Franz Eckert
| Franz Eckert | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
April 5, 1852 Neurode, Silesia (now Nowa Ruda, Poland) |
| Died | August 6, 1916 (aged 64) Seoul, South Korea |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Composer, musician |
| Known for | Composing the "Kimigayo" and the "Korean Empire Aegukga" |
Franz Eckert (April 5, 1852 – August 6, 1916) was a German composer and musician who composed the harmony for Japan's national anthem, "Kimigayo" and the anthem of the Korean Empire, "Aegukga".
Eckert was a native of Neurode, Prussian Silesia (now Nowa Ruda, Poland), and the son of a court official. He studied in the conservatories of Breslau (Wrocław) and the Royal Conservatory in Dresden, and specialized in military music at Neiße. He received an appointment to become bandmaster to the Kaiserliche Marine at Wilhelmshaven, where he caught the attention of the Japanese government in 1879.
Eckert was invited to the Empire of Japan as a foreign advisor at the behest of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Eckert served as director of the Navy Band from 1879 to 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. The existing anthem had been created by John William Fenton in 1869. 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.
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