Karl Ludwig Gerok

Karl Ludwig Wilhelm Gerok (27 January 1906 – 28 June 1975) was a German organist, composer and organ teacher. Career Karl Ludwig Gerok was born in Oberfischach, the grandson of , a Stuttgart prelate and preacher (Oberhofprediger) at the Schlosskirche, the court church of the Stuttgart palace, and the author of Palmblätter. Karl Ludwig Gerok studied organ at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart under organist Arnold Strebel and then with Karl Straube in Leipzig. From 1930, Gerok was cathedral organist in Halberstadt. He worked from 1946 as an organ teacher at the School of Church Music (Kirchenmusikschule) in Esslingen am Neckar and later at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart where he taught Künstlerisches und liturgisches Orgelspiel (Concert and church organ playing). Among his students were composer Edgar Rabsch (de) (1928–1990) as well as Helmuth Rilling. He was the author of the standard work Lehrgang der Orgelimprovisation (Course of organ improvisation, 1976). From 1948, Gerok was organist at and from 1958 to 1969 served as organist of the collegiate church Stiftskirche, Stuttgart. During this time he was also a significant contributor and editor of the collection Württembergisches Choral