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definitions

Kapellmeister

[kah-pel-mahy-ster, kuh-]
noun, plural Ka·pell·meis·ter.
  1. a choirmaster.
  2. a conductor of an orchestra.
  3. a bandmaster.

Origin of Kapellmeister

From German, dating back to 1830–40; see origin at chapel, master
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for kapellmeister

Historical Examples of kapellmeister

  • Daniel heard one of them say: “The Kapellmeister should send for the doctor.”

    The Goose Man

    Jacob Wassermann

  • “Oh, yes, he was our guest once; he is the Kapellmeister,” she said.

    The Goose Man

    Jacob Wassermann

  • Handel, who bore the title of Kapellmeister of Hanover, returned to his post in June, 1711.

    Handel

    Romain Rolland

  • In 1841 Mendelssohn became Kapellmeister of the Prussian court.

    Great Musical Composers

    George T. Ferris

  • In 1881 Goldschmidt got him the post of second Kapellmeister at the Salzburg theatre.

    Musicians of To-Day

    Romain Rolland

British Dictionary definitions for kapellmeister

kapellmeister

noun plural -ter
  1. a variant spelling of capellmeister
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for kapellmeister
n.

"conductor," 1838, German, literally "chapel master," from Kapelle "chapel" (also the name given to a band or orchestra) + Meister "master."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper