Ludger Stühlmeyer (born 3 October 1961 in Melle, Germany) is a German cantor, composer, docent and musicologist.
Stühlmeyer was born to a family of cantors and made his first steps under the guidance of his father in the town church (Stadtkirche) of St. Matthew in Melle. He received music lessons from the pianist, composer and direktor of music Karl Schäfer at the Osnabrück conservatory and from Karlheinz Höne at the church musician school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück. After completing his A-levels at the grammar school at Melle, he studied Christian music, Early music, and voice at the University of the Arts Bremen, followed by studies of composition with Günther Kretzschmar, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Helge Jung. He attended seminars in Gregorian semiology with Luigi Agustoni, Godehard Joppich, and Johannes Berchmans Göschl, and studied musicology, philosophy, and theology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität of Münster. He concluded his studies with a doctorate at the faculty of philosophy. Ludger Stühlmeyer received a scholarship from the Diocese of Osnabrück. His studies were also financially supported by the Friedrich-Baur-Stiftung, the Oberfrankenstiftung Bayreuth and the Wolfgang-Siegel-Stiftung.
His grandfather, a "silent hero of the resistance" against National Socialism, who was deported to the concentration camp Emslandlager in 1940 for his support of the Catholic church and those persecuted by the Third Reich, had been employed at St. Peter's at Melle-Gesmold for 47 years. In 1980 Ludger Stühlmeyer became his successor. He was appointed as custodian of music in the diocese of Münster in 1988 and has been city cantor at Hof as well as Dekanatskantor for the deanery of Hochfranken since 1994. He is also tutor at the Erzbischöfliches Kirchenmusikseminar, and works at the Amt für Kirchenmusik in the archdiocese of Bamberg. Stühlmeyer is member of the International Valentin-Rathgeber-Society and the International Dieterich Buxtehude Society (IDBG). He is married to theologian and musicologist Barbara Stühlmeyer and father of Lea Stühlmeyer. His brother is pastoral theologian and priest Thomas Stühlmeyer.
Musical style and influences
Stühlmeyer's instrumental and vocal music is strongly influenced by Helge Jung and Karlheinz Stockhausen. His compositional technique aims to make auditory experiences a medium of communication. Concentrating the essence into the seemingly simple, it is his goal to open up the power of meaning inherent in self-referential sounds, a meaning that comprises philosophical thought as well as spiritual experience. His liturgical music is inspired by the Catholic liturgy and the relationship between words and music and Gregorian chant, which defines and realizes composition as the sounding body of words. During conceptual conversations with bishop Friedrich Ostermann from Münster, he created the foundation for a new reception of the Evangelienkantate for children within Catholic liturgy.
He was awarded the Ehrenurkunde of Bavaria by the minister of state Christa Stevens in 2005.
In 2011 Oberbürgermeister Dr Harald Fichtner awarded him the Johann-Christian-Reinhart-Plakette, the city of Hof's highest award for special cultural achievements.
In 2013 the Committee of the General Association of the Cecilian Movement Germany appointed him for outstanding artistic and educational achievements as Director of Music ACV.
Die Rolle der Musik in der religiösen Entwicklung der Menschheit unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Juden- und Christentums. Diploma thesis, Hochschulschrift, Bremen 1986.
Überlegungen zu einer Anthropologie des Hörens als Grundlage eines liturgiegerechten Musikverständnisses. In: Kirchenmusik im Erzbistum Bamberg, no. 28, Bamberg March 2002, p. 7–10.
Wer singt, hat etwas zu sagen. In: Praxis gottesdienst, Hrsg. Liturgische Institute Trier, Salzburg, Fribourg 7/2006, ISSN 1610-1847.
In vielen Sprachen und Tönen. Ein Streifzug durch 1000 Jahre Musik. In: Jahrbuch der Erzdiözese Bamberg 2007. Heinrichs-Verlag Bamberg, 82. Jahrgang, June 2006, p. 33–37.
