Richard Trunk

Richard Trunk was born on 10 February 1879 in Tauberbischofsheim (Germany). He first studied music at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt am Main under Iwan Knorr, then completed his studies under Joseph Rheinberger and Berthold Kellermann in Munich.
After his studies Richard Trunk made a living as a music teacher and repetiteur. He also was the conductor of several choirs in Munich, was the accompanist for renowned baritone Eugen Gura and music critic for the "Münchner Post". Between 1912 and 1914 Richard Trunk was the head of the Arion Society of New York, but returned to Munich with the outbreak of World War I. In the following years Richard Trunk pursued several smaller professional activities before he became lecturer and assistant director at the Rheinische Musikschule in Cologne in 1925. In 1927 he was appointed professor and in 1933 director of the music school. That was the start for a successful career in Nazi Germany. In 1934 Richard Trunk moved back to Munich where he became director of the Staatliche Akademie der Tonkunst, a position he held until 1945. He was an ardent worshipper of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi ideology and contributed also as a composer to the regime. His work "Feier der neuen Front" for men's choir (with the parts 1. Hitler, 2. Des Führers Wächter, 3. O, Land, and 4. Horst Wessel) became one of the most popular Nazi compositions at all. After World War II Richard Trunk was ranked a Follower 4th grade and did not have to deal with any sanctions. Since then Richard Trunk lived in seclusion and withdrew from the musical scene. He died on 2 June 1968 in Herrsching am Ammersee (Germany).

The work catalogue of Richard Trunk has a strong emphasis on vocal compositions: He wrote several song cycles and many choir works, especially for men's choir. In addition he also composed a few orchestral works and some chamber music.

In my possession is a handwritten score with three songs by Richard Trunk. The manuscript was likely done by a copyist, but is nonetheless of interest because it bears the handwritten name of mathematician and composer Hans Sommer (1937-1922). And the collection of the three songs is individual and contains the works "Stilles Lied II" (op.18 No.3), "Schmerz" (op.41 No.2) and "Den Andern" (op.18 No.1) with an individually designed title page. Therefore it might be likely that the manuscript was given to Hans Sommer directly from Richard Trunk.

All three works were published, but the "4 Lieder" op.18 are quite rare to find and therefore published here: