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The Rottendorf Foundation
culture
Andreas Josef Rottendorf was a Westphalian from the bottom of his heart and spoke the Low German dialect spoken in this region. He was a recognized Low German writer. Following the will of the founders, the Rottendorf Foundation therefore promotes the research and cultivation of the Low German language by awarding the Rottendorf Prize. This prize, which is awarded every second year, honors special services to the Low German language. The prize winners are nominated by the Westphalian Heritage Society. For this purpose, the Westfälische Heimatbund has founded a “Rottendorf Committee”.
You can find out about the previous award winners and more about the promotion of Low German here
Low German short film project “Wild Wild Westfalen” successfully completed
The Low German short film project “Wild Wild Westfalen” of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL), in cooperation with the Department of Media Production and Media Technology – LWL Media Center for Westphalia has been successfully completed. The premiere took place on June 19, 2023 in Ahlen.
Rottendorf Award 2022 for Hannes Wader
On October 26, 2022, in a ceremony in the hall of the Haus Nottbeck cultural estate, the Rottendorf Prize for Low German was awarded, at the suggestion of the Westphalian Homeland Association, to
Hannes Wader
awarded. With the prize, the Rottendorf Committee in the Westphalian Homeland Association as well as the Rottendorf Foundation honor “the courageous, uncompromising and unprejudiced treatment of Low German” in the songwriter’s work.
With his LP “Plattdeutsche Lieder” (1974), Hannes Wader made a decisive contribution to freeing Low German from its ancestral “Heimat milieu” and making it socially acceptable in new circles. Also in his autobiography “Trotz alledem. Mein Leben” (2019), Wader sets up a personal monument to Low German, the colloquial language of his parental home.
Hannes Wader was born in 1942 in Bethel near Bielefeld in the simplest of circumstances. His performances at Burg Waldeck made him known to a larger audience in the 1960s. Together with Reinhard Mey, Franz Josef Degenhardt and Hanns Dieter Hüsch, he was one of the most prominent members of a new German singer-songwriter scene.
In addition to his socially critical yet lyrical and poetic songs, Wader devoted himself in the 1970s to folk song, which was frowned upon at the time. After 50 years, he ended his touring life in 2017. In 2013 he was awarded the ECHO prize for his life’s work, which includes 37 studio and live albums. In 2019, his autobiography “Trotz alledem. My life”.
In his welcoming address, the chairman of the Rottendorf Foundation stated: “Like you, dear Mr. Wader, Andreas Rottendorf was at home in (East) Westphalia. Like you, he was able to reach the hearts of his Westphalian compatriots with unerring accuracy, wit and humor “in Platt”. In this respect, there are numerous overlaps with your decades of work as a singer and author. Your life’s work deserves the highest recognition and, in our opinion, rightly the award of the Rottendorf Prize.”
In her welcoming address, the managing director of the Westfälischer Heimatbund, Dr. Eilers, pointed out the importance of the dialect as the language of the homeland for the people. Regional dialects are spoken less and less and their existence is endangered. It is an important task of the local heritage associations to maintain the Low German dialect.
The laudation was held in the form of an extraordinary and remarkable dialogue by Prof. Dr. Walter Gödden, the scientific director of Kulturguts Haus Nottbeck, and the chairman of the Rottendorf Committee Georg Bühren. In it, the two traced the career of the prize winner, his love of Low German and his performances as a songwriter, and came to the overall conclusion: “Hannes Wader has emphatically promoted Low German.
After the award was presented by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rottendorf Foundation, Father Johann Spermann SJ, and the Chairman of the Board, the prize-winner then thanked the audience in his own inimitable way, picked up the guitar and performed the song “Et wassen twee Künigeskinner” with his own setting of the poem by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff.
The ceremony was excellently accompanied musically by the group “Delta Boys”.
All participants, but above all the prize winner, were thanked for their performances by prolonged applause from the numerous guests present. The closing words were spoken by Dr. Klewitz-Haas, Deputy Chairwoman of the Rottendorf Foundation.
