Bernhard Klein

Who was Bernhard Klein?

Bernhard Klein was a German composer.

Klein was born in Cologne. He married Lilly Parthey, who was the sister of Gustav Parthey and the granddaughter of Friedrich Nicolai. Their daughter, Elisabeth Klein married Egyptologist Carl Richard Lepsius on 5 July 1846.

Klein was the director of music at Cologne Cathedral after studying at the Paris Conservatory. In 1819 at the request of Carl Friedrich Zelter he came to Berlin, where he spent the rest of his life. In 1820 he became professor of composition at the Royal Institute for Church Music, as well as Music Director at the University of Berlin. Together with his friend, music critic Ludwig Rellstab, he founded the Second Berlin Song Board.

Klein composed oratorios, a Mass, a Magnificat, a cantata, psalms, hymns, and motets, along with three operas, songs, and piano pieces. His conservative style of composition was influenced by Anton Friedrich Justus Thibaut.