Research on Bertold Hummel's work
The musicological study of Bertold Hummel's oeuvre is currently still limited to a few works and offers interested parties a wide field of activity.
The Bertold Hummel Foundation would like to emphatically encourage ambitious scholars to study the life and work of the composer and is prepared to grant scholarships for dissertations.
The composer's estate can be found in the music collection of the Bavarian State Library in Munich. The original scores can be viewed there for research purposes.
Dissertations and theses
Alasdair Terkatz-Cameron: Bertold Hummel and Gebrauchsmusik for the liturgy. (in: Cultural Memory and the Singing Movement in Pre- and Postwar Germany,), PhD King's College London 2021, pp.180-190
Martin Schiessler: Das Studio für Neue Musik Würzburg - Eine Untersuchung zu seiner Geschichte von 1958 bis 1988. Diploma thesis in the subject Diploma Music Teacher at the University of Music Würzburg presented on 04.06.2012
Heidi Ilgenfritz: Analysis of the "Fantasia Poetica" op. 101b for hammered dulcimer and viola by Bertold Hummel. Diploma thesis submitted to the Nuremberg-Augsburg University of Applied Sciences via the Richard Strauss Conservatory, Munich, 8 July 2002
Norbert Huber: The organ works by Bertold Hummel. Diploma thesis presented at the Richard Strauss Conservatory, Munich, academic year 1996/1997
Publications about Bertold Hummel in encyclopaedias and books
Franzpeter Messmer: "Does it all fit together somehow? - Horst Lohse in conversation with Hanspeter Messmer. (in: Composers in Bavaria, Volume 69 Horst Lohse), Allitera Verlag, Munich 2023, p. 22 ff.
Christoph Henzel and Steffen Zeller (ed.): Der Würzburger Tonkünstlerverband - Festschrift zum 100jährigen Bestehen. Königshausen & Neumann publishing house, Würzburg 2011
Ulrich Konrad: Church Music and Sacred Music as Idea and Reality. (in: Dieter Kirsch / Ulrich Konrad (eds.): Church Music in the Diocese of Würzburg - Studies and Sources from the 16th to the 20th Century, Würzburg 2010, pp. 22*,23, 26, 30*
Christoph Beck: Haec est alma dies. St Kilian in the liturgy under Julius Echter. (in: Dieter Kirsch / Ulrich Konrad (eds.): Kirchenmusik in der Diözese Würzburg - Studien und Quellen vom 16. bis ins 20. Jahrhundert), Würzburg 2010, p. 66
Siegfried Koesler: Die Würzburger Dommusik in den ersten zwei Dritteln des 20. Jahrhunderts. (in: Dieter Kirsch / Ulrich Konrad (eds.): Kirchenmusik in der Diözese Würzburg - Studien und Quellen vom 16. bis ins 20. Jahrhundert), Würzburg 2010, pp. 278, 279, 280*, 288, 306, 309, 324
Susanne Farwick: Studien zur zeitgenössischen Musik für Flöte solo in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts. Peter Lang Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften, Frankfurt am Main 2009, pp. 272-273
Ulrich Wagner: The Cultural Awards of the City of Würzburg. 1965-2007, Würzburg 2007, p. 28
Peter Rau: Kurt Heynicke - Fate of a poet in Merzhausen 1043-1985, Merzhausen 2007, p. 17/18
Wolfgang Osthoff: Bertold Hummel's last song cycle "Kopflos". (in: Music from a Free Spirit in the Twentieth Century - Texts 1966-2006, ed. Petra Weber-Bockholdt). Tutzing 2007
Marius Schwemmer: Kleines Kirchenmusikalisches Kompendium. Tectum Verlag, Marburg 2006, p. 39ff
James H. Laster: Catalogue of Music for Organ and Instruments. Oxford 2005
Paul Werner Scheele: In memoriam Bertold Hummel, Lob der Musik und der Musiker. Echter, Würzburg 2005
Wolfgang Osthoff: Bertold Hummel's last song cycle "Kopflos". Music in Bavaria 65/66, 2004
Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart 2nd revised edition, vol. 9, p. 500, Kassel et al. 2003
Heidrun Miller: Friedrich Zehm - Composer between Tradition and Modernity. Are Edition, Mainz 2003, pp. 5, 9, 15-18, 21, 35, 37, 61, 65, 165, 250, 254, 261, 279, 294, 305, 327, 336.