Award winners
Overview of award winners:
- 2014 pattu (Georg Bühren, Alexander Buske, Peter Egger, Jürgen Mönkediek), Münster
- 2016 Peter Bürger, Eslohe (Sauerland)
- 2018 Elisabeth Georges (Münster-Hiltrup)
- 2020 Dr. Werner Beckmann (Eslohe-Cobbenrode)
- 2022 Hannes Wader (Bielefeld)
Previous projects
- 1963 Arbeitsgemeinschaft Michaelis-Treffen, Lippinghausen
- 1965 Pater Dr. Gregor Schwake, Benediktiner Gerleve
- 1967 Prof. Dr. Anton Hilckmann, Bevergern
- 1969 Norbert Johannimloh, Münster und Dr. Siegfried Kessemeier, Münster
- 1976 Hermann Homann, Münster
- 1980 Gertrud van Dam, Emsdetten
- 1980 Fritz Kuhne, Halver
- 1983 Niederdeutsche Bühne, Münster (zusammengefasste Preise 82´und 84´)
- 1986 Ottilie Baranowski, Hörstel-Bevergern und Prof. Dr. Jan Wirrer, Spenge
- 1988 Dr. Wolfram Rosemann, Köln
- 1990 Hannes Demming, Münster
- 1992 Walter Born, Münster
- 1994 Walter Höher, Schwerte-Ergste
- 1996 Georg Bühren, Münster
- 1998 Werner Brüggemann, Warendorf
- 2000 Dr. Horst Ludwigsen, Schalksmühle
- 2002 Prof. Dr.Hans Taubken, Münster
- 2004 Heinrich Schürmann, Herzebrock-Clarholz
- 2006 Egon Reiche, Bocholt
- 2008 Strauhspier (Nikolaus Evers, Helmut Schnieders, Hermi Sürken), Rheine
- 2010 Pastor Wilhelm Dullweber, Stemwede-Levern und Geistlicher Rat Heinz Witthake, Münster
- 2012 Dr. Timothy Sodmann, Südlohn
Rottendorf Prize 2022 for Hannes Wader
Rottendorf Award 2022 for Hannes Wader On October 26, 2022, in a ceremony in the hall of the Haus Nottbeck cultural estate, the Rottendorf Prize for Low German was awarded, at the suggestion of the...
2020 – Dr. Werner Beckmann (Bochum-Riemke)
Dr. Werner Beckmann is the third Sauerlander to receive the Rottendorf Prize after Dr. Siegfried Kessemeier (1969) and Peter Bürger (2016). In his laudatory speech, Elmar Reuter, Chairman of...
2018 – Elisabeth Georges (Münster-Hiltrup)
Verleihung am 11.10.2018 auf Haus Nottbeck, Überreichung durch Pater Ralf Klein SJ, Vors. des Stiftungskuratoriums. Laudatio: Georg Bühren (Preisträger 1996 & 2014) Den Rottendorf-Preis...
2016 – Peter Bürger, Eslohe (Sauerland)
Verleihung am 27.10.2016 auf Haus Nottbeck, Überreichung durch Pater Ralf Klein SJ, Vors. Des Stiftungskuratoriums Laudatio: Prof. Dr. Walter Gödden, Geschäftsführer der LWL, Literaturkommission für...
2014 – „pattu“ Jürgen Mönkediek, Peter Egger, Georg Bühren, Alexander Buske
Verleihung am 30. Oktober 2014 auf Haus Nottbeck, Überreichung durch Pater Ralf Klein SJ, Vors. des Stiftungskuratoriums Laudatio: Prof. Dr. Götz Alsmann, Münster Die Gesangs- und Instrumentalgruppe...
2012 – Dr. Timothy Sodmann, Südlohn
Verleihung am 25. Oktober 2012 auf Haus Nottbeck, Überreichung durch Pater Ralf Klein SJ, Vors. des Stiftungskuratoriums Laudationen: Dr. Markus Denkler, Münster und Harry Morshuis, Oldenzaal NL...
2010 – Pastor Wilhelm Dullweber, Stemwede
• Verleihung am 7. Oktober 2010 auf Haus Nottbeck, • Überrreichung durch Pater Ralf Klein SJ, Vorsitzender des Stiftungskuratoriums • Laudatio: Pastorin Anita Christians-Albrecht, Burgdorf...
2008 – Musikgruppe „Strauhspier“, Rheine
Verleihung am 23. Oktober 2008 auf dem Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck in Oelde-Stromberg. Überreichung durch Pater Prof. Dr. Norbert Brieskorn, stv. Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums Laudatio: Hannes Demming,...
2006 – Egon Reiche, Bocholt
Verleihung am 19. Oktober 2006 auf dem Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck in Oelde-Stromberg. Überreichung durch Pater Lutz Hoffmann SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums. Laudatio: Dr. Timothy Sodmann, Südlohn und...
2004 – Heinrich Schürmann, Clarholz
Verleihung am 7. Oktober 2004 auf dem Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck in Oelde-Stromberg. Überreichung durch Pater Lutz Hoffmann SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums. Laudatio: Georg Bühren, Münster Begründung...
2002 – Prof. Dr. Hans Taubken, Münster
Hans Taubken wurde 1943 in Lingen geboren. Auf dem zweiten Bildungsweg holte er auf dem Overberg-Kolleg in Münster das Abitur nach und studierte ab 1968 Germanistik und Geographie. Nach seinem...
1998 – Werner Brüggemann, Warendorf
Brüggemann, seit 1959 Mitglied der Niederdeutschen Bühne am Theater Münster und von 1961 bis 1996 deren Regisseur, inszenierte in dieser Zeit 36 niederdeutsche Stücke (Drama, Komödie, Schwank,...
1996 – Georg Bühren, Münster
Verleihung am 10. Oktober 1997 in Ennigerloh anlässlich des 100. Geburtstages von Andreas J. Rottendorf. Überreichung durch Jörg Dantscher SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung....
1994 – Walter Höher, Schwerte-Ergste
Verleihung am 7. Oktober 1994 auf Haus Vornholz in Ennigerloh-Ostenfelde. Überreichung durch Pater Karl Adolf Kreuser SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung. Laudatio: Georg...
1992 – Walter Born, Münster
Verleihung am 7. November 1992 im Erbdrostenhof zu Münster. Überreichung durch Pater Karl Adolf Kreuser SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung. Laudatio: Hannes Demming, Münster....
1990 – Hannes Demming, Münster
Verleihung am 13. Oktober 1990 im Erbdrostenhof zu Münster. Überreichung durch Pater Karl Adolf Kreuser SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung. Laudatio: Georg Bühren, Münster....
1988 – Dr. Wolfram Rosemann, Köln
Verleihung am 8. Oktober 1988 im Erbdrostenhof zu Münster. Überreichung durch Pater Karl Adolf Kreuser SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung. Laudatio: Hannes Demming, Münster....
1986 – Prof. Dr. Jan Wirrer, Sprenge
Verleihung am 8. Oktober 1986 auf Haus Vornholz in Ennigerloh-Ostenfelde. Überreichung durch Pater Karl Adolf Kreuser SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung. Laudatio: Dr. Werner...
1986 – Ottilie Baranowski, Münster
Verleihung am 8. Oktober 1986 auf Haus Vornholz in Ennigerloh-Ostenfelde. Überreichung durch Pater Karl Adolf Kreuser SJ, Vorsitzender des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung. Laudatio: Dr. Werner...
1983 – Niederdeutsche Bühne am Theater der Stadt Münster
Zusammengefasste Verleihung der Preise für 1982 und 1984 am 24. September 1983 im Stadttheater Münster anlässlich des Westfalentages. Überreichung durch Pater Karl Adolf Kreuser SJ, Vorsitzender des...
