Waldemar Eckertz

Waldemar Eckertz was born on 1 July 1878 (other sources say: 1881) in Elberfeld (Germany). After completing his secondary education, Eckertz attended drama school - where he most likely also studied music - and initially pursued a career as an actor, performing with a traveling theater company. In addition to his career as a stage artist, Waldemar Eckertz also worked as an editor for the Bergisch-Märkische Zeitung in Elberfeld before moving to Düsseldorf in 1906. There, he continued to pursue both career paths; notably, his stage performances took on a more musical character. By 1908, Waldemar Eckertz was the pianist for the Düsseldorf Vocal Quartet and performed throughout the region. In 1913, he relocated to Berlin, a move that took his professional career in an entirely different direction.
Evidently, Waldemar Eckertz began to focus more intensely on painting during this time, and from 1916 onward, he studied under Lyonel Feininger. Through Feininger, he became associated with the German Expressionist movement and joined the Novembergruppe (November Group), one of the most influential artists' associations of the Weimar Republic. Eckertz exhibited his works at the renowned Der Sturm exhibitions organized by Herwarth Walden. His creative output extended well beyond painting; he published poems and linocuts, designed books, and wrote poetry, theatrical plays, and music criticism.
During his years in Berlin, Eckertz cultivated friendships with many of the most significant artists and intellectuals of his generation. Among those with whom he maintained personal connections were Lyonel Feininger, Else Lasker-Schüler, Wassily Kandinsky, Oskar Kokoschka, Walter Gropius, Herwarth Walden, and Friedrich Kayssler.
Following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, the artists of the Novembergruppe and their works were denounced as "Bolshevist" and banned. It is not known how Waldemar Eckertz supported himself financially in the years that followed, nor what his activities were after the Nazis effectively banned him from working. However, it appears that during the war years from 1941 onward, he increasingly dedicated himself to music and began to compose. Over the following years, he produced dozens of compositions, primarily lieder (art songs) and chamber music.
Waldemar Eckertz died on 14 October 1947 in Berlin (Germany).

Waldemar Eckertz music archive


In my possession is what seems to be the complete musical estate of Waldemar Eckertz containing the manuscripts of his compositions. In 2026 his whole estate with paintings, letters, etc was for sale and this set of musical manuscripts was part of it and the only lot with music reference. Therefore I assume no other compositions by him exist.

Waldemar Eckertz composed songs and chamber music. Here is a overview about the manuscripts that are part of my archive:


chamber music:

  • Piece I for violin and piano (1941)
  • Piece II for violin and piano (1941)
  • Melodie III, for piano (1941)
  • Impromptu for piano (1941)
  • Impromptu II for piano (1941)
  • Largo religioso for piano (1941)
  • Barbarole for piano (1941)
  • Suite for piano (1941)
  • Helge's Heimkehr, for piano (1942)
  • Melodie II, for piano (1942)
  • Kavatine for violin, cello and piano (1943)
  • Tanz, for piano (1943)
  • Frohgemut, for piano (1944)
  • Dem Gedenken Herbert W.s, for 4 string instruments (1945)
  • Zum Gedächtnis, for piano (1945)
  • Impromptu As-Dur, for piano
  • Frühling, for piano


songs:

  • Choral "Geht auch den Weg durch Dürre", for voice and piano (1939)
  • D.-D.O.D - Hymn for solo and community singing (1941)
  • Auf ein schlummerndes Kind, for voice and piano (text by Hebbel, 1941)
  • Harfenspieler II, for voice and piano (text by Goethe, 1941)
  • Wandrers Nachtlied, for voice and piano (text by Goethe, 1941)
  • Gesang, for voice and piano (text by Novalis, 1941)
  • Im Mai, for voice and piano (text by Claudius, 1941)
  • Und bin der Ärmste von der Welt.., for voice and piano (text by Dauthendey, 1942)
  • Wach auf!, for voice and piano (1942)
  • Die Gefährtin, for voice and piano (1942)
  • Gang ins Licht, for voice and piano (1942)
  • Dank der Liebe, for voice and piano (1942)
  • So wandern wir der Heimat zu, for voice and piano (1942)
  • Lass dein Reich in uns erstehn, for voice and piano (1943)
  • Frühling, for voice and piano (1943)
  • Gott, for voice and piano (text by Eckertz, 1943)
  • Erster Verlust, for voice and piano (text by Goethe, 1943)
  • Choral "Wir flehn zu dir, Gott, gib uns Kraft", for voice and piano (1943)
  • Choral "O Herr, sieh gnadenvoll darein", for voice and piano (1943)
  • Deine Seele ruht in Frieden, for voice and piano (1944)
  • Choral "Vom Schein und Trug der Menschenmacht", for voice and piano (1944)
  • Ich hab' mein Sach' auf nichts gestellt, for voice and piano (text by Eckertz, 1944)
  • Lass mich meinen Weg nur gehn'.., for voice and piano (text by Eckertz, 1944)
  • Du hast nun Ruh' gefunden, for voice and piano (1945)
  • Wandrers Nachtlied, for voice and piano (text by Goethe, 1945)
  • Meiner lieben Lotte, for voice and piano (1945)
  • Verbundenheit, for voice and piano (1946)
  • Beichte, for voice and piano (1946)


Free scores of music by Waldemar Eckertz


For information purpose I have typeset several of the compositions by Waldemar Eckertz that interested musicians get an impression of his writing. I have chosen:

  • Suite for piano
  • Impromptu for piano
  • Dem Gedenken Herbert W.s, for 4 string instruments
  • Kavatine, for violin, cello and piano
  • Frühling, for piano
  • Verbundenheit, for alto and piano
  • Und bin der Ärmste von der Welt, for voice and piano
Eckertz_Suite.pdf Eckertz_Impromptu.pdf Eckertz_Gedenken.pdf Eckertz_Kavatine.pdf Eckertz_Fruehling.pdf Eckertz_Verbundenheit.pdf Eckertz_Aermste.pdf

self-portrait 1927