Stationen der Kirchenmusik im Erzbistum Bamberg. Bamberg 2007.
Curia sonans. Die Musikgeschichte der Stadt Hof. Eine Studie zur Kultur Oberfrankens. Von der Gründung des Bistums Bamberg bis zur Gegenwart. (Phil. Diss.) Bayerische Verlagsanstalt, Heinrichs-Verlag Bamberg 2010, ISBN 978-3-89889-155-4.
Das Leben singen. Christliche Lieder und ihr Ursprung. Together with Barbara Stühlmeyer. Verlag DeBehr Radeberg 2011, ISBN 978-3-939241-24-9.
Das Ohr am Puls der Zeit – der Klosterkomponist Johann Valentin Rathgeber – Fleißiger Kantorensohn mit spiraligem Studienweg. In: Musica sacra. 132. Jahrgang no. 2, Bärenreiter-Verlag, Kassel/Regensburg 2012, p. 80f, ISSN 0179-356X.
Bernhard Lichtenberg. Ich werde meinem Gewissen folgen. Together with Barbara Stühlmeyer. Topos plus Verlagsgemeinschaft Kevelaer 2013, ISBN 978-3-836708-35-7.
Nikolaus Decius – ein Kirchenlieddichter aus Hochfranken. In: Jahrbuch der Erzdiözese Bamberg 2014. Heinrichs-Verlag Bamberg, 89. Jahrgang, June 2013, p. 72–76.
Klagraum Romantik – Die Musik. In: Musica sacra. 135. Jahrgang no 3, Bärenreiter Kassel/Regensburg 2015, p. 160f.
Valentin Rathgeber. Leben und Werk. Verlag Sankt Michaelsbund, München 2016, ISBN 978-3-943135-78-7.
Wie Komponisten den Glauben zum Klingen bringen. Eine Zeitreise am Beispiel weihnachtlicher Musik. In: Jahrbuch des Erzbistums Bamberg 2017. Heinrichs-Verlag Bamberg, 92. Jahrgang, June 2016, p. 58–64.
"Konfessionalität und Ökumenizität – Kirchenmusik gestern und heute." In: Abbruch – Umbruch – Aufbruch. Reformation und Ökumene in Mittel- und Oberfranken. Eine Arbeitshilfe zum Lutherjahr. Bamberg October 2016, ISBN 978-3-931432-39-3, p. 88–91.
Atem Gottes hauch mich an. For vocals solo and piano/organ, text: Dorothee Sölle. Commissioned by Freundeskreis der Evangelischen Akademie Tutzing on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the death of Dorothee Sölle. First performance: April 27, 2013.
Atme in mir. For vocals solo and organ, text: Augustinus von Hippo. First performance: April 27, 2002, Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen, Augustinus, Afrikanitaet Universalitaet. Autograph Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen.
Ave Maria. For vocals solo and piano/organ. First performance: may 22, 2016 by Michéle Rödel. Sonat-Verlag Kleinmachnow 2016, ISMN 979-0-50254-085-2.
Brannte uns nicht das Herz. Text: Lk 24,32. For choir (SATB), flute/violin, organ and Bass. Setting of the dedication quote for the Deacon-consecration in the cathedral of Osnabrück on april 16, 2016.
Conditor alme siderum. For choir (SAM), text: Rabanus Maurus. In: Passauer Chorbuch, Bärenreiter-Verlag, Kassel 2012, ISMN 979-0-006-54215-4, p. 2f.
Die Legende von den drei weisen Königen. For children's choir and piano/organ, text: Rolf Krenzer. First performance: January 10, 1999, ZDF, theme song of the German caroller event. In: Heinrichsblatt 1, Bamberg January 2011, p. 13.
Die Nacht ist vorgedrungen. Choral-Cantata for vocals solo, Violin and piano/orgen, text: Jochen Klepper. First pertormance: January 20, 2005. Dedicated to Bundespräsident Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler.
