Friedrich Wilhelm Franke

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Friedrich Wilhelm Franke (21 June 1862 – 3 April 1932) was a German organist and music teacher. He was born in Barmen, now part of Wuppertal. He taught organ, harmony and counterpoint at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. He also served as the organist for the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and played at many Rhine music festivals. Franke devoted his life to renewing evangelical church music and helped revive old Protestant church music forms. His students included Father Gregor Schwake and Alfred Sittard. He died in Cologne at the age of 69.