Philipp Harnoncourt

Philipp Harnoncourt
Philipp Harnoncourt in 2009
Born	(1931-02-09)9 February 1931 Berlin, Germany
Died	25 May 2020(2020-05-25) (aged 89) Grundlsee, Austria
Other names	Philipp de la Fontaine und d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt (nobility historically)
Education	University of Graz Georgianum University of Munich
Occupations	Catholic priest Academic teacher Musician
Organizations	Kunstuniversität Graz University of Graz Pro Oriente
Parent	Ladislaja Harnoncourt
Family	Nikolaus Harnoncourt (brother) Franz Harnoncourt (brother) Karl Harnoncourt (brother)
Awards	Austrian Decoration for Science and Art Ehrenzeichen of Steiermark
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Philipp Harnoncourt or Philipp Graf de la Fontaine und d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt (9 February 1931 – 25 May 2020) was an Austrian theologian, priest and musician. Born into a noble family, he grew up in Graz and decided to become a priest at age 17. He studied in Graz and Munich. In 1963 he founded a department of church music at the later Kunstuniversität Graz. He was appointed professor at the University of Graz in 1972 and was head of the institute of liturgics, Christian art and hymnology until his retirement in 1999.

Inspired by the Second Vatican Council, he contributed to the first common Catholic hymnal in German, Gotteslob, and supported ecumenism especially with Orthodox Churches, as a member of the board of Pro Oriente from 1986. He focused on the Trinity, founded the art prize 1+1+1=1 for new works related to the concept, and initiated the restoration of a chapel first dedicated to the Trinity.