A Modern Classic - Obituary on Harald Genzmer

On 16.12.2007 the composer Harald Genzmer died in Munich at the age of 98. The musical world and the publishing house Schott Music mourn the loss of a composer who was regarded highly by the audience and performers alike, an outstanding teacher and a very kind and charming man.
 
Genzmer was one of those composers who want their art to be understood: 'Music shall be vigorous, elaborate and artistic and comprehensible. May it be practicable to win over the performer and comprehensible to then win over the listener.' He disapproved of art for art's sake or for the sake of abstract principles. Apart from major concert works for internationally renowned orchestras, Genzmer again and again composed pieces for amateurs in order that his music would not only be performed on major concert stages but also be very popular with school and student orchestras and become widely known.
 
The Bremen-born Genzmer was first appointed professor of composition in Freiburg from 1946, then in Munich from 1957. He was a dedicated teacher, imparting his skills documented in his own comprehensive oeuvre and his vast knowledge of music history. To him, music was one art among others; his excellent knowledge of associated fields such as literature, fine arts and even natural science had complemented his lessons for decades.
 
The oeuvre left by Genzmer is marked by an astonishing variety of musics, comprising all genres from piano to symphonic music (including five symphonies) with a significant exception: The composer never wrote an opera. The main focus of his oeuvre clearly was on the concerto or works following a concertante principle. He wrote numerous solo concertos and was inspired by renowned performers to compose concertos for unusual instruments such as the mixture-trautonium. Genzmer himself inspired with artistic inspiration, with his understanding of the performers whom he wanted to give rewarding instrumental tasks as well as with his sense of an instrument's sound, a melody, a harmonic idiom. Having studied with Paul Hindemith among others and having been inspired by composers as different as Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy and Bela Bartok, he very early found his personal style which was characterized by his inexhaustible imagination, comprehensibility and complete mastery of the craft. Even his last compositions, many of which were written for musician friends, are impressive proof of his unrivalled intellectual and artistic productivity. The composer died in his adoptive city of Munich only a few weeks before his 99th birthday.

 Harald Genzmer - Profile  
 Download Printable Photograph (Credit: Peter Andersen)