Erich Zeisl

Erich Zeisl ( born May 18, 1905 in Vienna, † February 18, 1959 in Los Angeles ) was an Austrian composer and music teacher of Jewish origin.

Born the son of a Viennese coffee house owner ( cafes Tegetthoff in Heinestrasse 42) he received, despite the initial resistance, his parents against his musical inclinations 14 -year-old private music lessons. Later he continued his studies at the Vienna Academy of Music; his teachers here were Joseph Marx and Hugo Kauder. During this time his first collection of songs fell.

After completing his training, he worked initially as a teacher of piano. At the same time he composed; first success as a composer, however, were slow to place. After the "Anschluss " of Austria to the German Reich Zeisl emigrated in 1938 to Paris, and later settled in the United States. In Hollywood, he wrote several commissioned works for film productions; However, the success as a composer was denied. He therefore held various positions as a teacher of music, first at the Southern California Music School and later at City College in Los Angeles.

From its 1923-1924 incurred Suite for Piano Trio, Op 8, the sheet extends up to the trio for flute, viola and harp, which he wrote two years before his death. It is striking that the composer has undergone only slight compositional development. At most, can be in his late work, which also includes the String Quartet No. 2 (1952 /53) attributable to find a stronger contrapuntal interest. His works bear witness to a craft proficiency and it is quite independent, often melancholy, resigned tone which gives them autonomy.

His compositional work consists mainly of songs, who number in the hundreds, ballets, chamber music and choral music and operas. In the development of the art song, he saw himself primarily in the tradition of Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Hugo Wolf. As a well-known interpreter of his songs Hans Duhan, Alexander Kipnis and Tatiana Menotti are to be considered.

An occasion of Zeisl 2005 published biography " A stranger I moved out. " By Karin Wagner sheds light on his life and work.

Works

• Songs lovesong
• Moon images ( texts: Christian Morgenstern )
• Harlem Night Song for soprano, tenor and choir

• Pierrot in the bottle

• Africa sings

• Leonce and Lena
• Job (unfinished)

• Brandeis Sonata for Violin
• Sonata for Viola and Piano, in A minor (1950 )
• Sonata for Cello and Piano
• Trio for flute, viola and harp

In " Zeisl year " 2005, a CD with 28 songs appeared in cpo ( he has sung baritone / Cord sheaves, piano) and the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF CD 419), a CD with 25 songs ( Adrian Eröd, baritone / Eva marrow Mühlher, piano). In 2007 appeared at cpo a recording of Zeisl Piano Concerto in C major and the suite from the ballet Pierrot in the bottle. 2013 appeared in Yarlung a recording of the Little Symphony (UCLA Philharmonia / Neal Stulberg ).

Documentary

• Eric ( h) Zeisl - Unfinished Life, Austria 2012/13, directed by Herbert Krill