Courtesy of Doblinger Musikverlag
Rupert Gottfried Frieberger, born in Linz in 1951, received his musical education at the Vienna University of Music and studied theology, as well as musicology, at the Vienna university graduating as Master of Arts and PhD respectively. Since 1969, he has been a member of the Premonstratensian monastery in Schlägl and has been working there as director of music seminars and band leader. Moreover, he also lectures musicology and liturgics at the University of Salzburg, improvisation and performance practice at the University of Music in Vienna and at the Landesmusikschule Schlägl, where he is director/headmaster. As an expert, he oversees restoration and building work for organs in Austria, as well as abroad. He also collaborates with the music publishers Doblinger and Helbling, as scientific custodian and publisher ("Dokumente zur Aufführungspraxis Alter Musik", "Diletto Musicale" etc.), as well as jury member at competitions, reviewer and musical author. His work as organist and conductor of mainly early and contemporary music, led him on concert tours all over Europe. He was part of many CD recordings and radio and television productions and was involved in several working groups (Internationaler Arbeitskreis für Orgelfragen) und and committees (Liturgische Kommission des Prämonstratenserordens).
| Zeitraum | Ausbildung | Instrument | AusbildnerIn | Organisation | Ort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1970 - 1976
|
church music | ||||
|
1974
|
public religious vow (profession) | ||||
|
1975
|
Absolutorium | ||||
|
1975
|
ordination to the priesthood by bishop Dr. Zauner | ||||
|
1976
|
diploma examination | ||||
|
1977
|
graduating as Master of Theology | ||||
|
1983
|
University of Salzburg, Salzburg: graduation as Doctor of Theology summa cum laude | ||||
|
1993
|
Master of Arts | ||||
|
Akademisches Gymnasium Linz, Linz | |||||
|
choir conducting | |||||
|
catholic theology | |||||
|
composition |
| Zeitraum | Tätigkeit | Organisation | Ort |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1977 - 1981
|
University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck: teacher | ||
|
1980 - 1984
|
teacher for Gregorian chants and liturgics | ||
|
Landesmusikschule Schlägl, Schlägl: headmaster | |||
|
Monastery Schlägl, Aigen-Schlägl: organist of the monastery, from 1975 also band leader and cantor | |||
|
University of Salzburg, Salzburg: lecturer for paleography, neumes studies and music history at the Institute of Musicology | |||
|
University of Salzburg, Salzburg: lecturer for paleography, neumes studies and music history at the Institute of Musicology | |||
|
teacher at the Institute of Organ, Organology and Church Music |
| Zeitraum | Aufführung | Werk | Organisation | Ort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1984
|
Helsingborg/Sweden: | |||
|
1985
|
Uraniakonzerte, Wien: | |||
|
1992
| ||||
|
1999
|
| Zeitraum | Auftrag | Werk | Auftraggebende Organisation | Auftraggebende Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Abbey St. Peter: | ||||
|
Hilliard Ensemble: |
| Time Period | Auszeichnung | Werk | Auszeichnende Organisation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1974
|
Organ improvisation contest, Haarlem: first prize | ||
|
1977
|
first prize of the international organ competition | ||
|
1982
|
Decoration of Merit in Gold for Artistic, Educational and Scientific work | ||
|
1984
|
promotional award for composition | ||
|
1987
|
promotional award for composition | ||
|
1990
|
Order of Orange-Nassau: knighthood | ||
|
1992
|
Decoration of Honour for Science and the Arts | ||
|
1993
|
culture award | ||
|
1994
|
International Music Festival in Sorø/Denmark: honorary member | ||
|
1994
|
City of Rohrbach: cultural award of the city | ||
|
2004
|
granting of professorship |
25. January 2000
Rupert Gottfried Frieberger, the personification of universality concerning music from the Schlägl monastery, already made a name for himself as an improvising organist in his youth, winning the first prize at the international competition in Haarlem (1974). The art of simultaneously inventing and performing a piece of music is expressed in creations of the moment. Examples are included on the two CDs "Improvisations in Concert" (Fabian Records CD 1712), masterly performed by Frieberger. They are based on different, predetermined themes, composed between 1974-1992 on various organs in Austria and abroad and are a document of his never tiring fantasy, as well as his diverse and inventive way of playing the instrument.
Oberösterreichische Nachrichten
13. September 1999
[...] and the world premiere of Bruckner thoughts for big orchestra and organ titled "Etiam Super Cumque Absque A. B.", arranged by Schlägl's outstanding musical mentor, Rupert Gottfried Frieberger, was highly impressive. The motifs are picked up in a diversified and powerful way, the organ part - performed by Tibor Pazmany - is of almost delicate reservation.
17. August 2004
Rupert Gottfried Frieberger is an experienced composer for vast rooms - this is one of many characteristics of the new, big mass "Missa 'Ad fontes' " [...] A truly "big" mass, its force of expression supporting the liturgy without turning Frieberger's mastery into the ordinary skills of a mere "customary composer" - on the contrary: the listeners might have noticed the spiritual relation to Bruckner, which Frieberger exhausted once more, helping Bruckner's motets "Ave Maria" and "Tota pulchra es" to a heartwarming performance.