Walter Blankenheim

Walter Blankenheim (30 August 1926 – 11 March 2007) was a German pianist and teacher. He is remembered for his performances of the music of W. A. Mozart and J. S. Bach, and his pedagogical activity, in particular his courses devoted to Bach Interpretation. He was the founder of the International Piano Competition “Johann Sebastian Bach” Würzburg / Germany (formerly Saarbrücken) Germany, the largest Bach Piano Competition in the World, and the only International Bach Competition where the repertoire consists of only the works of J. S. Bach.

Walter Blankenheim conducting

Walter Blankenheim studied at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart (1946–1954) with Jürgen Uhde and Vladimir Horbowski and later in Paris with Marguerite Long. Further studies included courses with Geza Anda and Wilhelm Kempff. He won prizes in a number of competitions, including: Vercelli 1952 (2nd Prize), München - ARD 1952 and 1953 (Diplomas), Paris 1953 (Diploma), Casella 1954 (1st Prize).

He was renowned for his interpretations of W. A. Mozart und J. S. Bach, and he toured extensively as a recitalist and concerto soloist for over 50 years, performing in West Europe, Russia, the near and far East, USA and Latin America. He recorded works from the Baroque to the 20th Century with different radio stations, such as the recording with Saarland Radio (Saarländischer Rundfunk) in Germany of the Six Partitas (Clavier-Übung I I, BWV 825–830) in Dezember 1996. Some of these radio recordings are now being released on CD.

Walter Blankenheim was also active as a teacher, being a professor of piano at the Hochschule für Musik Saar (Conservatorium of Music in Saarbrücken). His masterclasses on Bach interpretation took him to a number of countries. He was also frequently invited to be on the jury of piano competitions.

Contribution

In 1990, he founded the International Piano Competition “Johann Sebastian Bach” Würzburg / Germany. The competition took place for the first time in 1992, and was initially held in Saarbrücken, Germany, (it is now held in Würzburg, Germany). It has been held every three years since Over the last 24 years, 771 Pianists from a total of 58 Countries registered to a total of 9 Competitions (the 9th Competition was held in March 2016). It is considered the largest Bach Piano Competition in the World, and the only International Bach Competition where the repertoire consists of only the works of J. S. Bach.

His greatest contribution is perhaps the development of a system of interpreting Bach’s keyboard works on the modern piano, processing the neutral Urtext of the works in order to help the performer understand and convey parameters such as tempo, structure, articulation, ornaments, dynamics as well as the architecture of the work. The dynamic flexibility of the modern piano is used to demonstrate terraced dynamics as well as support melodic lines by shaping them dynamically – what is heard by the audience as a "living structure" between "energy and relaxation". Walter Blankenheim wrote an essay exploring these ideas, titled: "Problems and Chances in the interpretation of J. S. Bach’s keyboard works on the modern piano"

These ideas are at the foundation of an edition of the keyboard works of J. S. Bach, that Walter Blankenheim and his colleague Prof. Inge Rosar prepared over the course of more than 30 years. This performance edition—encompassing almost all of J. S. Bach’s keyboard works—attempts to answer the main questions that arise in the preparation of these works for performance, and offer some guidance to performers that do not specialise in this repertoire. Added ornaments and figurations for repeats are also notated.

Walter Blankenheim's work is continued by Prof. Inge Rosar, who has taken on the artistic and administrative directorship of the International Competition from 2007.

External links

• Official Website of the International Piano Competition J. S. Bach Würzburg (formerly Saarbrücken) Germany