Walter Blankenburg
- July 31, 1903
- March 10, 1986
- 82 years
About Walter Blankenburg
Walter Blankenburg, 82, German hymnologist.
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Full Biography
|Walter Blankenburg (31 July 1903 – 10 March 1986) was a German Protestant pastor, director of church music and musicologist, who focused in several publications on liturgy, hymnology, and on the sacred music of the early Baroque period, especially by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Career
Born in Emleben near Gotha, Blankenburg, the son of a pastor, studied theology, history and musicology at the University of Rostock. in Tübingen, Göttingen, Freiburg im Breisgau and Berlin. He was promoted to Ph.D. in 1943 in Göttingen with a dissertation about Die innere Einheit von Bachs Werk.
He was a member of the group preparing the Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch from 1939 to 1949. He was director of the Kirchenmusikschule of the Evangelische Kirche von Kurhessen-Waldeck in Schlüchtern from its foundation in 1947 to his retirement in 1968. He was from 1941 to 1981 editor (Schriftleiter) of the magazine Musik und Kirche [de] (Music and church. He founded in 1976, together with Renate Steiger [de], the Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für theologische Bachforschung In 1962, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of the University of Marburg. He died in Schlüchtern.
An award of the Protestant Church is named after him.
Publications
- Kirche und Musik. Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Geschichte der gottesdienstlichen Musik, ed. Erich Hübner and Renate Steiger. Göttingen 1979.
- Das Weihnachts-Oratorium von Johann Sebastian Bach Bärenreiter 1999
- Einführung in Bachs H-moll-Messe, mit vollständigem Text Bärenreiter 1957
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Blankenburg
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 27, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Walter Blankenburg's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which German city was Walter Blankenburg born?
- A.Göttingen
- B.Schlüchtern
- C.Emlebencorrect
- D.Berlin
The text states that Walter Blankenburg was born in Emleben near Gotha.
Source: Career section
2.On what date was Walter Blankenburg born?
- A.31 July 1903correct
- B.1 January 1987
- C.10 March 1986
- D.24 December 2018
Walter Blankenburg was born on 31 July 1903.
Source: Biographical introduction
3.What was the profession of Walter Blankenburg's father?
- A.Editor
- B.Pastorcorrect
- C.University professor
- D.Musicologist
The biography identifies Walter Blankenburg as the son of a pastor.
Source: Career section
4.At which institution did Walter Blankenburg earn his Ph.D. in 1943?
- A.University of Göttingencorrect
- B.University of Marburg
- C.University of Rostock
- D.University of Freiburg
Walter Blankenburg was promoted to Ph.D. in 1943 at the University of Göttingen.
Source: Career section
5.Which magazine did Walter Blankenburg serve as editor for from 1941 to 1981?
- A.Theologische Bach-Studien
- B.Quintett
- C.Quatember
- D.Musik und Kirchecorrect
Walter Blankenburg was the editor (Schriftleiter) of the magazine Musik und Kirche from 1941 to 1981.
Source: Career section
6.What was the primary focus of Walter Blankenburg's research publications?
- A.The development of jazz in Germany
- B.Secular orchestral compositions
- C.Liturgy, hymnology, and early Baroque sacred musiccorrect
- D.Modern operatic theory
Walter Blankenburg focused on liturgy, hymnology, and the sacred music of the early Baroque period.
Source: Biographical introduction
7.In what year did Walter Blankenburg die?
- A.1981
- B.1997
- C.2003
- D.1986correct
Walter Blankenburg died on 10 March 1986.
Source: Biographical introduction
8.Where did Walter Blankenburg serve as director of the Kirchenmusikschule from 1947 to 1968?
- A.Tübingen
- B.Gotha
- C.Augsburg
- D.Schlüchterncorrect
Walter Blankenburg was the director of the Kirchenmusikschule in Schlüchtern from 1947 to 1968.
Source: Career section
9.Who co-founded the Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für theologische Bachforschung with Walter Blankenburg in 1976?
- A.Renate Steigercorrect
- B.Gerard Kappner
- C.Erich Hübner
- D.Franz Ganslandt
In 1976, Walter Blankenburg founded the Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für theologische Bachforschung together with Renate Steiger.
Source: Career section
10.Which university awarded Walter Blankenburg an honorary doctorate in 1962?
- A.University of Marburgcorrect
- B.University of Göttingen
- C.University of Augsburg
- D.University of Rostock
Walter Blankenburg was awarded an honorary doctorate of the University of Marburg in 1962.
Source: Career section
11.What is the subject of Walter Blankenburg's 1957 publication?
- A.Die innere Einheit von Bachs Werk
- B.Geschichte der gottesdienstlichen Musik
- C.Bachs H-moll-Messecorrect
- D.The Weihnachts-Oratorium
Walter Blankenburg published Einführung in Bachs H-moll-Messe in 1957.
Source: Publications section
12.In which city did Walter Blankenburg die?
- A.Schlüchterncorrect
- B.Göttingen
- C.Gotha
- D.Emleben
The text explicitly states that Walter Blankenburg died in Schlüchtern.
Source: Career section
13.Walter Blankenburg was involved in preparing which publication between 1939 and 1949?
- A.Musik und Kirche
- B.Kirche und Musik
- C.Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuchcorrect
- D.Theologische Bach-Studien
Walter Blankenburg was a member of the group preparing the Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch from 1939 to 1949.
Source: Career section
14.What is the title of the book Walter Blankenburg published about Bach's work in 1999?
- A.Kirche und Musik
- B.Bachs H-moll-Messe
- C.Das Weihnachts-Oratoriumcorrect
- D.Die innere Einheit von Bachs Werk
Walter Blankenburg is credited with the publication Das Weihnachts-Oratorium von Johann Sebastian Bach in 1999.
Source: Publications section
15.Which of these subjects did Walter Blankenburg study at university?
- A.Mathematics
- B.Architecture
- C.Theologycorrect
- D.Chemistry
Walter Blankenburg studied theology, history, and musicology at the University of Rostock.
Source: Career section
16.Where is the Hymnologische Sammlung of Walter Blankenburg located?
- A.University of Marburg
- B.University of Augsburgcorrect
- C.University of Göttingen
- D.University of Rostock
The Hymnologische Sammlung Blankenburgs is kept in the library of the University of Augsburg.
Source: Sources section
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