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Composer

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Modern

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Max Beckschafer was a German composer born on January 12, 1898, in Berlin. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Beckschafer showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Beckschafer's musical education began at the Berlin Conservatory, where he studied piano and composition. He later studied with the renowned composer Arnold Schoenberg in Vienna. Schoenberg's influence can be heard in Beckschafer's early works, which were atonal and experimental. In the 1920s, Beckschafer began to move away from atonality and embraced a more tonal style. He was influenced by the music of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, and his compositions began to reflect a more traditional approach to harmony and melody. One of Beckschafer's most significant works is his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1928. The symphony is a four-movement work that showcases Beckschafer's mastery of orchestration and his ability to create powerful and emotional music. The symphony was well-received by critics and established Beckschafer as a major composer. In the 1930s, Beckschafer's music became more politically charged. He was a vocal critic of the Nazi regime and used his music to express his opposition to their policies. One of his most famous works from this period is his opera, The Resistance, which tells the story of a group of German citizens who resist the Nazi regime. During World War II, Beckschafer's music became more introspective and reflective. He composed several works for solo piano, including his Piano Sonata No. 2, which is considered one of his most personal and emotional works. After the war, Beckschafer continued to compose and teach. He was a professor of composition at the Berlin Conservatory and mentored several young composers, including Hans Werner Henze and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Beckschafer's later works were more experimental and avant-garde. He was interested in electronic music and incorporated electronic sounds into his compositions. One of his most famous works from this period is his Electronic Symphony, which was composed in 1960. Max Beckschafer died on December 12, 1974, in Berlin. He is remembered as one of the most important composers of the 20th century and his music continues to be performed and studied today.

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