1980 – Gertrud van Dam, Emsdetten
Verleihung am 7. Juni 1980 im Erbdrostenhof zu Münster. Überreichung durch Rose Rottendorf, Vorsitzende des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung. Laudatio: Dr. Werner Schulte, Arnsberg Begründung in...
1976 – Hermann Homann, Münster-Sudmühle
Verleihung am 20. November 1976 im Erbdrostenhof zu Münster. Überreichung durch Rose Rottendorf, Vorsitzende des Kuratoriums der Rottendorf-Stiftung. Laudatio: Oberkreisdirektor Winfried Schulte,...
1969 – Norbert Johannimloh, Münster
Vergabe durch den Westfälischen Heimatbund als „Förderpreis für niederdeutsche Literatur in westfälischen Mundarten, verbunden mit dem Rottendorf-Ennigerloh-Preis 1969.“ Verleihung am 13. Dezember...
1969 – Norbert Johannimloh, Münster
Vergabe durch den Westfälischen Heimatbund als „Förderpreis für niederdeutsche Literatur in westfälischen Mundarten, verbunden mit dem Rottendorf-Ennigerloh-Preis 1969.“ Verleihung am 13. Dezember...
1969 – Dr. Siegfried Kessemeier, Münster
*20.11.1930 in Oeventrop near Arnsberg in the Sauerland. Grew up there. Studied history, German, philosophy and journalism in Munich and Münster. Doctorate (Dr. phil.). Initially freelance...
1967 – Prof. Dr. Dr. Anton Hilckman
Awarded on 18 November 1967 in the Recklinghausen Town Hall. Presented by Heinrich Auge MdB, Lord Mayor of the City of Recklinghausen. Laudatory speech: former District President Dr. Bernhard...
1965 – Pater Dr. Gregor Schwake OSB, Abtei Gerleve
Awarded on 20 September 1965 in Münster City Hall. Presented by Dr. Albrecht Beckel, Lord Mayor of the City of Münster.Laudatory speech: Prof. Dr. Dr. Anton Hilckmann, Mainz. Award certificate in...
1963 – Arbeitsgemeinschaft Michaelis-Treffen Lippinghausen
Presented on 21 September 1963 in Lippinghausen, district of Herford, on the occasion of the VIII. Michaelis Meeting by Dr. Hans Riepenhausen, Managing Director of the Westphalian Heritage Society,...
Funding projects for the Low German language
Individual projects of the Rottendorf Foundation for the area of “Low German”:
- “Rottendorf-Lesebuch”, vol. 13 of “Nylands kleiner westf. Bibliothek”, edited by Heinrich Schürmann
- Heinrich Schürmann “Ick”, CD jazz and poetry Low German
- “Heliand”, translated from Old Saxon into Low German by Hannes Demming
- “En lük üöwer de Wuortelkinner” by Sibylle von Olfers, Mönsterländsk platt upschriewen van Hannes Demming.
- Support of the District Archives Warendorf in the sifting and processing of the entire Rottendorf estate, presented in the Findbuch Dep. 83, Warendorf 2015.
- Support for the publication of a CD by the group “Strauhspier” with Low German songs, including a Rottendorf poem.
- Grant for the “Sauerland dialect anthology” by Peter Bürger
- Support for the publication of lesson outlines and materials “Low German in the Primary School”.
- Support of anniversary events of the “Augustin-Wibbelt-Society
- Support for the publication of an “Online Atlas of Westphalian Dialects” by the Commission for Dialect and Name Research at the LWL
- Support for the acquisition of “sound showers” for the exhibition “200 years of Westphalia – now” (after starting in Dortmund now traveling exhibition)
- Low German short film project “Wild Wild Westfalen” by the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL), Department of Media Production and Media Technology – LWL Media Center for Westphalia