Berthold Schwarz Berthold Schwarz Berthold Schwarz (sometimes spelled Schwartz), also known as Berthold the Black and "der Schwartzer", was a legendary German (or in some accounts Danish or Greek) alchemist of the late 14th century, credited with the invention of gunpowder by 15th- through 19th-century European literature. The purported period of Schwarz' activity (late 14th century) thus falls between the first reports of gunpowder in Europe (late 13th century) and the development of effective applications in artillery (mid 15th century). It is unclear whether Schwarz is a historical person. It has been suggested that he was a historical alchemist who had developed
Gotthold Schwarz also other Baroque music. Schwarz has been a teacher at the Hochschule für Musik "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" since 1986. He was a juror of the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in 2004. He resides in Leipzig. On June 9, 2016 he was selected as Thomaskantor in a term lasting until 2021. Gotthold Schwarz Gotthold Schwarz (born 2 May 1952 in Zwickau) is a German bass-baritone singer and conductor. Based in Leipzig, he started as a member of the Thomanerchor and has conducted the Gewandhausorchester. He is the 17th Thomaskantor after Johann Sebastian Bach. Schwarz was the son of the cantor