Riedel, Carl 10/06/1827 - 06/03/1888

Carl Riedel (also: Karl, *October 6, 1827 in Cronenberg; † June 3, 1888 in Leipzig) was a German chapel conductor (Kapellmeister) and composer. For the choral literature, Riedel created works that have gained lasting significance, for example by publishing his Bergische Weihnachtslegenden (Christmas legend). But also his rather idiosyncratic arrangement of the Passion music by Heinrich Schütz which anticipated the Schütz Renaissance, the publication of the Christmas carols by Michael Praetorius ''Den die Hirten lobeten sehre, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen'' (He whom the shephers praised, a rose has sprung up) the Old Bohemian Hussite carols as well as the Eccard Prussian Festive Songs were of importance. To this day, the Old Bohemian songs are often sung as the Christmas carols ''Come, thy shepherds'' (Kommet, ihr Hirten) which can be found both in the Evangelical hymn book (EG 48) and in some diocesan appendices of the Praise of God and ''Freu dich, Erd und Sternenzelt'' (Be joyful, Earth and canopy of stars).

Riedel was co-founder of the ''Allgemeine Deutscher Musikverein'' (German General Music Society) and took over its presidency from Franz Brendel in 1869. In 1871, he became chairman of the Richard Wagner Society in Leipzig (Saxony).

A commemorative plaque was placed at his birthplace at Hütter Straße No. 4.