Michael Braunfels

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Michael Braunfels (born April 3, 1917 in Munich ; † May 15, 2015 in Cologne ) was a German composer and pianist.

Life

Michael Braunfels studied composition with Frank Martin and piano with his father, the composer and pianist Walter Braunfels , as well as with Olga Novacovic in Vienna and with Paul Baumgartner in Basel. In 1954 Michael Braunfels took over a professorship for piano at the Cologne University of Music , where he taught until 1982. While his father - as a " half-Jew " with an absolute professional ban - wintered in "Inner Exile" on Lake Constance , he had to serve as a soldier in the German Wehrmacht from 1939 to 1945 .

In 1950 he settled in Cologne. As a pianist he has given concerts in the music centers of Europe, the Orient and overseas. Since 1985 he has devoted himself exclusively to composing. As a composer, Michael Braunfels was initially influenced by his father's post-romantic tonal language. Later, the influence of Frank Martin's moderately modern style became more decisive. From him he took over the belief in the timeless value of beauty and tonality. Michael Braunfels, succeeding Martin, expanded and sharpened the latter considerably - without giving up the principle of tonal centeredness. In contrast to most of the composers of his generation, he also professed vocal melodies and clear design in the sense of the classical tradition. In addition, special characteristics of his music are a tendency towards a "French" lightness, to esprit, humor and virtuosity. The fact that Braunfels was fulfilling the elementary needs of his musician colleagues was shown by numerous commissions for composition (most of his works were commissioned by professional musicians). The audience also always accepted his music in concerts.

Grave of Walter and Michael Braunfels in Cologne's southern cemetery

Nevertheless, Michael Braunfels has not yet been able to assert himself as a composer across the board. This is probably due not least to the dominance and one-sided promotion of atonal directions - especially in West Germany - since the middle of the 20th century, since their establishment went hand in hand with the anti-tonal music philosophy of Adorno and others. Braunfels reacted to this situation with an avant-garde-critical writing ( The Disease of Managed Music. Zurich 1975) and at the same time pleaded for a tonal modernism oriented towards the ideal of beauty.

Michael Braunfels was buried in his father's grave in Cologne's Südfriedhof (hall 43).

Works (selection)

  • Publishers: Gerig, Heinrichshofen, Editio Alto, Edition gravis

stage

  • The Kings Messengers ("Königsboten") op. 15 (musical for high schools), 1961–1966

Orchestral works

  • Capriccio for 3 flutes and string orchestra op.5, 1945
  • Divertimento for piano and orchestra op.7, 1949
  • Ballade for viola and orchestra op.9, 1953
  • Concerto for harpsichord and chamber orchestra op.11, 1957
  • Divertimento for oboe and orchestra op.12, 1960
  • Divertimento on 3 folk songs for piano and small orchestra op.17, 1969
  • “Concerto sereno” for solo cello, solo piano and orchestra op. 22, 1972–1976
  • “Concerto à tre” for string trio and string orchestra op. 25, 1978
  • “The Parliament,” symphonic satires for large orchestra op. 31a (also in a version for 15 instruments), 1981
  • Sinfonietta op.35, 1985

Chamber music

  • Trio for 3 flutes op.4a, 1939
  • Fantasy Variations for String Quartet op.4b, 1943
  • String quartet in d op.4c, 1944
  • Concert piece for violin and piano op.6, 1947
  • Duo concertant for violoncello and harp op.16, 1969
  • Serenade for flute and piano (harpsichord) op.19, 1970
  • Serenade for violin, horn and piano op.20, 1973
  • Symposium for 12 cellos op.21, 1972
  • Variations for clarinet, viola and piano op.27, 1980
  • "4 times 4" for saxophone quartet op. 36, 1986
  • Sextet for flute, string quartet (and harpsichord ad libitum) op.37, 1988
  • Trio for flute, clarinet and piano op.38, 1990
  • 4 pieces for clarinet quaret op.39 , 1991
  • Encore for clarinet quartet op.39a, 1991

Piano music

  • Ritornello op.8/1, 1950
  • Nocturne op.8/2, 1956
  • "Physiognomien," 7 Character Pieces op. 18, 1969
  • “Capriccio” (four hands) op. 23, 1975
  • “Duo gioccoso” for 2 harpsichords op. 16, 1978

Songs and choral works

  • 4 love songs for soprano, flute, viola and harp op.28, 1980
  • 3 cheerful songs for soprano, flute, viola and harp op.29, 1980
  • 3 chants after Christian Morgenstern for baritone and piano op.32, 1982
  • Songs based on James Hearst for soprano and piano op.34, 1982
  • 3 moon songs for mixed choir à cappella op.33, 1982
  • Mixed choirs based on Eugen Roth's “Ein Mensch” op. 40, 1991

Fonts

  • The disease of managed music. Zurich 1975.
  • The disempowered audience. In: Rheinischer Merkur. No. 49, December 8, 1972.
  • Too little concern for listeners. In: FAZ. No. 299, December 27, 1986.
  • 20th Century Music and the Audience. A plea for the audience. Radio lecture (broadcast on SDR on June 22, 1973).
  • Music from the last turn of the century (music 75 years ago). Radio lecture (broadcast on the DLF on January 1, 1975).
  • Music 150 years ago (1826/27). Radio lecture (broadcast on the DLF on January 1st, 1977).

Discography

  • Parliament. Orchestral works by Michael Braunfels. (op.12, op.17, op.25, op.31a); Performers: Nürnberger Symphoniker, Klauspeter Seibel, Michael Braunfels and others; Label: sound star-ton (Steyerberg), 1995.
  • I hate music. Music for clarinet quartet by Braunfels (op. 39 & 39a), Bernstein, Gershwin, Piazzolla and Lutz-Rijeka; Performers: Ensemble Clarinesque; Label: Signum Records, 2000.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Composer Michael Braunfels dies ( Memento from May 26, 2015 in the Internet Archive )

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Braunfels, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German composer and pianist
DATE OF BIRTH April 3, 1917
PLACE OF BIRTH Munich
DATE OF DEATH May 15, 2015
Place of death Cologne