Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

August 7, 1906

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Gerhard Frommel was a German composer and pianist who was born on September 29, 1906, in Karlsruhe, Germany. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Frommel began playing the piano at a young age and showed great talent. He studied music at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin and later at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. Frommel's early compositions were influenced by the music of Richard Strauss and Max Reger. He was also interested in the music of the Second Viennese School, particularly the works of Arnold Schoenberg. Frommel's early works were characterized by their complex harmonies and intricate rhythms. In 1933, Frommel was appointed as a professor of piano at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. He continued to compose during this time and his works began to gain recognition. In 1937, he won the Mendelssohn Prize for his Piano Concerto No. 1. During World War II, Frommel served in the German army. After the war, he was briefly imprisoned by the Allies. He was released in 1946 and returned to Munich, where he resumed his career as a composer and pianist. Frommel's music from this period was influenced by his experiences during the war. His works became more introspective and reflective. He also began to incorporate elements of folk music into his compositions. In 1950, Frommel was appointed as a professor of composition at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. He held this position until his retirement in 1972. During this time, he continued to compose and his works were performed by leading orchestras and ensembles. Frommel's music from the 1950s and 1960s was characterized by its use of serialism and other modernist techniques. He also continued to incorporate elements of folk music into his compositions. His works from this period include the Symphony No. 2, the String Quartet No. 2, and the Piano Sonata No. 3. In the 1970s, Frommel's music became more tonal and accessible. He began to incorporate elements of jazz and popular music into his compositions. His works from this period include the Symphony No. 3, the Piano Concerto No. 2, and the String Quartet No. 3. Frommel died on August 22, 1984, in Munich, Germany. He left behind a legacy of innovative and expressive music that continues to be performed and studied today.

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