Wocke, Erich

Erich Walter Wocke (born 1907) was the son of the merchant Rudolf Wocke and the opera singer Emilie (nee Dowerk). Erich's musical education included piano and theory with his mother, studies for voice and singing at the Cologne Conservatory, among others with Lula Mysz-Gmeiner in Berlin and composition studies with various teachers. Together with his brother, the baritone Hans Wocke, he was member of the ''Kölner Rundfunkchor'' (Cologne Radio Choir). Beginning in 1937, engagements followed as a lyrical baritone on German stages until in 1942 he was conscripted into the army. After the war he made ends meet by working as construction worker in order to support his family. Through his energy and vigor he was able to prevent his heavily damaged house from collapsing in Wiesbaden, Germany. Afterwards he was a teacher for singing and taught above all Americans who served as soldiers in Wiesbaden. Unfortunately for him the soldiers left Germany in a few years and he found himself trying to earn a living in municipal services which absolutely had nothing to do with music. During this frustrating period he used every free minute for composing. He dedicated to his grown children as well as several choirs numerous songs. Pure instrumental works by him are rare. His early compositions are in terms of harmonics more conventional, in part emulating Max Reger but also turning away from chromatics and functionality with a tendancy to archaic scales such as pentatic and tones used in the church. Moreover, the compositions were in scope quarter harmonic or whole note scale. The whole note scale was characterized by his twelve tone music style. Regardless if the later works were composed in twelve tone music or free tonality, Erich Wocke understood to form the texts which were so dear to him in a musical form so that the melody and harmonic remained with the listener. Last but not least, he was able to break out of the inflexibility for the composing rules of tone serialism. Erick Wocke and his wife died as a result of an auto accident in 1972.

Further information: https://www.erich-wocke.com/