Ronny Krippner

Last updated

Ronny Krippner is a German-born British organist, conductor, teacher and composer who currently serves as Director of Music at Ripon Cathedral. [1]

Contents

Early career and education

Krippner was born and educated in Marktredwitz, Germany, and studied organ with Alois Fischer (Waldsassen) and composition, harmony and counterpoint with Eberhard Kraus (Regensburg) and Wolfram Graf (Bayreuth). He graduated in Kirchenmusik (church music studies) from the Hochschule für Katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik in Regensburg, where he studied organ and organ improvisation with Franz Josef Stoiber, piano with Norbert Brandstetter and orchestral conducting with Graham Buckland.

During his time in Germany, Krippner held a number of organist and director of music positions. From 1995 to 1999, he was Chorregent at the Catholic Herz-Jesu-Kirche in Marktredwitz, then Kantor at the Lutheran Maria-Magdalena-Kirche in Arzberg until 2002 and Kirchenmusiker at the Catholic St. Albertus-Magnus-Kirche in Regensburg. From 2001 to 2004, he was also assistant choirmaster of the Regensburger Domspatzen (Regensburg Cathedral Choir).

Krippner moved to England in 2004 to take up the post of choral scholar at Exeter Cathedral [2] whilst studying for an MA in English Cathedral Music at Exeter University. In 2005, he moved to Bristol to study for a PGCE in Secondary Music at Bristol University, whilst being organ scholar at Bristol Cathedral and organist at Clifton College. In 2019, Krippner was awarded a PhD by Birmingham City University for a thesis entitled 'Organ Improvisation in the Anglican Cathedral Tradition: A Professional Portfolio with Critical and Contextual Comments'.

Career

After a brief period as assistant organist at Newport Cathedral, South Wales, and teacher of music at Bristol Grammar School, Krippner moved to London where he became organist and teacher of music at King’s College School, Wimbledon, and Assistant Director of Music at St George’s Church, Hanover Square.

From 2013 to 2021 Krippner served as organist and Director of Music at Croydon Minster, and in January 2022 he was appointed Director of Music at Ripon Cathedral.

As a concert artist, Krippner has performed throughout the UK, as well as in Europe, Australia and Mexico. He is particularly noted as an expert organ improviser, having won accolades at international organ improvisation competitions (e.g. St Albans, Biarritz). Past positions include teaching organ improvisation at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire [3] and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London. He regularly contributes to German and British music magazines on the subject of choral and organ music and teaches organ on various music courses (e.g. RCO, Oundle School, London Organ Improvisation Course).

In recognition of his artistic work, Krippner was awarded the Kulturförderpreis by Marktredwitz Council (1998) and the Sudetendeutsche Kulturpreis (2018). [4]

Broadcast and film work

Krippner has performed for broadcasts on BBC One, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, Classic FM and Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation).

He also co-wrote and presented the documentary Ex Tempore – Organ Improvisation in England, [5] a film that sheds light on the development of English organ improvisation from 1500 to the present day – Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Henry Purcell, George Frideric Handel, Charles Villiers Stanford, Herbert Howells, William Mathias and Kenneth Leighton. For each composer, Krippner sketches their musical background and analyses their compositional techniques before performing a full improvisation in their style. The organs he plays are carefully chosen to present the different musical styles at their best. They include big cathedral organs in Bristol and Liverpool to smaller historical instruments at Little Stanmore and Adlington Hall. This film was produced by Fugue State Films and released in 2011 on DVD with an accompanying CD with recordings by Ronny Krippner of stylistic organ improvisations. At the time of its release it was reviewed in the BBC Music Magazine as follows: “A phenomenal improviser… Ex Tempore is a fascinating insight into a neglected art."

In July 2017, Krippner recorded a CD of organ music from the former Kingdom of Bohemia on historical organs in St. Anna in Planá, Dreifaltigkeitskirche Kappl near Waldsassen and St. Nicolas in Cheb, featuring music by Franz Johann Habermann, Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer and improvisations on music by Johann Hagius and Jobst vom Brandt. [6]

Discography

Partial discography:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ripon Cathedral</span> Cathedral in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England

The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, commonly known as Ripon Cathedral, and until 1836 known as Ripon Minster, is a cathedral in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a monastery by monks of the Irish tradition in the 660s, it was refounded as a Benedictine monastery by St Wilfrid in 672. The church became collegiate in the tenth century, and acted as a mother church within the large Diocese of York for the remainder of the Middle Ages. The present church is the fourth, and was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. In 1836 the church became the cathedral for the Diocese of Ripon. In 2014 the Diocese was incorporated into the new Diocese of Leeds, and the church became one of three co-equal cathedrals of the Bishop of Leeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Scott Whiteley</span> English organist and composer

John Scott Whiteley is an English organist and composer. He has performed extensively around the world and since 1985 has undertaken an annual tour of the US. He has performed in most major UK cathedrals and concert halls, and was Assistant Organist and later Organist and Director of the Girls' Choir at York Minster between 1976 and 2010. He is currently Organist Emeritus of York Minster.

