Cornelius Heinrich Dretzel

Full biography Cornelius Heinrich Dretzel

Cornelius Heinrich Dretzel (1697-1775) was a German organist and composer. He was born and baptized on September 18, 1697, in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany, and died there on May 7, 1775. Dretzel was known for his proficiency in keyboard counterpoints and fugues and was considered a leading organ virtuoso of his time.

Dretzel is said to have studied under the famous composer Johann Pachelbel in Nuremberg before going on to become a pupil of Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig. However, there is some debate regarding the extent of his relationship with Bach, as there are no surviving documents proving the two ever met. Nevertheless, Dretzel's musical style is heavily influenced by Bach's, and it is possible that they did collaborate in some capacity.

Dretzel's compositions include keyboard works and church music, many of which have been lost or remain unpublished. However, some of his surviving works include the hymn "O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte" and several organ fugues.

In recent years, Dretzel has garnered attention in the classical music world as a possible composer of the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, which has long been attributed to Bach. While the evidence supporting Dretzel's authorship is not conclusive, some scholars have argued that the work's stylistic similarities to Dretzel's other compositions, as well as the lack of evidence linking it to Bach, suggest that Dretzel may have been the true author of the piece.

Overall, Cornelius Heinrich Dretzel was a talented composer and organist who contributed significantly to the development of Baroque music in Germany. Despite the limited information available about his life and work, his artistic legacy continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.