Karl Marx (composer)

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Karl Marx (November 12, 1897, Munich - May 8, 1985, Stuttgart) was a German composer, conductor, and educator.

Karl Marx first studied natural sciences, but, after having met Carl Orff, decided to make music his career, and studied musical composition with Orff, Siegmund von Hausegger, and Anton Beer-Waldbrunn among others. In 1928 he became choir director of the Munich Bach Society,^[1] and in 1929 was appointed professor for compositional technique at the Akademie der Tonkunst, Munich. From 1939 to 1945 he taught music theory at the Johann Joseph Fux Conservatory in Graz, composed music for Nazi ceremonies and contributed to songbooks for the Hitler Youth.^[2] From 1946 until given emeritus status he was professor of composition at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart.

Marx composed orchestral works, concerti, chamber music, piano music, works for organ, cantatas, numerous choral works and lieder set to words by German poets. One of his primary causes was to write music for young people; his compositions for youth orchestras were well received in his day.

His works include:

Festival Prelude
Concerto for 2 Violins and orchestra
Passacaglia for orchestra
Divertimento for wind instruments
String Quartet
Sextet for flute, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, and cello
Rilke-Gesänge (Rilke Songs), Opp. 1, 6 and 11, for mixed choir
Drei Chöre (Three Choirs), Op. 46, set to words by Fritz Diettrich
Heitere Verse (Cheerful Verses), Op. 54, set to words by Wilhelm Busch and Eugen Roth
Raube das Licht aus dem Rachen der Schlange (Rob the Light from the Serpent's Throat), Op. 57, Cantata set to words by Hans Carossa for solo baritone, mixed choir and orchestra

[edit] References

^ Kater, Michael H. (2000). Composers of the Nazi Era: Eight Portraits. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 115. ISBN 0195099249.
^ Kater, Michael H. (1997). The Twisted Muse: Musicians and Their Music in the Third Reich. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 138. ISBN 0195096207.