Bernhard Heiden
Encyclopedia
Bernhard Heiden was a German and American composer
and music
teacher, who studied under and was heavily influenced by Paul Hindemith
. Bernhard Heiden, the son of Ernst Levi and Martha (Heiden-Heimer) was originally named Bernhard Levi, but he later changed his name.
Heiden was born in Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany and quickly became interested in music, composing his first pieces when he was six. When he began formal music lessons he learned music theory
in addition to three instruments, piano
, clarinet
, and violin
. Heiden entered the Hochschule für Musik
in Berlin in 1929 at the age of nineteen and studied music composition under Paul Hindemith
, the leading German composer of his day. His last year at the Hochschule brought him the Mendelssohn Prize in Composition.
In 1934 Heiden married Cola de Joncheere, a former student at the Hochschule that had been in his class, and in 1935 they emigrated to Detroit to leave Nazi Germany
. Heiden taught on the staff of the Art Center Music School for eight years; during his teaching career he conducted the Detroit Chamber Orchestra in addition to giving piano, harpsichord, and general chamber music
recitals. After having been naturalized as a United States citizen
in 1941 he entered the army in 1943 to become an Assistant Bandmaster. After the close of World War II
Heiden entered Cornell University
and received his M.A.
two years later. He then joined the staff of the Indiana University
School of Music, where he served as chair of the composition department until 1974. He remained composing music up until his death at the age of 89 in 2000.
Heiden's music is described by Nicolas Slonimsky
, another composer, as "neoclassical
in its formal structure, and strongly polyphonic in texture; it is distinguished also by its impeccable formal balance and effective instrumentation." Much of Heiden's music is for either wind or string chamber groups or solo instruments with piano, though he also wrote two symphonies
, an opera ("The Darkened City"), a ballet ("Dreamers on a Slack Wire"), and vocal and incidental music for poetry and several of Shakespeare's plays.
His notable students include Donald Erb
and Frederick A. Fox
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
teacher, who studied under and was heavily influenced by Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
. Bernhard Heiden, the son of Ernst Levi and Martha (Heiden-Heimer) was originally named Bernhard Levi, but he later changed his name.
Heiden was born in Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany and quickly became interested in music, composing his first pieces when he was six. When he began formal music lessons he learned music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
in addition to three instruments, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
. Heiden entered the Hochschule für Musik
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
in Berlin in 1929 at the age of nineteen and studied music composition under Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
, the leading German composer of his day. His last year at the Hochschule brought him the Mendelssohn Prize in Composition.
In 1934 Heiden married Cola de Joncheere, a former student at the Hochschule that had been in his class, and in 1935 they emigrated to Detroit to leave Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Heiden taught on the staff of the Art Center Music School for eight years; during his teaching career he conducted the Detroit Chamber Orchestra in addition to giving piano, harpsichord, and general chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
recitals. After having been naturalized as a United States citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
in 1941 he entered the army in 1943 to become an Assistant Bandmaster. After the close of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Heiden entered Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and received his M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
two years later. He then joined the staff of the Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
School of Music, where he served as chair of the composition department until 1974. He remained composing music up until his death at the age of 89 in 2000.
Heiden's music is described by Nicolas Slonimsky
Nicolas Slonimsky
Nicolas Slonimsky was a Russian born American composer, conductor, musician, music critic, lexicographer and author. He described himself as a "diaskeuast" ; "a reviser or interpolator."- Life :...
, another composer, as "neoclassical
Neoclassicism (music)
Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth-century trend, particularly current in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint...
in its formal structure, and strongly polyphonic in texture; it is distinguished also by its impeccable formal balance and effective instrumentation." Much of Heiden's music is for either wind or string chamber groups or solo instruments with piano, though he also wrote two symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, an opera ("The Darkened City"), a ballet ("Dreamers on a Slack Wire"), and vocal and incidental music for poetry and several of Shakespeare's plays.
His notable students include Donald Erb
Donald Erb
Donald Erb was an American composer best known for large orchestral works such as Concerto for Brass and Orchestra and Ritual Observances.-Early years:...
and Frederick A. Fox
Frederick A. Fox
Frederick Alfred Fox, Jr. was an American composer and former music educator specializing in contemporary classical music.-Formative Years:...
.
Selected works
- Sonata for alto saxophone and piano (1937) - premiered by Larry TealLarry TealLarry Teal is considered by many to be the father of American Saxophone.Teal earned a Bachelors degree in Pre-Dentistry from the University of Michigan. While studying there he began playing in jazz bands as a saxophonist...
on 8 April 1937 - Sonata for viola and piano (1959)
- Quintet for French horn and string quartet (1952) - written for horn player John Barrows
- Diversion for alto saxophone and band - Composer also reduced it for alto saxophone and piano
- Fantasia Concertante for alto saxophone and band
- Five Short Pieces for flute
- Intrada for woodwind quintet
- Voyage for band (1991)
- Serenade for bassoon, violin, viola, and cello
- Clarinet trio (two B clarinets and one bass clarinet)
- Quintet for clarinet and strings
- Solo for alto saxophone and piano (1969) – written for Eugene RousseauEugene Rousseau (saxophonist)Eugene Rousseau is an American classical saxophonist. He plays mainly the alto and soprano saxophones....
- Sonata for horn and piano
- Variations on “Liliburlero” for cello
- Sonatina for flute
- Sonata for Piano, Four Hands (1946)
- The Darkened City (with libretto by Robert G. Kelly)(1962)
- Dreamers on a Slack Wire (ballet)(1953)
- Sonata for Cello and Piano
- Euphorion: Scene for Orchestra (1949)
- Concerto for Piano, Violin, Violincello and Orchestra (1956)
- Concertino for String Orchestra (1967)
- Concerto for Violincello and Orchestra (1967)
- Concerto for Horn and Orchestra (1969)
- Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (1976)
- Partita for Orchestra (1970)