Knettel, Josef, 1875-1972

Josef Knettel was born on August 22, 1875 in Düsseldorf, Germany. His father, Josef Knettel Sr., was an amateur musician, and provided his initial training in organ and choral conducting. The younger Knettel later studied with Julius Buths and Dr. August Reismann, the latter of whom introduced him to Dr. Bernhard Scholz, who offered him a scholarship to study at the Frankfurt Hoch Conservatory (Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium – Musikakademie). At Frankfurt, Knettel studied with Iwan Knorr, and met Hermann Zilcher and Reinhard Oppel, classmates who became lifelong friends. He worked in Mainz after graduating, and met Willem de Haan, who brought the beauty and musical culture of the town of Bingen to his attention. When the position became open, Knettel applied for and became the director of the Bingen Cäcilienverein; he soon was also appointed director of the Männergesangverein in Bingen. Knettel and his wife, Franziska (née Huy) remained active as musicians in Bingen, Mainz, and Bad Kreuznach. The Nazi regime dissolved the Bingen Cäcilienverein in 1934, and compelled Knettel to join the Männergesangverein, with automatic membership in the Nazi Singer's Union, though Knettel never joined the Nazi Party. Knettel continued to work until age 84, interrupted only when Nazi losses in the Second World War halted all culural evnts. Knettel was honored by the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) with the Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz), and Josef Knettel-Straße still exists in eastern Bingen. Knettel died in Bingen on December 5, 1972.