After taking up his post as a composition teacher at the Bavarian State Conservatory of Music in Würzburg, Bertold Hummel met his new colleague, the clarinettist Ernst Flackus, in 1963. His humorous and philosophical way of life immediately captivated the composer and a warm friendship developed over the years. He was inspired by him to write the following works:

Suite for clarinet in Bb solo, op. 26a (1963)

Concertino for basset horn and string orchestra, op. 27a (1964)

5 Miniatures for clarinet in B flat and piano, op. 34 (1971)

Obituary for Ernst Flackus

The clarinettist and former professor at the Hochschule für Musik Würzburg Emst Flackus, born in Darmstadt in 1915, died on 10 April 2002 at the age of 86. He trained as an orchestral musician at the Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt and the Musikhochschule in Frankfurt. He found engagements as solo clarinettist in important German radio and theatre orchestras, for example in Kaiserslautern, Heidelberg, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. From 1953 until his retirement in 1978, he was head of the clarinet training class at the former Bavarian State Conservatory. After its transformation into today's conservatory, he was awarded an honorary professorship in 1974.

His work played a significant role in the good reputation of the Würzburg conservatory as a centre of outstanding wind instrument training. A whole generation of clarinettists passed through his school and he was able to place them in renowned German and foreign orchestras. He accompanied the training of his students with psychological sensitivity. Many of them remained friends with him after graduation and visited him at his retirement home in Uettingen near Wiirzburg.

He used his retirement to further develop his music therapy work. He held music meditations in churches in Würzburg and led self-awareness groups at Schwanfeld Castle. He brought his pedagogical commitment to courses in "Autogenic Training", which he held in the Rudolf Alexander Schröder House and for the "Frankenforum". As a board member of the "Jugendhilfe" youth welfare organisation, he looked after offenders and as a member of the "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Musiktherapie" (German Society for Music Therapy), he was involved in determining hearing ranges at the Bethel centre for the disabled. On several occasions he organised therapeutic activities at the Psychotherapy Weeks in Lindau and at events of the "International Society for Depth Psychology". The source of his spiritual work was Buddhism, to which he converted. He was able to meet the Dalai Lama in person when he visited Germany. (University Announcements 2001-2002 of the University of Music Würzburg)

Biography

Ernst Flackus Born in Darmstadt, he entered the Darmstadt Academy at the age of 8, where he began his clarinet studies with Fritz Heynek. He appeared in public with his insturment at the age of twelve. In 1931 he went to the Musikhochschule in Frankfurt, where he completed his studies with Eduard Liebhold in 1936. From 1938 to 1952 he played as principal clarinettist in the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. Since 1952 he has taught at the Bavarian State Conservatory of Music in Würzburg. Ernst Flackus played at all German radio stations and is also known for his extensive concert activities in Germany, Switzerland and France. (from a concert programme)