Georg Capellen

Georg Capellen was born on 1 April 1869 in Salzuflen (Germany). He attended the Gymnasium in his hometown and subsequently studied philosophy and later law at the universities of Berlin, Göttingen, and Tübingen, passing the state examinations in both subjects. During this period, he acquired his knowledge of music theory and composition largely through self-study.
From 1898 to 1900 he served in the civil service of the Principality of Lippe. He subsequently turned to a professional career in music and, from 1906 onward, worked in Osnabrück as a composer, music critic, and music writer. After approximately six years he moved to Cologne and shortly thereafter to Munich. In 1914 he settled in Hanover. Beginning in 1922, he was employed as music editor and critic for the Niederdeutsche Zeitung. Alongside these activities, he published numerous writings on harmony, voice leading, Richard Wagner, and the music of East Asia. His theoretical writings attracted considerable attention; for example, Arnold Schoenberg referred to Capellen and his book "Ein neuer exotischer Musikstil" in his treatise "Harmonielehre".
As a composer, Capellen produced songs, piano music, and arrangements of traditional Asian melodies. Several of his compositions were published by Breitkopf & Härtel, including "Exotische Mollmusik", "Sechs Samoanische Volkslieder", and "Shogaku Shoka".
Georg Capellen died on 19 January 1934 in Hanover (Germany).

Melodramatische Märchen


I am in possession of the complete compositional estate of Georg Capellen’s "melodramatische Märchen" (melodramatic fairy tales). These are spoken fairy-tale texts that Georg Capellen set to music. Some of the works are dated 1919, and it appears that Capellen devoted particular attention to this genre during that year. That matches with the fact that in 1920 the actress Maria Lorenz of the "Deutsches Theater" in Hannover performed some or maybe all of these melodramatic fairy tales at several occasions. She was accompanied at the piano by Berte Bussilliat.

The following materials are contained in this archive:


  • Der Rosenprinz (text by Ludwig Finckh)
  • Der grosse Augenblick (text by Manfred Kyber)
  • Das Faultier (text by Manfred Kyber)
  • Von Himmel und Hölle (French fairy tale)
  • Die Himmelbrieflein
  • Warum das Meerwasser salzig ist (German fairy tale)
  • Sternenkind (German fairy tale)
  • Dornröschen (fairy tale by Grimm)
  • Drei rote Ferkelchen
  • Von dem Machandelbaum (fairy tale by Grimm)
  • Herr Korbes (fairy-tale by Grimm)
  • Vom dicken fetten Pfannkuchen (German fairy tale)
  • Der Soldat und die schwarze Prinzessin (German fairy tale)
  • Rumpelstilzchen (fairy tale by Grimm)
  • Von dem Fischer und seiner Frau (German fairy tale)


In addition I also own a typewritten work catalogue, very likely done after his death by one of his descendants.