Gideon Klein

Gideon Klein (December 6, 1919 in Přerov, † January 27, 1945 in the concentration camp Fürstengrube ) was a Czech- Jewish composer and pianist.

Biography

Gideon Klein was unusually gifted musically as a child and began piano lessons at the age of 11 Ruzena Kurzova. With 10 years of first compositions were created. He gave his first concert at age 14. In 1931 he went to Prague, where he attended the Conservatory and then the piano master class of Vilém Kurz. A career as a pianist became apparent. He completed his high school studies in 1938 concurrent with a diploma cum laude. With the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the German Wehrmacht ended his further studies - the study of musicology in 1939 he had to interrupt because of closure of the Charles University in Prague, as in 1940, the following composition studies with Alois Haba. During this time he produced his " Divertimento " for wind octet, which is considered a key work umd political experiences and artistic influences of the time processed.

The acceptance of a place at the Royal Academy of Music in London, was denied. Even as a pianist he public appearance was banned. From 1941, therefore, he appeared under the pseudonym Karel Vranek, later only in private.

In December 1941, he was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Soon he was together with musicians such as composer Hans Krasa, Viktor Ullmann and Pavel Haas, the singer Karel Berman, pianist and conductor Rafael Schaechter or the later conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Karel Ančerl one of the most important people in initially forbidden and for propaganda purposes after abused cultural life of the city warehouse. He stepped into concerts and wrote works that were performable even in the circumstances of the camp, lectured and gave lessons.

In October 1944, nine days after the end of his string trios, he was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp and from there to the satellite camp Fürstengrube. In the coal mines, he came shortly before the liberation killed under mysterious circumstances.

His sister Eliska Kleinová survived the camp and supported the publication of the works. In 1994, she founded the Gideon Klein Foundation.

In his works he combines influences of Leoš Janáček and Schoenberg to an expressive own music.

Works

• Allegro con fuoco
• Adagio
• Allegro vivace

• Allegro spiccato
• Lento ( Variation on a Moravian folk song )
• Molto vivace