Gerhard Krapf, organist: his life, pedagogy, works, and place in the North American Orgelbewegung

Gerhard Krapf (1924–2008) contributed to the North American Orgelbewegung (Organ Reform Movement) as an organist, professor, church musician, writer, consultant, and composer. Born in Germany and drafted into the German Army for World War II, he survived three years of war and three years in Soviet labor camps, before resuming his education and immigrating to the United States in 1953 for his multi-faceted career. He started the organ department at the University of Iowa in 1961 and the University of Alberta in 1977. Krapf displayed a strong preference for teaching and performing polyphonic music of the Renaissance and Baroque using historically-informed practices, though he consistently demonstrated a flexible and non-dogmatic approach. Krapf’s articles, books, and translations demonstrate his passion for the tenets of the Orgelbewegung, particularly the superiority of the mechanical-action instruments. In this Essay, seven of his organ solo compositions are studied, including Totentanz, Second Organ Sonata for Thanksgiving, and Chorale Triptych on Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word. The variation of hymn tunes forms the basis of his predominantly multi-movement works. His music features independent contrapuntal lines, transparent registrations, animated rhythms, and a harmonic language that gradually shifted from highly dissonant with little use of triads to thoroughly tonal and standard chord progressions.