Franz Xaver Biebl (1906–2001), one of the most respected figures in German choral music during the latter part of the 20th century was born 1 September 1906 in Pursruck, in the Oberpfalz area of Amberg. He was the 11th child of Johann Biebl, a head teacher, and his wife Katherina. His father died when Franz was young, and following high school in Amberg it was necessary for Franz to work to help support the family. But in 1926 he enrolled at the Musikhochschule (State Music College) in Munich, where he studied composition under Joseph Haas and took the Master Class for composing and conducting. 1906 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about choirs, musical ensembles containing singers. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... The Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria. ... Map of Germany showing Amberg (currently incorrect) Amberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Munich: Frauenkirche and Town Hall steeple Munich (German: München (pronounced listen) is the state capital of the German Bundesland of Bavaria. ...

In 1932 he met the requirements for appointment as a Catholic church musician and obtained the position of Choir Director at St Maria in München-Thalkirchen where he served until 1939, when he was appointed Dozent (assistant professor) in choral music at the Mozarteum, the Academy for Music in Salzburg, Austria. World War II intervened. Biebl was drafted in 1943 and his army unit was captured by the Americans in Italy in 1944. Biebl was interned at Fort Custer, near Battle Creek, Michigan, as a prisoner of war. This circumstance introduced him to American folk music, which would inspire his later work. 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Flag of Salzburg Salzburg (population 145,000 in 2003) is a city in western Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg (population 520,000 in 2003). ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about the city of Battle Creek, Michigan. ... State nickname: Wolverine State or Great Lakes State Other U.S. States Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Governor Jennifer Granholm Official languages English Area 250,941 km² (11th)  - Land 147,255 km²  - Water 103,687 km² (41. ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the people. ...

After the war he returned to Austria, then later to Germany where from 1948 he worked for ll years in church music and choir schools (organist/choirmaster and teacher) in the Stadtpfarrkirche (Parish Church) in Fürstenfeldbruck near Munich. In 1959 he became the founding director of the Department of Choral Music at the Bavarian State Radio Broadcasting Company (Bayerischen Rundfunk), where he remained until his retirement at age 65. There he made recordings with choirs from around the world, particularly from the United States. He began to compose and arrange German and other folk songs and Negro spirituals for German choirs. In this capacity, along with his continuing composing and directing, he has had a large influence on choral music in Germany. After retiring in Munich, he continued to compose, despite a disabling stroke in 1998. Biebl is now most widely known for his wonderful Ave Maria, written in 1964. 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Christian music is music created by or adapted for the Christian church. ... Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... A spiritual is a African-American song, usually with a religious text. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Hail Mary or in Latin Ave Maria is a traditional Christian prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus. ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

He was married in 1939 and they had two daughters. His wife Ricarda died in February 2000. On 2 October 2001, after a brief illness, Franz Biebl died one month after his 95th birthday. He is buried next to his wife in the Sollner Waldfriedhof in Munich. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 2nd is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ...

For more biographical details, and a comprehensive bibliography of his more than 1,500 compositions and arrangements, visit the Internet site of Cantus Quercus Press at http://cantusquercus.com.

Contributed by Wilbur Skeels

Copyright © 2001, by Cantus Quercus Press Thousand Oaks, California, USA