Hans Ulrich Engelmann: Vergangenheitsgegenwart - Erinnerungen und Gedanken eines Komponisten. Darmstadt 2001, pp. 141, 229, 230
Klaus Beckmann: Repertorium Organ Music 1150-1992. Schott, Mainz, 1999, p. 301
Klaus Hinrich Stahmer: Chamber music as a personal confession. Composers in Bavaria, Volume 31: Bertold Hummel, Tutzing, 1998
Franz A. Stein: The Church Music of Bertold Hummel. Composers in Bavaria, Volume 31: Bertold Hummel, Tutzing, 1998
Siegfried Fink: Sound and Timing - Bertold Hummel's works for percussion instruments. Composers in Bavaria, Volume 31: Bertold Hummel, Tutzing, 1998
Claus Kühnl: The Symphonic Works of Bertold Hummel. Composers in Bavaria, Volume 31: Bertold Hummel, Tutzing, 1998
Arthur Cohn: Literature for Camber Music. Hinshaw Music, Chapel Hill NC 1997
Lenz Meierott and Klaus Hinrich Stahmer (eds.): Musik und Hochschule: 200 Jahre akademische Musikausbildung in Würzburg / Festschrift 1997. Hochschule für Musik Würzburg, Würzburg: Könighausen und Neumann 1997 ISBN 3-8260-1437-5, pp. 71-74
Dieter Kirsch, Volker Schütz: 200 years of academic music education in Würzburg. From the Collegium Musicum to the University of Music, Würzburg, 1997, p. 54.
Claus Kühnl: On the 70th birthday of Bertold Hummel - impromptu speech. In: Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste Jahrbuch 10, Oreos Verlag Schaftlach, 1996, pp.271-275
Renate Freyeisen: Crossing the Borders - New Music in Würzburg. Würzburg Culture Book (ed. V. Müller-Veith), published by Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 1992
Hermann Müllich: Musikpädagogik und Musik des 20. Jahrhunderts - Auswertung spezifischer Untersuchungsergebnisse. in: Musik im Diskurs, Vol. 9, Gustav Bosse Verlag, Regensburg 1991, pp. 45-68
D.M.B.: Bertold Hummel - in print, Strings/USA Feb. 1991
Franz A. Stein: ... the honour of being your reviewer! Regensburg 1985, p. 221/222 (ISBN 3-91114-88-8)
Frank Altmann: Tonkünstler Lexikon. Heinrichshofen's Verlag, 1978, p. 312.
The Great Dictionary of Music. (ed. Günther Massenkeil) Herder, Freiburg i. Brsg. 1978, vol. 4, p. 140.
Hans Musch (ed.): Musik im Gottesdienst. A handbook for basic training in Catholic church music. Gustav Bosse Verlag, Regensburg, 1975, p. 386/387
Adrian Gaster: Who'sWho in Music. Cambridge, England, 11.1975.
Publications about Bertold Hummel in magazines, newspapers etc. (chronological order)
Andreas Boltz: Children's pieces and oratorio. Bertold Hummel was born one hundred years ago. Music & Church September/October 2025, Kassel 2025.
Martin Hummel: Bertold Hummel's music for flute. Flöte aktuell 3.2022, pp. 40-44, Frankfurt 2022.
Barbara Stühlmeyer: Room for innovation. The "Würzburg Dommesse" and mass settings by Berthold Hummel. Die Tagespost, Würzburg, 5 July 2016.
Horst Fischer: From Hüfingen into the world of music. Südkurier Fr. 183 / DNE / 9 August 2012.
Barbara Stühlmeyer: Canticum novum. Bertold Hummel / Ave Maria op. 97e2, Musica sacra, Regensburg, issue 3/2011, pp. 200-201.
Felicitas Steigerwald: "Making musical ideas tangible" - The composer Bertold Hummel. Flöte aktuell 1.2011, pp. 32-33, Frankfurt 2011.
Ulrich Konrad: Church music and sacred music as idea and reality III. Musica sacra, Regensburg, issue 2/2011, pp. 87-91.
Barbara Stühlmeyer: Music as Apology - The Masses of Bertold Hummel. Musica sacra, Regensburg, issue 6/2010, p. 375/376.
Anneliese Schürer: On the 5th anniversary of the death of the composer Bertold Hummel. forte 9/2007, p. 8.
Wolfgang Hörlin: Annotations on the interpretation of Bertold Hummel's organ music. Organ 1/0, pp. 24-25, Schott Music, Mainz 2007.
Peter Wittrich: Benedicamus domino op. 102 - The summit work in Bertold Hummel's organ oeuvre. Organ 1/0, pp. 16-24, Schott Music, Mainz 2007.
Andrea Braun: The composer Bertold Hummel and chamber music. Ensemble - Magazin für Kammermusik, p. 34-36, Düsseldorf, II/2006.
Wilfried Hiller: Tastenspiele - Bertold Hummel's piano music (not only) for children. CD booklet of the CD of the same name on Musicaphon M 55716, Klassik Centre Kassel, 2006.
Prof. Dr Evangelos Konstantinou: Bertold Hummel and the Greek-German Initiative. Philia - a journal for Europe, p. 246/247, Würzburg, II/2005.
Michael Corßen: The composer Bertold Hummel. ESTA News 51 / March 2004.
Klaus Wolters: Bertold Hummel: Tastenspiele. Revue Musicale Suisse 38 No. 4 April 2003.
Jürgen Libbert: Hermann Hesse and Bertold Hummel. On the 125th birthday of the poet and the death of the composer. Annual Report 2001/2002, College of Catholic Church Music Regensburg 2002
Karl Heinz Wahren: In memory of Bertold Hummel. GEMA News NR: 166 3/2002, Berlin.
Claus Kühnl: Classical order expanded - Bertold Hummel - composer in the twentieth century. Neue Musikzeitung, November 2002.
Dr Thomas Daniel Schlee: In memoriam - Prof. Bertold Hummel in memory. Annual Report of the Guardini Foundation, Berlin 2002.
Marius Schwemmer: In Memoriam, in: Musica sacra 5, 2002, 14.
Markus Reder: Frohe Botschaft in Musik verwandelt - Bertold Hummel, einer der bedeutendsten zeitgenössischen Komponisten ist tot. Deutsche Tagespost 17 August 2002.
Maria Zeidler-Kröll: Bertold Hummel - Tastenspiele. Üben & Musizieren, p. 78, 5/2002.
Ernst Oestreicher: Great backlog demand for mediating new sonorities - conversation with Bertold Hummel. Music to read 04/2002.
Jörg Hillebrand: Franconian prophet. Fono Forum 12/2000.
Max McKee: Versatile œuvre - On the 75th birthday of Bertold Hummel. Clarino 11/2000, p. 12
Werner Häußner: He had the nickname Palestrina. Die Tagespost No. 142, 28 November 2000.
Werner Häußner: "Music simply has to go through your head and body". Würzburg composer turns 75 years old. Main-Echo, 27 November 2000.
Edward F. Rhein: Bertold Hummel - a life with music. Würzburger katholisches Sonntagsblatt, No. 48, 26 November 2000.
Werner Häußner: A powerful work - Bertold Hummel's "Shrine of the Martyrs" in Würzburg. Main-Echo Aschaffenburg, 18 November 2000.
Michael Corßen: Bertold Hummel and the Sonatina, composer portrait at the Gütersloh Music School. October 1999.
Thomas Daniel Schlee: Kunst- und Kulturpreis der deutschen Katholiken an Petr Eben und Bertold Hummel, Musica sacra 1998 / 04, p. 362 - 364
Hans Maier: A libretto from the bishop. Rheinischer Merkur, Bonn, 30 May 1997, p. 19.
Marius Linnenborn: A celebration of church music in Salzburg. Musica Sacra, Regensburg, 01/02/1997, p. 35-38.
Mariusz Dubaj: Prof. Bertold Hummel "Saksofon" Polskie Stowarzyszenie Sak-sofonowe. Lublin, 01.1997, pp. 21-28.
Manfred Langendarf: The composer Bertold Hummel. WOX, Würzburg, 12.1996 p.31.
Jürgen Libbert: On the appropriateness of musical relationships. Gitarre aktuell, Hamburg, 01.1996.
Rolf Rudin: My being together with Bertold Hummel. Clarino 12/1995, p. 13/14
Hubert Velten: Prof Bertold Hummel on his 70th birthday. Fachakademie für katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikerziehung Regensburg, Annual Report 1995/96.
Werner Häußner: "I can't live without composing". Main-Echo, Aschaffenburg, 27 November 1995.
O.Schmitt-Rosenberger: Committed to the art of the possible. Volksblatt, Würzburg, 25.11.1995.
