August Wiltberger

Full biography August Wiltberger

August Wiltberger was a German composer who lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He is mainly known for his church music compositions, having predominantly composed sacred works throughout his career. Wiltberger's music was heavily influenced by the Cecilian Movement, a 19th-century movement in the Catholic Church that sought to restore musical traditions to their original purity and simplicity.

Wiltberger's works include oratorios, motets, and hymns, many of which were premiered at St. Bonifatius Church in his hometown of Paderborn, Germany, where he worked as a music director for many years. Some of his most notable works include the oratorio "Die heilige Elisabeth" and the hymn "O heil'ge Seelenspeise."

In addition to his work as a composer and music director, Wiltberger was also an organist, and many of his compositions include rich and intricate organ accompaniments. His music is known for its harmonic complexity and emotional depth, and it continues to be performed and studied by musicians and scholars today.

Despite his prolific contributions to sacred music, Wiltberger's life and work are not widely known outside of musicology circles. Nonetheless, his music remains an important part of the legacy of the Cecilian Movement and the broader tradition of sacred music in Germany.