Andreas Scherpf

Andreas Scherpf was born on 13 January 1837 in Speyer (Germany). His father was the musician Johann Michael Scherpf. After his schooldays Andreas Scherpf attended the teacher's college in Speyer and then worked as a teacher in a school in Steinfeld, later at a boys' school in Speyer. Beyond that Andreas Speyer was singing teacher at the Humanistisches Gymnasium in Speyer from 1873 till his death. He also worked as a chorus master and performed with his ensembles masses by Palestrina and Allegri in the Speyer Cathedral.

Andreas Scherpf also developed his own vocal method which was published in several volumes. The German journal "Musica Sacra" recommended this vocal method in its first issue in 1895 (p. 93): "Suitable educational books [for vocal methods] are: Vade mecum by Haller, [..] but especially the aptly vocal method by A. Scherpf."

And finally Andreas Scherpf also composed music like songs or his operetta "Der Stein der Weisen" which was performed several times.

Andreas Scherpf died on 23 January 1898 in Steinfeld near Speyer (Germany).

In my possession are several manuscripts with compositions by Andreas Scherpf. This include:



• Two manuscripts of the full score of the operetta "Der Stein der Weisen" op.6 (The Philosopher's Stone). At least one of the handwritten manuscripts is most likely in the hand of Andreas Scherpf because the score show many corrections, omissions and additions. The work was composed in 1883 and is scored for voices, SATB chorus, flute, clarinet, horns, trumpets, trombone, timpani and strings. Unfortunately the spoken text to the operetta is missing. I could not find information about the authorship of the (sung and spoken) text either.
  One score gives the information that the operetta was performed on 28 and 29 January 1900 with theatre director "Herr Domvikar Theobald" and conductor "Lehrer Pfell".
• The manuscript of the composition "Die Maifahrt" for SATB chorus. The work was composed in 1892 - according to a note on the manuscript - and uses a text by Franz Dittmar.
• A manuscript of a series of waltzes for piano. The waltzes No.1 to No.6 are complete, the final No.7 is missing a page.

Below one can find the full score of the music for the operetta "Der Stein der Weisen" by Andreas Scherpf: