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Ursula Günther

Ursula Günther (June 15, 1927 – November 20, 2006) was a renowned German musicologist specializing in the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, with a particular focus on the music of Giuseppe Verdi. Born in Hamburg, Germany, she pursued her academic interests from an early age, studying piano under Detlef Kraus and H. E. Riebensahm, as well as music theory with H. Stahmer.

Günther's academic career began at the University of Hamburg, where she studied music teacher studies in 1947. She went on to study musicology with Heinrich Husmann, supported by various minor subjects such as art history, German studies, and Romanesque literature. In 1957, Günther published a work titled "Theory of the French Song" (Hamburg), which explored the change of style in the second half of the fourteenth century.

Throughout her career, Günther was recognized for her expertise on Verdi's French years. She held various positions, including teaching at the University of Göttingen and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she delivered summer courses on Verdi research. In 1969, she joined the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris as Attaché de recherche, later becoming Chargé de recherche with Jacques Chailley.

Günther's contributions to musicology were further solidified through her editions of motets from the fourteenth century, published in 1965. Her work on Verdi's French years was also recognized by prominent scholars, including Oliver Strunk and Gilbert Reaney. In recognition of her achievements, Günther received the title "Musikerin der Deutschen Volksmusik" (Musician of German Folk Music) in 1992.

Günther's academic career spanned several decades, during which she taught at various institutions, including the University of Hamburg, Göttingen University, and New York University. Her work on Verdi's French years remains an important contribution to musicology, shedding light on a lesser-known period in the composer's life.