Hans-Jürgen Kaiser

After studying school and church music, as well as organ concert performances, at the universities of Mainz, Mannheim, and Saarbrücken, Hans-Jürgen Kaiser served as cathedral organist at Fulda Cathedral from 1989 to September 2024. During this time, he was the organ commissioner for the Diocese of Fulda and artistic director of the organ concerts and matinees at Fulda Cathedral.

Since 1990, he has held a teaching position for improvisation/liturgical organ playing and organ literature at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, where he was appointed university professor of organ improvisation in 1995.

After intensive study of French and German Romantic organ music, as well as the organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Olivier Messiaen, he has significantly expanded his repertoire to include early music. This was based, among other things, on his particular interest in historical organ building. Improvisation, encompassing both historical styles and contemporary improvisation, including jazz, is also part of his concert programs.

Numerous CD recordings (Liszt/Reger/Bach/Eben) on important organs, especially on historic organs (Schwerin Cathedral, Fritzlar Cathedral, and the historic organ in Hesse), and a busy concert schedule at home and abroad, including in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Norway, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and Taiwan, combined with courses in organ improvisation, round out his diverse range of activities.

From 2004 to 2012, he was chairman of the Conference of Directors of Training Institutions for Catholic Church Music in Germany.

As one of the two main editors of the ecumenical standard textbook on church music for the German-speaking world, "Grundwissen Kirchenmusik" (Basic Knowledge of Church Music), first published by Carus Verlag in 2009 and awarded the German Music Editions Prize "Best Edition" in 2010, he has set new standards in terms of content, methodology, didactics, and interdenominational relevance. The third, updated and significantly expanded edition was published in 2020. He currently heads the Church Music/Organ Department at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Fulda. Furthermore, the relief provided by his work in Fulda and the relocation of his living environment to Baden-Württemberg allows for a more active concert activity alongside other regional, supra-regional, and interdenominational responsibilities.

Selection of CD releases:

Liszt: Organ Works Recorded at the historical Ladegast organ in Schwerin Cathedral. Brilliant Classics

Die große Orgel im Dom zu Fulda, with works by Buxtehude, Bach and Widor. Recorded in Fulda Cathedral. Querstand

Max Reger: Organ Works, Vol. 3. (BACH, Op 135.b) Recorded in Fulda Cathedral. Naxos

Orgelwerke von Joh. Seb. Bach. Recorded in Fulda Cathedral. Querstand