Justus Hermann Wetzel

Justus Hermann Wetzel (11 March 1879 – 6 December 1973) was a German composer, writer and music educator.

Although Wetzel lived a relatively secluded life and was hardly committed to his work, a large circle of friends and admirers surrounded him.

On the occasion of Wetzel's 50th birthday, a concert was held on 16 March 1929 in the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, which was dedicated exclusively to his work.

In 1937 Wetzel was dismissed from his teaching post because he refused to separate from his Jewish wife Rose née Bergmann.

In 1945 Wetzel became a professor at the Berlin University of the Arts; in 1948, he moved with his family to Überlingen at Bodensee where he died at the age of 94.

Numerous interpreters have worked for Wetzel, among the most renowned are Emmi Leisner, Heinrich Schlusnus, Paula Salomon-Lindberg, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Peter Schöne as well as the pianist Sandra Droucker and the song accompanist Franz Rupp.