Background
Riemenschneider was born into a musical family. His father, Karl H. Riemenschneider, was the president of German Wallace College in Berea, Ohio (which later became Baldwin-Wallace (BW) College).
Riemenschneider was born into a musical family. His father, Karl H. Riemenschneider, was the president of German Wallace College in Berea, Ohio (which later became Baldwin-Wallace (BW) College).
Bachelor of Arts, Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, O., 1899. Studied music with father until 15, piano, pipe organ, harmony and theory with James H. Rogers, Cleveland, organ with Charles East. Clemens, Cleveland, piano with Hugo Reinhold, of Vienna, counterpoint and composition with Robert Fuchs, of Vienna, pipe organ with Guilmant, pipe organ and orchestration with Widor, both of Paris. Honorary Museum Doctorate., Sherwood Music School, Chicago m.
Selma Marting, July 21, 1904.
While still a student at the college, he was offered the then vacant position of Director of the Music Department in 1898. This department then became under his directorship the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music. From 1902 to 1903 he studied the piano under Hugo Reinhold and composition under Robert Fuchs in Vienna.
The American composer Richard Ellsasser (1926–1972) was his pupil.
Riemenschneider performed Bach"s music in more than three hundred recitals and concerts in America and Europe. He received an honorary doctorate "Doctorate.mus." in 1944 (Grove: 1939) from the Sherwood Conservatory of Music and served as president on several educational and Methodist institutions.
In 1947 he retired as director of the conservatorium, but returned later to serve as Acting President for one year. He was invited by the Library of Congress to hold a lecture on Bach in 1950, but it had to be presented posthumously.
The most enduring publication of his scholarly works was his Bach — 371 Harmonized Chorales and 69 Chorale Melodies with Figured Bass, educated
Albert Riemenschneider, G. Schirmer, New York, 1941 (see also List of chorale harmonisations by Johann Sebastian Bach). Selma Riemenschneider continued the management of the Bach festival until 1954. In 1951 she donated Albert"s collection of rare Bach manuscripts to Baldwin-Wallace College, founding a library which in 1969 became the Riemenschneider Bach Institute.
Albert and Selma Riemenschneider had three children, Edwin, Paul, and Wilma.
Albert died on July 20 (or 21) 1950 in Akron, Ohio, just a few days away from the 200th anniversary of Bach"s death.
Member Ohio Music Teachers Association (president 1930-1931). Member Hymnal communications of Methodist Church Appointed to conduct a survey of music education in the North Central Association of Colleges, 1939, 40.
Children: Edwin Albert, Lois (deceased), Wilma, Paul Arthur.