Biography
Franz Lehrndorfer[1] was born in Salzburg and spent his youth in Kempten. He received his first music lessons from his father, a choir director and musicologist and began to play the organ at age nine. From 1948 until 1951, Lehrndorfer studied sacred music in Munich and obtained a master class diploma in organ performance in 1952. Upon graduation, he worked as music instructor for the Regensburger Domspatzen, under music director Theobald Schrems. In 1962, he began his teaching career at the Musikhochschule München, first as adjunct professor of organ, later (from 1969 until 1993) as professor and department chair of sacred music and organ performance. From 1969 until 31 October 2002, Lehrndorfer was organist at the Frauenkirche in Munich. He left his cathedral appointment after major disagreements with the cathedral’s music director, Karl-Friedrich Nies.[2]
Lehrndorfer focused on organ improvisations, both in concert and recordings. As a performer, he often included music by Johann Sebastian Bach and Max Reger, as well as works by contemporary composers, such as Karl Höller and Harald Genzmer, in his programs. In 2001, he played the premiere of Genzmer's Concerto for organ, which he subsequently edited for Schott Music.[3]
As an organ consultant, Lehrndorfer was in charge of several major organ projects, such as the 1980 Georg Jann organ at Tegernsee Abbey,[4] or the four organs at the Frauenkirche in Munich (1993/1994).[5][6]
On the occasion of Lehrndorfers 80th anniversary in 2008, more than 50 of his former students celebrated at the Musikhochschule Munich.[7] Franz Lehrndorfer died at age 84 in a hospital in Munich.[8][9]
