Abstract:

The Austrian composer and Byzantinist Egon Wellesz (1885–1974) is regarded as one of the
founders of Byzantine musicology (beside H. J. W. Tillyard and Carsten Høeg). His main
achievement as musicologist was that of deciphering the dynamic meaning of the Byzantine
neumes and describing systematically the history of Byzantine chant with a special focus on
connections between Eastern and Western liturgical music. What is less known though is the
fact that Wellesz also drew inspiration from Byzantine chant as a composer. Thus, two of his
works – “Festliches Präludium” (op. 100) and the cantata “Mirabile Mysterium” (op. 101) from
1966/67 – are based on Byzantine melodies.
On the occasion of his 135th birthday, this talk will offer insights into Wellesz’s work as a
Byzantinist as well as a composer, presenting details from his hitherto mostly unknown personal
letters and writings. Thus, a multifaceted and fascinating portrait of a personality will emerge,
who not only knew the 20th century-musical elite (starting as a pupil of Arnold Schönberg), but
who also founded and distinctly shaped the research field of Byzantine musicology.