Johann Peter Kellner

A student of Nagel, Schmidt and Kehl, Kellner's musical center is easily found in his keyboard music. He became a famous organist performing for the dukes of Coburg and Weimar as well as the Prince of Sonderhausen. To his fortune he met both Handel and Bach and copied much of the music of the latter. Kellner's music was influenced by the expressive, emotional style and, accordingly, his music was representative of those composers who departed from Bach. "Certamen musicum" was a collection of his pieces focusing on the galant style in sonata-like works although they were labeled suites. Having avoided strict countrapunctus, Kellner focused his chorale arrangements on character and expression. The keyboard variations which he composed were short, succinct, autonomous pieces reflective more of Krebs than Bach with an occasional demonstration of requisite pedal virtuosity. ~ Keith Johnson