Hanns Eisler
Arguably one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century,
the German composer Hanns Eisler (b. 1898, Leipzig) is
almost totally forgotten in the United States,
a consequence of his left-wing political views and affiliations,
and of his philosophy that music has a distinct social function.
Eisler, schooled by Arnold Schönberg
and a long term collaborator with Bertolt Brecht,
composed chamber music, stage and film music, choral works,
and above all, Lieder and "workers" songs.
Eisler, leaving Europe ahead of the Nazi march,
lived and worked in the United States from 1938 to 1948,
writing much of his best music in this country.
He became an early target of what became the Hollywood "witch hunt,"
appearing before the House Subcommittee for Un-American Activities
in September 1947.
Eisler was forced to leave the United States for life.
From 1949 to his death in 1962,
Eisler was a leading musical figure in East Germany.
His workers songs from the late 1920s
made a sort of comeback in West Germany
during the student revolution of 1968,
though unofficially Eisler was "personen non gratis" in West Germany.
In 1994 the Hanns Eisler Gesellschaft was founded in Germany
to further the music of Hanns Eisler,
and ensure that more of his music is published and made available.
The most important music conservatory in Berlin still carries his name,
the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler.
First writing in the dodecaphonic style of the Second Vienesse School,
Eisler early on abandoned 12-tone orthodoxy,
composing music serviceable for workers' choruses
and above all the stage theater.
The stage and "workers" music is rhythmically strong,
and the text is always meant to be clearly heard and understood.
Later during his exile period in particular,
Eisler returned to 12-tone procedures, using them when it suitable him.
Eisler's style thus becomes difficult to categorize.
His stamp is unmistakable, be his work a theater song, serious song,
film music or chamber work, be his harmonic language "tonal" or "atonal,"
or a blend of both.
Craig R. Johnson
Hanns Eisler Centenary Gala
West Park West Park Chamber Society
September 26, 1998
New York City
Craig Johnson performed the following Eisler compositions:
- Eisler Piano Sonata No. 1
- Eisler Violin Sonata (Reise),
Ashley Horne, violinist
Program
Songs of Hanns Eisler on WNYC in New York
WNYC Broadcast "Spinning on Air"
New York City
September 19 and 26, 1995
With dramatist Eric Bentley, baritone David Harris,
and host David Garland.
Translations by Eric Bentley.
Songs to texts by Brecht, Hölderlin, Anakreon,
Goethe, Peter Altenberg, Pascal, and Eisler.
To Those Who Come After:
The Voice of Bertolt Brecht
An Evening of Music-Theater
Conceived by David Harris
in collaboration with Eric Bentley.
Featuring Manon Gimlett, David Harris, and Craig Johnson.
- September 1998 / Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
- May 1998 / Carleton College, Northfield, MN
- October 1997 / Minnesota Arts High School, Golden Valley, MN
- July 1997 / Illusion Theatre Fresh Ink Series, Minneapolis, MN
Program
Performances of Eisler Piano Sonata No. 1 (1923)
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March 1996/ Center for New Music, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
-
September 1998/ Eisler Gala Centeneray Concert,
West Park Chamber Series, New York, NY
-
March 1999/ Piano, Pulla, & Pre-Pääsiäisaamun
and Pleasantries, Los Angeles, CA
-
September 1999/ Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA
-
October 1999/ Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
-
November 1999/ Hartt School of Music, Hartford, CT
Performances of Eisler Variations for Piano (1941)
- March 1998 / Helsinki, Finland
- October 1995 / The Hartt School, Hartford, CT
- May 1995 / Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
- February 1994 / Landmark Center, Saint Paul, MN
- November 1993 / Wintersalon in Hannover, Germany
Burning and Never Going Cold:
Theater Songs and Lieder
of Brecht, Eisler, Weill and Wolpe
The University of Wisconsin/ Madison WI
November 21, 1996
Sponsored by the Department of German
Schweyk im Zweiten Weltkrieg
Städtische Bühnen Osnabrück
Osnabrück, Germany
Winter and Spring 1983
Craig Johnson was music director and conductor
for 25 performances of this large, main-stage production.
Wintersalon in Hannover: Hanns Eisler
Hannover, Germany
26. November 1993
Craig Johnson performed the following Eisler compositions:
- Eisler Variations for Piano
- Songs (Hilkea Kuck, Soprano)
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