Otto Strodel: Composer Bertold Hummel turns 70. Mainpost, Würzburg, 25.11.1995.
Gerd Heymann: Dreamlike certainty. Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Dortmund, 01.11.1995
Martin Wetterich: An impressive start. Volksblatt, Würzburg, 17 October 1995.
Manfred Plate: Questionnaire. Christ in der Gegenwart, Freiburg L Brsg. 04.1995, p. 54.
Franzpeter Messmer: Portrait: The composer Bertold Hummel. Neue Musikzeitung, Regensburg, 11.1990.
Reinhard Schulz: Notes on Bertold Hummel. Munich Philharmonic Orchestra (2nd Chamber Concert), Munich 1990, pp. 4-5.
Franzpeter Messmer: "The Shrine of the Martyrs". Das Orchester, Mainz, 10.1989, p. 985.
Franz A. Stein: The Oratorio of the Century in Würzburg Cathedral. Musica Sacra, Regensburg, 07/08/1989, pp. 332-334.
Paul Werner Scheele: The oratorio "Der Schrein der Märtyrer" by Bertold Hummel, Würzburger katholisches Sonntagsblatt, Würzburg 18 June 1989
Franz Fleckenstein: Music in honour of Saint Kilian and his companions, Würzburger katholisches Sonntagsblatt, Würzburg 18.6.1989
Karl Schumann: The timpani of the Last Judgement. Süddeutsche Zeitung, Munich, 11 May 1989.
Silke Zielen: The vigour of the young. Erlanger Tagblatt, Erlangen, 10.01.1989.
Karl Georg Rötter: Composer thanked with an original score. Volksblatt, Würzburg, 24 November 1988.
Hans Behr: Popular as a composer and pedagogue. Main-Post, Würzburg, 11 March 1988.
Werner Häußner: Composer and music pedagogue. Volksblatt, Würzburg, 11/03/1988.
Bertram Turetzky: Music Reviews. Music Library Association. California USA, 03.1988.
Franz Hennevogl: To the preface. Hochschule für Musik: Hochschulmitteilungen 1986/87, Würzburg 1987, pp. 5-8.
Hans Behr: The almost immeasurable field of creative activity. Main-Post, Würzburg, 19/20 September 1987.
Bertold Hummel: Composer and fighter: Peter Jona Korn turns 65 - Between all styles. Die Welt, Hamburg, 03.1987.
Hans Behr: Lost child cries and hashes glowworm. Main-Post, Würzburg, 24.01.1987.
Alfred Rinderspacher: Sheet music. The orchestra. Regensburg, 07/08/1986.
Marc Rochester: Younger piano. Musical Times. London, 06.1986.
Lothar Mattner: "Bertold Hummel". Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, Mainz, 05.1986.
Hubert Leuchtbrink: Musica Nova. Neue Musikzeitung, Regensburg, 04/05.1986.
Fritz Schleicher: Clear as crystal. Nürnberger Nachrichten, Nuremberg, 19/04/1986
Thomas Emmerig: "...and all their splendour is toil and nothingness". Mittelbayerische Zeitung, Regensburg, 23 December 1985.
Michael Klügel: Herald of the end times. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt, 18.12.1985.
Franz A. Stein: Bertold Hummel on his sixtieth birthday. Musica Sacra, Regensburg, 11/12/1985, p. 440.
Werner Häußner: The joy of creative playing. Main-Echo, Aschaffenburg, 27/11/1985
Hans Behr: Lovable as a person, worth listening to as a composer. Main-Post, Würzburg, 25 November 1985.
Thea Lethmayer: Between hope and atomic death. Ballets by Gottfried von Einem and Bertold Hummel, Augsburger Allgemeine, Augsburg, 1/2 May 1984.
Peter Kins: Menschheitsmahnungen- Neue Presse, Augsburg, 4 May 1984.
Klaus Hinrich Stahmer: Extremely lively "Methuselah". Das Orchester, Mainz, 02.1984. Fritz Schleicher: Apocalyptic images. Nürnberger Nachrichten, Nuremberg, 14.11.1983.
Fritz Schleicher: Apocalyptic pictures. Nürnberger Nachrichten, Nuremberg, 14 November 1983.
Egon Bezold: Outcry and hope. Nürnberger Zeitung, Nuremberg, 14 November 1983
Gerhard Schuhmacher: Record documentation of the German Music Council on contemporary music. Musik und Kirche, Kassel, 03.1982, p. 147.
