Friedrich Funcke

Friedrich Funcke (1642 – 20 October 1699) was a German composer.

Life Funcke was born in Nossen. After studies in Wittenberg in 1660–61 he became Kantor at Perleberg. In 1664 he was appointed Kantor at St Johannis, Lüneburg where he stayed till 1694. He moved to Römstedt where he spent his last years. He died at Lüneburg.

He is the composer of a St Matthew Passion that is quite important in the history of the oratorio. The passion has come down to us in two versions: one without and one with continuo (probably not written by Funcke).

Works

Secular works Glückwünschender Zuruff (Wohlauff, mein schwacher Geist), S, 2 vn, bc (1664) Trauer-Ode (Ach! was ist doch unser Leben), 6vv, bc (1664) Klag- und Trost-Zeilen (Ach! Hertzeleid! Ja diss Leben-lose Leben), 6vv, bc (1665) Seliger Abschied (Ach! Herr, ich warte auff dein Heil), 5vv, bc (1665) Seeliger Abschied (Mensch, was ist des Lebens Zier), 6vv (1665) Letzte Pflicht (Hier kurtze Zeit, ach leid), 6vv (1666) Danck- und Denck-Mahl, 8vv, insts a 5, bc (Hamburg, 1666) Hochzeit-Freude (Was des Himmels Raht erfunden), S, 2 inst, bc (1667) Trauer-Thoon (Was ist doch diese Welt), 5vv (1669) Der ewig-feste und unüberwindliche Gottes Schutz (Ist Gott für uns), 4vv, 5 insts, bc (Hamburg, 1682) New Year cantata (Herr, hebe an zu segnen) 4vv, chorus 4vv, str, bc, 1684, D-Lr

Sacred works St Matthew Passion, c1668–74, D-Lr (anon., attrib. Funcke by Birke) St Luke Passion, 1683, music lost 43 melodies, 7 texts, in Lüneburgisches Gesangbuch (Lüneburg, 1686) Litania, 8vv (2 choirs), insts

Theoretical works Janua Latino-germanica ad artem musicam, clavibus facilioribus in usum scholae ... Lunaeburgensi (Hamburg, 1680), lost