon) / continuo   1702 [Vanderbilt]

 Oboe: Eric Speller   Bassoon: Graziano Moretto

Cello: Olivier Robe   Harpsichord: Frank Agsteribbe

Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp   19 Nov 2020

Zachow died in Halle on 7 August 1712. His position at the Marktkirche was offered to J.S. Bach the next year but was turned down for financial reasons. Thus Zachow was succeeded by his student, Gottfried Kirchhoff.