kapellmeister
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kapellmeister
The musical director or conductor of an orchestra or choir. The term is often used in historical contexts for musicians at courts or in churches, but also still today for leaders of certain ensembles.
Johann Sebastian Bach war ein berühmter Kapellmeister in Leipzig.
Johann Sebastian Bach was a famous kapellmeister in Leipzig.
The word is made up of 'die Kapelle' (chapel/band) and 'der Meister' (master). Besides a small church, 'Kapelle' can also refer to a small orchestra. So the 'Kapellmeister' is the 'master of the orchestra'.
Der junge Musiker träumte davon, eines Tages Kapellmeister zu werden.
The young musician dreamed of becoming a kapellmeister one day.
The term is very often used in connection with European music history, especially the Baroque and Classical periods. It describes the position of composers who were employed at courts or in large churches.
Joseph Haydn war lange Zeit als Kapellmeister am Hof der Familie Esterházy tätig.
Joseph Haydn worked for a long time as kapellmeister at the court of the Esterházy family.
You often find the term in compounds that describe the workplace more precisely, for example 'Hofkapellmeister' (at the court of a noble) or 'Domkapellmeister' (at a city's cathedral).
Die Stelle des Domkapellmeisters in Köln ist sehr angesehen.
The position of cathedral kapellmeister in Cologne is highly respected.
conductor
Der Dirigent and der Kapellmeister can both lead an orchestra musically. Dirigent is the general term for this function. Kapellmeister is more strongly associated with tradition or a permanent position in a particular ensemble and is especially suitable as an institutional title.
Das Stadttheater ernannte ihn zum Kapellmeister seines Orchesters.
The city theater appointed him kapellmeister of its orchestra.
Beim Konzert zeigte der Dirigent dem Orchester die Einsätze.
At the concert, the conductor gave the orchestra its cues.
