Friedrich Radermacher
A musician who experienced the cultural “zero hour” after the Second World War, yet chose an entirely distinct path. Even in the face of opposition, Radermacher remained faithful to his compositional style throughout his life. He never stood on the experimental side of “New Music.” His musical language builds on the tradition of clear form, melody, and harmony. Nevertheless, the modern and the new are always present in his music.
Family
Friedrich Radermacher was born on 14 April 1924, the first of three children of a musical family from Düren. His father, Wilhelm Radermacher, was a choir director and organist; his mother, Marianne (née Zorn), was a violin teacher.
Childhood & Youth
In 1928, the family moved to Eschweiler. He received his first music lessons from his parents. Later, he studied piano, violin, and music theory at the Aachen Conservatory and at the Rhineland Music School in Cologne.
During the War
After completing his Abitur in 1942, he was conscripted into the military. From April to September 1942, he served as a trumpeter in the RAD military band in Metz, after which he was trained as a Panzergrenadier (armoured infantryman) in Insterburg (East Prussia). In 1945, he was taken into American captivity in the greater Cologne area. There, he met the American officer Robert Meredith, with whom he developed a lifelong friendship. His compositions for Wheelock College in Boston trace back to this connection.
After the War
In 1945, Friedrich Radermacher returned from captivity and took over the musical duties of his father, who had gone missing in the war. As a result, he had the opportunity to work as a choir and orchestra conductor while still studying at the Cologne Musikhochschule. From 1946 to 1951, he studied composition with Prof. Philipp Jarnach and Prof. Frank Martin, conducting with Prof. Günter Wand, and violin with Walter Schulze-Prisca and Hermann Zitzmann. In 1949, Friedrich Radermacher married his wife Gertrud (née Lingemann). Four daughters were born of this marriage.
Life as a Composer
During his studies and throughout the 1950s, the first major works of his output were created, and the earliest radio recordings of his compositions also date from this period. In 1955, the family moved to Cologne. At first, he worked as a conductor of choirs and orchestras in the Cologne–Aachen region. Afterwards, alongside his commitments at the Musikhochschule, he devoted himself to composition. Many works were thus composed during family holidays with a caravan and a sailing boat. His compositions are always signed with the place of their creation. Until the late 1980s, he always wrote his scores by hand, after which he switched to using a computer.
Professorship & Teaching
In 1952, he received a teaching post at the Cologne Musikhochschule, initially within the opera school and later as Professor of Music Theory (Tonsatz). From 1976 until his retirement in 1986, he was deputy director of the Cologne Musikhochschule. At the Institute of Musicology at the University of Cologne, he additionally held a teaching post for music theory from 1960 to 1980.
Retirement
After his retirement, Friedrich Radermacher devoted himself entirely to composition. About two-thirds of his works date from this period. In 1999, he moved with his wife to Hilden, where he died on 28 November 2020 at the age of 96.
Family
Friedrich Radermacher was born on 14 April 1924, the first of three children of a musical family from Düren. His father, Wilhelm Radermacher, was a choir director and organist; his mother, Marianne (née Zorn), was a violin teacher.
Childhood & Youth
In 1928, the family moved to Eschweiler. He received his first music lessons from his parents. Later, he studied piano, violin, and music theory at the Aachen Conservatory and at the Rhineland Music School in Cologne.
During the War
After completing his Abitur in 1942, he was conscripted into the military. From April to September 1942, he served as a trumpeter in the RAD military band in Metz, after which he was trained as a Panzergrenadier (armoured infantryman) in Insterburg (East Prussia). In 1945, he was taken into American captivity in the greater Cologne area. There, he met the American officer Robert Meredith, with whom he developed a lifelong friendship. His compositions for Wheelock College in Boston trace back to this connection.
After the War
In 1945, Friedrich Radermacher returned from captivity and took over the musical duties of his father, who had gone missing in the war. As a result, he had the opportunity to work as a choir and orchestra conductor while still studying at the Cologne Musikhochschule. From 1946 to 1951, he studied composition with Prof. Philipp Jarnach and Prof. Frank Martin, conducting with Prof. Günter Wand, and violin with Walter Schulze-Prisca and Hermann Zitzmann. In 1949, Friedrich Radermacher married his wife Gertrud (née Lingemann). Four daughters were born of this marriage.
Life as a Composer
During his studies and throughout the 1950s, the first major works of his output were created, and the earliest radio recordings of his compositions also date from this period. In 1955, the family moved to Cologne. At first, he worked as a conductor of choirs and orchestras in the Cologne–Aachen region. Afterwards, alongside his commitments at the Musikhochschule, he devoted himself to composition. Many works were thus composed during family holidays with a caravan and a sailing boat. His compositions are always signed with the place of their creation. Until the late 1980s, he always wrote his scores by hand, after which he switched to using a computer.
Professorship & Teaching
In 1952, he received a teaching post at the Cologne Musikhochschule, initially within the opera school and later as Professor of Music Theory (Tonsatz). From 1976 until his retirement in 1986, he was deputy director of the Cologne Musikhochschule. At the Institute of Musicology at the University of Cologne, he additionally held a teaching post for music theory from 1960 to 1980.
Retirement
After his retirement, Friedrich Radermacher devoted himself entirely to composition. About two-thirds of his works date from this period. In 1999, he moved with his wife to Hilden, where he died on 28 November 2020 at the age of 96.