Walter E. Aschaffenburg (1927–2005) was a German-born American composer, who for most of his career taught composition at Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
[5][6] At Oberlin along with David Robertson, Richard Hoffmann, Joseph R. Wood initiated the conservatory major in composition in 1956.
Aschaffenburg's colleague at the Oberlin Conservatory, Randolph Coleman, wrote that "Walter was a traditionalist—as a person, a pedagogue, and a composer."
His miniature opera, "Libertatem Apellant" (1976), which used correspondence between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, incorporated patriotic tunes and Stephen Foster songs.
It noted that "difficult as the form is, dubious as the possibility of production and rewards are, opera still continues to attract the American composer.
[7] Aschaffenburg's colleague, Randolph Coleman, wrote "he was a generous composition and music theory teacher for 40 years, one who gave unstintingly to those who would put forward a serious effort.