Joachim Dorfmüller: Concertos for organ and orchestra in the 20th century. Das Orchester, 2/1982, pp. 107-110.
Hanns-Wemer Heister: After the Apocalypse of St John. Tagesspiegel, Berlin, 13/06/1980.
Hans Behr: Musikhochschule wants to expand its range of courses, Main-Post, Würzburg 02/02/1980.
Franz Rauhut: Interview with Bertold Hummel Neues Europa, Luxembourg, 1980, p. 29.
Klaus Hinrich Stahmer: Composers in leading positions. Hochschule für Musik Würzburg 1804-1979. Würzburg, 11.1979, p. 19.
Wolfgang Molkow: Bläservielfalt und Dämonenschlacht. Berliner Festwochen, Berlin, 27.09.1979.
Hans-Jörg von Jena: "Faust scenes" with a sense for musical effects. Spandauer Volksblatt, Berlin, 27.09.1979.
Bertold Hummel: The meaning of the world in the praise of God. Rheinischer Merkur, Bonn, 27 April 1979, 5.19.
Bertold Hummel: On "Visions" for large orchestra after the Apocalypse of St John the Evangelist by Bertold Hummel. Philharmonische Blätter, issue no. 8, Berlin, 1979/80, pp. 9-10.
Herbert Glossner: Organ works. Fono-Forum, Munich, 06/06/1978.
Mary Arm Campbell: Composers applanded following world premières.The Mail Tribune. Oregon, USA, 10.04.1978.
Eberhard Kraus: Musica Sacra. Regensburg, 01.1978, S 138-139.161
Bertold Hummel: Getting to know the mentality. in: How do composers find young performers? First answers to Erich Doflein's essay in the NMZ 5/76. Neue Musik-Zeitung, Regensburg, 12/1976-01/1977, p. 9.
Klaus Linsenmeyer: Compositions by Bertold Hummel. Volksblatt, Würzburg, 10/12/1977.
Gotthard Schmidtke: "Captivating finale of the Festive Days". Braunschweiger Zeitung, Braunschweig, 01.12.1975.
Bernd Seydel: After the painting by Hans Thoma. Main-Post, Würzburg, 28 July 1975.
Helmut Fritsch: Successful venture with the "Last Flower". Main-Echo, Aschaffenburg, 07/05/1975.
Udo Schirmbeck: Symphonic detours. Das Orchester, Mainz, 02.1975.
Karl Hahn: First performance with surprises. Hofer Anzeiger/Frankenpost, Hof, 02/02/1975.
Franz A. Stein: "Reverenza" by Bertold Hummel Deutsche Tagespost, Würzburg, 09.10.1974.
Klaus Hinrich Stahmer: Thirteen strings in the Goldsaal. Melos, Mainz, 02.1974, vol. 41, p. 48/49/109.
Margrit Leue: Hummel's "Contraste for Strings". Mainzer Allgemeine Zeitung, Mainz, 30.10.1973.
Klaus Hinrich Stahmer: "Sound experiments with Bertold Hummel". Neue Musik-Zeitung, Regensburg, 03/04/1972.
Bachtage 1971, Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, Mainz, 01.1972.
Helmut Fritsch: "Bach, the roots and the fruits". Main-Echo, Aschaffenburg, 30/11/1971.
W. Hambach: A valuable new psalm composition. Flensburger Tageblatt, Flensburg, 26 May 1970.
Alois Keck: "... is a fantastic thing after all" Volksblatt, Würzburg, 05.12.1967.
A. Meyer: "Würzburg Dommesse". Main-Post, Würzburg, 08.05.1967.
A. Meyer: Festive music. Badische Zeitung, Freiburg, 07.04.1966.
Dieter Schorr: Moderate avant-garde. Stuttgarter Zeitung, Stuttgart, 02.04.1962
Haass: Contemporary music resounded. Rheinische Post, Düsseldorf, 22 August 1959.
SUZ.: "The emperor's new clothes" musically dressed up. Mannheimer-Morgen Mannheim, 22/07/1957.
Hanns Reich: Recording number 1000, Badische Zeitung, Freiburg, 08/09/1956.
Broesike-Schoen: Organ music in St Johannis. Hamburger Abendblatt, Hamburg, 29 October 1953.
Hanns Reich: Church music in the cathedral, Badische Zeitung, 31 October 1952
Herbert Barth: Musikalische Jugend, No. 5-8, Bayreuth, 01.1951, p. 10.