Gustav Schreck

Schreck was born in 1849, the son of a hosier, which was at that time a usual profession in the region of Vogtland where his family lived.

Upon completion of training, he worked temporarily as a village schoolmaster in Gommla and Remptendorf, Germany.

In 1868 he moved to Leipzig to study music and other subjects at the Conservatory in that city with the Thomas cantor Ernst Friedrich Richter.

In 1870, the 21-year old joined his brother in Vyborg, Finland, where he taught music at the German School for four years.

The artistic quality of the performances under Schreck rose – his work was recognized, among other things, by the title of professor (1898) and by an honorary doctorate awarded in 1909 by Leipzig University.

Gustav Schreck dedicated the motet The Lord is my shepherd to Rector Jungmann's 25th work anniversary (1906).

He did not shy from performing the cantatas in their entirety and continued the practice of his predecessor and Bach researcher Rust to give the soprano and alto solo parts to members of the Thomas Choir.

Notable students of Schreck during this time include F. Melius Christiansen and Anna Diller Starbuck.

His compositions are characterized by a prevailing contrapuntal technique and singable vocal lines.