In dulci jubilo. Aus-Flüge für Querflöte solo. 2015. Commissioned by Anja Weinberger. First performance: 9 Dezember 2015, Augustinerkirche Würzburg. Sonat-Verlag Kleinmachnov 2015, ISMN 979-0-50254-034-0.
Johannes-Passion. For choir SATB vocals solo SATB, texts after: Joh. 18, 1–19, 42. First performance: Capella Mariana April 2014. Berliner Chormusik-Verlag, Berlin 2014, ISMN 979-0-50235-210-3.
Klangrede – Sonnengesang des Franziskus, for choir (SATB) and instruments. First performance: Capella Mariana October 4, 2015. Suae Sanctitati Papae Francisci dedicat.
Mache dich auf, werde licht. Advent cantata for children's choir, vocals solo, narrators and instruments. First performance: December 1989 Dekanat Warendorf. Excerpt in: Kommt wir gehen nach Bethlehem. Deutsches Liturgisches Institut (Hrsg.): Trier 1996.
O splendidissima gemma. For vocals solo and organ, text: Hildegard of Bingen. First performance: May 8, 2011. In: Ein Hofer Königspaar. Rondeau Production, Leipzig 2012.
Puer natus in Betlehem. Puer natus, Gott wird Mensch. For choir and organ. 2011.
Quatre pièces pour Orgue: Prélude romantique, Caprice expressionique, Hymne impressionique, Fugue baroque. First performance during the festival Tage neuer Kirchenmusik Bayern, October 2006. Edition Musica Rinata, Berlin 2013, ISMN 979-0-50235-058-1. Dedicated to Abbess Clementia Killewald.
Seht den Stern, den wir euch bringen. Star singer song for choir and instruments, text Peter Gerloff, 2016.
Singt dem König Freudenspalmen. Motet for choir (SATB). First performance: Kammerchor Wernigerode December 20, 2014. Sonat-Verlag Kleinmachnow 2015, ISMN 979-0-50254-002-9.
Transfiguration. Text: Lk.9,28–36. For vocal solo, choir (SATB) and organ. 2010.
Unsere Hoffnung. For vocal solo, solo instrument and piano/Orgel. Text: Alois Albrecht. First performance: Mai 2, 2004 German-Czech cultural exchange.
Veni Creator Spiritus. For choir (SATB). In: Cantica nova. Zeitgenössische Chormusik für den Gottesdienst. Choirbook of ACV, Regensburg/Passau 2012, ISBN 978-3-00-039887-2, no. 59.
Wer glaubt kann widerstehn. Bernhard-Lichtenberg-Cantata for narrators, vocals solo, choir (SATB) and instruments. First performance: October 31, 1999, ZDF, Konzertchor der Hofer Symphoniker.
Wir bauen unsre Kirche neu. For vocals solo, choir (SATB), instruments solo and piano/organ, text: Rolf Krenzer. In: Musica sacra, 132. Jg., issue 4, Bärenreiter-Verlag Kassel 2012, p. 13–15, ISSN 0179-356X.
Zum Engel der letzten Stunde. For vocals solo alto, violin and organ, text: Jean Paul. Commissioned by Stadt Hof 2013. First performance: Zene Kruzikaite (Alt), Jens Wilckens (Violine), Eva Gräbner (Orgel), Hof September 2013.
Dieterich Buxtehude. Präludium g-Moll. Sonat-Verlag, Kleinmachnow 2015, ISMN 979-0-50254-032-6.
Dieterich Buxtehude. Nun lasst uns Gott dem Herren Dank sagen. Kantate für Chor SATB, zwei Violinen und B. c., BuxWV 81. Sonat-Verlag, Kleinmachnow 2016, ISMN 979-0-50254-064-7.
Ein Hofer Königspaar. Die Orgeln in St. Marien und St. Michaelis. Rondeau Production, Leipzig 2012.
Zum Engel der letzten Stunde. Jean Paul – Ludger Stühlmeyer. Zene Kruzikaite (Alt), Jens Wilckens (Violine), Eva Gräbner (Orgel). Balderschwang 2013.
