Franz von Eckert

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Franz von Eckert (5 April 1852 - 8 August 1916) was a German musician who composed the harmony for Japan's national anthem, Kimi Ga Yo.

Franz von Eckert was a native of Neurode, Silesia, Prussia, in what is now Nowa Ruda, Poland. He studied in the conservatories of Breslau and Dresden, and specialized in military music. He received an appointment to became bandmaster to the Kaiserliche Marine at Wilhelmshaven, where he caught the eye (or perhaps the ear?) of the Japanese government in 1879.

Eckert was invited to Japan as a foreign advisor at the behest of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Eckert served as director of the Navy Band from 1879-1880. At the time, the need for an anthem was especially pressing in the Navy, as Japanese officers were embarrassed by their inability to sing their own anthem at flag ceremonies at sea. Eckert rearranged the existing anthem per the Gregorian mode for Western instrumentation, making suitable modifications for playability at sea, including a four-part vocal arrangement. The new national anthem was first performed in the imperial palace on Emperor Meiji's birthday, 3 November 1880.

Eckert later founded the military band of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, established the military band of the Imperial Guards, and was active in composing ceremonial music for both the Court and for the military, while introducing a variety of Western musical instruments and musical theories on melody and harmony. In 1897, he was invited to compose a special song, which he titled Kanashimi no kiwami, for the funeral of Empress Dowager Eisho (widow of Emperor Kōmei).

Eckert returned to Germany in 1889 to a posting at the Berlin Philharmonic, but was soon appointed music director to Wilhelm II, King of Prussia.

In 1901 Eckert was invited by the Korean government to also supply the harmony for the national anthem of the Korean Empire before its annexation by Japan in 1910. The new anthem had elements from the works of Richard Wagner, and was played before Emperor Kojong in 1902. Eckert died in Seoul from stomach cancer at age 65 while at work in Korea. His grave is located at Yangwhajin Hapjung-dong Mapo-gu Seoul.

[edit] References

• Huffman, James. Modern Japan : An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Nationalism. Routledge (1997). ISBN: 0815325258