Upcoming Performances & Anniversaries
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
born: 03/20/1918
died: 08/10/1970
nationality: Germany
Upcoming:
Tempus Loquendi
12/05/2008 | Altkatholische Kirche St. Ursula - Freiburg - Germany
Présence
12/05/2008 | Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Florian-Waldeck-Saal - Mannheim - Germany
Chronology
1918
Born in Bliesheim on 20. March
1929
Attended the Salvatorian School in Steinfeld (Eifel)
1937
Matriculation
Began training as elementary school teacher in the winter term in Bonn
Began music teachers' course at Cologne Conservatory
Began training as elementary school teacher in the winter term in Bonn
Began music teachers' course at Cologne Conservatory
1938
Labour service
1939
Called up into the army. Took part in the Polish, French and Russian campaigns as mounted messenger and horse groom. Became ill in 1942, released for treatment in Cologne, and began studying musicology there
1945
Resumption of studies as music teacher. Musical theorie under Heinrich Lemacher. Composition uner Phlipp Jarnach
1946
First performances. "Scherzo Sinfonico", from "Sinfonia prosodica", "Extemporale", "Three Sacred Songs"
1947
Music teachers' examination
1st performance of "Concerto for Orchestra" (1 st version)
1st performance of "Concerto for Orchestra" (1 st version)
1948
Occasional compositions (at first arrangements, folk music, original "light music compositions, then music for schools broadcasts and radio plays, incidental and film music)
1948
Attended Darmstadt Music Course, and took part in courses given by René Leibowitz
1949
"Enchiridion"
1950
Married Sabine von Schablowsky
First dodecaphonic composition (2nd movement of the Violin Concerto)
First dodecaphonic composition (2nd movement of the Violin Concerto)
1951
Birth of son Gereon
"Exerzitien" (2nd part of "Enchiridioin"), "Symphony in One Movement" (1st version)
"Exerzitien" (2nd part of "Enchiridioin"), "Symphony in One Movement" (1st version)
1952
Birth of daughter Bettina
1st performance of Oboe Concerto by Hans Rosbaud at Donaueschingen
1st performance of Oboe Concerto by Hans Rosbaud at Donaueschingen
1954
First plans for a big oratorio
Cello Concerto (later re-written as "Conto di speranza")
Cello Concerto (later re-written as "Conto di speranza")
1955
"Perspectives". 1st performance 1956 by the Kontarsky Brothers
1956
Zimmermann was elected as President of the German section of the ISCM, but resigned in 1957 when he failed to initiative a dialogue between composers of the older and the younger generations
1957
Zimmermann became first composer to be awarded a scholarship to the Villa Massimo. In autumn 1957, began composing his opera "Die Soldaten". Appointed successor to Professor Frank Martin at the Cologne Conservatory, and ran a seminar for radio play music.
1st performance "Canto di speranza" by Siegfried Palm
1st performance "Canto di speranza" by Siegfried Palm
1959
End of 1959, beginning of 1960, ceased working on "Die Soldaten". Composed Cello Sonata, "Dialogues" (1st version), new thoughts on planned oratorio
1960
Awarded "Großer Kunstpreis" of North Rhine-Westphalia
1961
"Présence"
contact with Paul Pörtner
contact with Paul Pörtner
1961
"Antiphonen"
1963
1st performance of "Vocal Symphony" from "Die Soldaten". From autumn a further stay at Villa Massimo, where the composition of "Die Soldaten" was resumed
1965
1st performance of "Die Soldaten"
1966
Birth of son Johann Jakob Wimar
Awarded the "Kunstpreis" of the city of Cologne
Further work on the oratorio
Began a new opera project "Medea" (after Hans Henny Jahnn)
"Tratto I"
Awarded the "Kunstpreis" of the city of Cologne
Further work on the oratorio
Began a new opera project "Medea" (after Hans Henny Jahnn)
"Tratto I"
1967
"Intercomunicatione"
1968
Work on oratorio, now entitled "Requiem for a Young Poet". 1st performance 1969
1970
"Stillness and Return", "I turned and saw all the injustices that are committed under the sun". On 10th August Bernd Alois Zimmermann took his own life
