Schäfer, Martina 04/06/1952

Curriculum Vitae

I was born in 1952 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
My mother played cello in the "Orchester der Landesregierung" and was a member of a string quartet. My grandmother taught piano and was organist in a small town in southern Germany.
Music was the "religion" in our family and all adults greatly encouraged us children to play an instrument or to study music.

I initially received flute lessons, later singing and piano lessons.
After finishing school, I studied musicology, education and German literature at various universities. In 1986 I received my doctorate in German Literature from the University of Bremen, and over the years I have received additional degrees in Prehistory and Theology.

During my studies I taught the playing of all types of recorders for many years, as well as rhythmic-musical early education at various youth music schools.
Passion drew me to Switzerland, where I took singing, composition and organ lessons I was a member of a chorale cola and sang in a chamber choir, a small opera choir ensemble and the St. Gallen Cathedral Choir.

The first of my larger compositions have been published by "Müller & Schade" in Bern from 2011:

- Missa islamica (a crossover composition)
- Benedict of Nursia (oratorio)

This was followed by 2014 - 2018

- Stabat Mater
- Credo
- pater noster
- Catenae Galli (oratorio)

- a 7 part Magnificat
and
- the cycle "Dominus non sum dignus"

will follow shortly.

Smaller works for organ, piano, choirs of various sizes and instrumentation have been performed in various contexts over the past years.

So for example

- "The Spirit of the Lord", Pentecost song for 4 part choir and organ

World premiere October 2015, Oberägeri

or during a service in November 2015 phrases from my

- Eragon Organ Suite


April 2016, the jury of the "Klangundgloria" competition, Zurich
works submitted by me out of competition with the following words:

"Although it was clear from the formal aspect that we could not consider your submissions, the members looked at your works in preparation for the session and I am happy to inform you that in both works your sense of choral tonality was highly praised. It was also unanimously noted that especially ''Holz auf Jesu Schulter'' could also be performed effectively by simpler choirs (which cannot be said of much contemporary music in the field of serious music)".


November 2016 the commissioned composition

- "Dignity between Heaven and Earth" for 8 part choir (optional four part choir and piano)

premiered by the a-capella ensemble "cantamo" in Cologne, Germany.

November 2019 saw the first performance

- "Esurientes implevit bonis", the fifth movement from my 7 part
"Magnificat" (as four part choir with string accompaniment)

by the "Kammerchor Will" in Baden and Wil, Germany.


Currently I am working on my fourth oratorio: "Hesekiel me-too''