Wilhelm Middelschulte

Full biography Wilhelm Middelschulte

Wilhelm Middelschulte (1863-1943) was a German-American composer and organist, known for his contributions to the development of organ music in the United States. He was born in Germany and received his education at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. After completing his studies, Middelschulte worked as a church organist in Dortmund and Berlin.

In 1891, Middelschulte moved to the United States, where he settled in Chicago and quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the city's musical community. He worked as an organist, conductor, composer and teacher, and was particularly known for his skill on the instrument of the organ. In addition to his work in Chicago, Middelschulte also performed and conducted concerts in other cities throughout the US.

Middelschulte's compositions drew heavily on his background in German Romantic music, and his works include choral music, piano music, and pieces for organ. He was also a prolific transcriber and arranger of music, and his editions of works by Bach and other composers remain influential today.

Alongside his musical career, Middelschulte was also an active member of Chicago's German American community, and was involved in various cultural and social organizations. He was a member of the Chicago Cultural Society and was active in local German-American music festivals.

In his later years, Middelschulte suffered from health problems which caused him to withdraw from public life. He died in Chicago in 1943 at the age of 80. Today, he is remembered as one of the leading figures in the development of organ music in the United States, and his works continue to be performed and studied by musicians and musicologists around the world.