David John Briggs is an English organist and composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle</span>

The Choir of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle exists to sing services in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leeds Minster</span> Church in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Leeds Minster, or the Minster and Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds is the minster church of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It stands on the site of the oldest church in the city and is of architectural and liturgical significance. A church is recorded on the site as early as the 7th century, although the present structure is a Gothic Revival one, designed by Robert Dennis Chantrell and completed in 1841. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and was the Parish Church of Leeds before receiving the honorific title of "Minster" in 2012. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by Historic England.

Andrew Cantrill FRSA is a British-born organist and choral director. He has held cathedral positions in New Zealand and the United States, and was organist of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk until September 2018. He is a Fellow, prize-winner and former Trustee Council member of the Royal College of Organists, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a tutor for the RCO Academy Organ School, an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, an active recitalist, and a sought-after broadcaster, writer and presenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croydon Minster</span> Church in Croydon, United Kingdom

Croydon Minster is the parish and civic church of the London Borough of Croydon, located in the Old Town area of Croydon. There are currently more than 35 churches in the borough, with Croydon Minster being the most prominent. It is Grade I listed.

The Choir of Leeds Minster is the choir of Leeds Minster, Leeds, England, which became a Minster in September 2012. The choir was founded by vicar, Richard Fawcett probably as early as 1815, and was certainly in existence by 1818. The church's choir - boys and men - was, from its origins, a charge on the church rate; and, in what was then a largely non-conformist town, a none-too-popular one. By the 1830s, the choir's resourcing had been taken over by a list of voluntary subscribers. On arrival as Vicar of Leeds in 1837, Walter Farquhar Hook said he found "the surplices in rags and the books in tatters". Additional to its extensive commitment in the provision of choral services, the choir is known to a wide public through many recitals, recordings and broadcasts and by its regular choir tours - the first tour was held in July 1968 and the 40th anniversary tour, from 22 to 27 July 2008, included singing in Ely Cathedral, King's College, Cambridge, the National Musicians' Church St Sepulchre-without-Newgate in the City of London, All Saints Pastoral Centre London Colney and the Chapel of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Lionel Frederick Dakers was an English cathedral organist who served in Ripon Cathedral and Exeter Cathedral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organist</span> Musician who plays any type of organ

An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational hymn-singing and play liturgical music.

Franz Lehrndorfer was a German organist, composer, and pedagogue.

Peter Thomas Nardone BA FRCO is primarily a freelance conductor, singer and composer. He has sung with the Monteverdi Choir, The King’s Consort and the Tallis Scholars. He has been Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral and was subsequently Organist and Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral.

Patrick Russill is an English choral conductor, organist and music conservatoire teacher.

Charles Harrison has been Organist and Master of the Choristers of Chichester Cathedral since September 2014, succeeding Sarah Baldock. He has also held musical posts at Southwell Minster, Carlisle and Lincoln Cathedral.

The Choir Schools' Association is a U.K. organisation that provides support to choir schools and choristers, and promotes singing, in particular of music for Christian worship in the cathedral tradition. It represents 44 choir schools attached to cathedrals, churches, and college chapels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Thiel</span> German organist and church musician

Carl Josef Thiel was a German organist, church musician and professor of music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gereon Krahforst</span> German composer, organist, pianist, harpsichordist, and church musician

Gereon Krahforst is a German composer, concert organist, pianist, harpsichordist, and church musician.

References

  1. "Welcome Dr. Ronny Kirppner, Our New Director of Music", Ripon Cathedral, 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  2. "Appointment of Organ Scholar for 2019-20". Exeter-cathedral.org.uk. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. "Ronny Krippner". Bcu.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. "Acht Preisträger und eine aufrüttelnde Dankesrede". Augsburger-allgemeine.de. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. "Ex Tempore-The Art of Organ - NAXOSdirekt". Naxosdirekt.de. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  6. "AMBIENTE - deutsch". Ambiente-audio.de. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
Preceded by
Paul Ayres
Assistant Director of Music, St George's Church, Hanover Square
2008 2013
Succeeded by
Robin Walker
Preceded by Organist and Director of Music, Croydon Minster
2013 2021
Succeeded by
Justin Miller
Preceded by
Peter Wright (acting)
Director of Music, Ripon Cathedral
2022 present
Succeeded by