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New book reveals the musical treasure trove of the Dresden Hofkirche!
Dr. Gerhard Poppe presents his book on the music history of the Dresden Court Church, sponsored by the Dresden-Meißen diocese.
New book reveals the musical treasure trove of the Dresden Hofkirche!
In a ceremonial setting, Dr. At the end of October 2025, Gerhard Poppe handed over his new book “Music from the Catholic Court Church of Dresden – A Historical Guide” to Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers and Vicar General Andreas Kutschke. The event took place in the impressive setting of the Dresden Hofkirche, which is not only considered a landmark of the city, but is also recognized as an important center for Catholic church music in Saxony. This handover is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the musical tradition of the Hofkirche, as bistum-dresden-meissen.de reports.
The preparation of the book was actively supported by the diocese of Dresden-Meißen and is now a valuable contribution to historical processing. On an impressive 230 pages, it sheds light on the development of music in the court church, which goes back to the change of denomination of the Saxon elector August the Strong in 1697. Even after the end of the Saxon-Polish Union, the House of Wettin remained true to the Catholic faith and shaped the musical landscape for a century and a half, as the work impressively documents.
A look back at music history
For a long time, the musical works of the Hofkirche were almost exclusively shaped by bandmasters and composers employed at the court and were only rarely performed outside of Dresden. The new historical guide enables those interested to deepen their knowledge of the era and provides a comprehensive picture of the musical circumstances of the time. This hits the nerve of the times, because interest in the music of the Dresden Hofkirche is visibly booming.
The book contains numerous colored illustrations and is available for EUR 19.50. An ISBN of 978-3-910684-09-6 also makes it easy to find. The historical context describes not only the musical traditions, but also the dilapidated beauty of the Catholic court church, which is inextricably linked to the city of Dresden. According to de.wikipedia.org, the cathedral was built by Gaetano Chiaveri in the Baroque style between 1739 and 1755 and serves not only as the cathedral of the Dresden-Meißen diocese, but also as a city parish church.
The Hofkirche as a cultural heritage
The Catholic Court Church houses the Wettinergruft, the burial place of the Saxon electors and kings. It stands proudly on the banks of the Elbe in the Old Town between the Palace and Theater Squares and is connected to the Residenzschloss via a transition. Its consecration took place on June 29, 1751, and since then it has undergone numerous changes, particularly during and after the devastating air raids on Dresden in February 1945.
The important role of the Hofkirche in cultivating church music and as a center for musical performances is a rich tradition that continues to be enlivened today by several choirs. Cathedral priest Norbert Büchner, who has been in office since 2014, is at the helm of this cultural institution that makes the heart of the city vibrate.
Overall, the presentation of the new book is a sign that the musical tradition of the Hofkirche is not forgotten, but remains an important part of Dresden's cultural identity. This is how the work of Dr. Poppe is valued not only as a historical leader, but also as a valuable resource for generations to come.