Josef Niklfeld

The biography of the composer Josef Niklfeld remains a mystery. I discovered his works after acquiring part of the estate of the double bassist Karl Schreinzer in 2026. Among the materials in this collection were three musical manuscripts by Josef Niklfeld: an autograph manuscript of his offertory "Angelus Domini" for soprano, double bass, and organ, as well as copies of a "Sonata for Double Bass and Piano" and a joint composition with Karl Schreinzer, "Ziehreriade for double bass and piano".
When searching for biographical information about Josef Niklfeld, one finds virtually nothing. The only trace appears in a newspaper article published in a Viennese newspaper on 6 April 1912, announcing an Easter Sunday Mass (7 April) at the Church "Maria Empfängnis" in Simmering, and noting that the offertory was composed by Josef Niklfeld.
The autograph manuscript of the offertory bears the dedication “Dedicated and devoted to my friend Karl Schreinzer.” Furthermore, the focus on compositions featuring the double bass is striking and rather unusual.
Based on these few facts, it seems reasonable to assume that Josef Niklfeld was an amateur musician, possibly a double bassist himself, and that his lifespan may have been similar to that of Karl Schreinzer, approximately 1880–1960.
Given the relatively limited repertoire for the double bass, these works may nevertheless be of interest. The corresponding scores are therefore presented here: