Walter Jurmann

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Walter Jurmann (born October 12, 1903 in Vienna , † June 17, 1971 in Budapest ) was an Austrian composer of hits and film music .

Live and act

At the request of his parents, Walter Jurmann first studied medicine . In 1924 he went to Semmering for a cure because of pleurisy , where he was offered a job as a bar pianist because of his improvisations on the piano . Jurmann dropped out of medical school and became a professional musician.

The Viennese copywriter Fritz Rotter (1900–1984) recognized Jurmann's talent and suggested that he work together in Berlin . The first hit, What do you know, how I'm in love , sung by Richard Tauber , was a success. Richard Strauss confirmed his decision, and Emmerich Kálmán prophesied: “You will become famous one day.” Subsequently, Jan Kiepura , Jussi Björling , Hans Albers , Willy Fritsch and the Comedian Harmonists sang his songs. Due to overwork, Jurmann began working with the Polish composer Bronisław Kaper (1902–1983), who from now on arranged the melodies composed by Jurmann. One of her most famous songs is San Francisco from the film of the same name , which Judy Garland sang at the end of her concerts.

Berlin memorial plaque in Berlin-Wilmersdorf

Due to his Jewish origins, Jurmann emigrated to Paris in 1933 after the " seizure of power " . In 1934 he was offered a seven-year contract in Hollywood . His debut film in Hollywood was the comedy Escapade . He was successful in Hollywood, especially with films by the Marx Brothers . In 1935 he wrote - together with Bronisław Kaper and Ned Washington - the song "Cosí Cosa" for the Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera . Many viewers considered the satirical song to be a real Neapolitan folk song.

His biggest hits were Love Song of Tahiti for Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and the theme song to San Francisco (1936). For this he received honorary citizenship of San Francisco in 1938. In 1943 Jurmann retired almost entirely from professional life. In the summer of 1971 he died of a heart attack in Budapest while on vacation in Europe . He was buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery .

Walter-Jurmann-Gasse in Vienna- Liesing has been named after him since 2003 .

Songs

  • How do you know how I'm in love , 1928
  • Thursday of all days
  • Olga, daughter of the Volga
  • A Spanish tango
  • A girl like you
  • A little trip with you in spring , 1929
  • I think about Mädi all night , 1930
  • Veronika, the spring is there (known from the Comedian Harmonists and the Palast Orchester ), text by Fritz Rotter
  • I'm in a good mood today , text Fritz Rotter
  • I'm looking for one that belongs to me alone , text Fritz Rotter
  • It's a shame that love is a fairy tale
  • A song from my homeland
  • Play me the song on the violin
  • How I would like to spoil you
  • My gorilla has a villa in the zoo
  • Le bistro du port
  • Ninon, quand do me sours
  • Windy City , musical
  • A Better World To Live In , 1968

Film music (selection)

literature

  • Monika Kornberger: Jurmann, Walter. In: Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon . Online edition, Vienna 2002 ff., ISBN 3-7001-3077-5 ; Print edition: Volume 2, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 2003, ISBN 3-7001-3044-9 .
  • Elisabeth Buxbaum: Veronika, spring is here. Walter Jurmann - A musician between worlds and times . With a catalog raisonné by Alexander Sieghardt. Edition Steinbauer, Vienna 2006, ISBN 3-902494-18-2 .
  • Kay Less : 'In life, more is taken from you than given ...'. Lexicon of filmmakers who emigrated from Germany and Austria between 1933 and 1945. A general overview. P. 269 f., ACABUS-Verlag, Hamburg 2011, ISBN 978-3-86282-049-8

Web links

Commons : Walter Jurmann  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Biography ( memento of July 26, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) on jurmann.org
  2. ↑ Monika Kornberger: Jurmann, Walter. In: Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon . Online edition, Vienna 2002 ff., ISBN 3-7001-3077-5 ; Print edition: Volume 2, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 2003, ISBN 3-7001-3044-9 .
personal data
SURNAME Jurmann, Walter
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian composer
DATE OF BIRTH October 12, 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna , Austria
DATE OF DEATH 17th June 1971
Place of death Budapest , Hungary