The Music of Edwin Geist
Creator(s)
- Edwin Geist (Composer)
Biographical History
Edwin Ernst Moritz Geist (1902-1942) was a German composer, originally from Berlin, who moved to Kaunas, Lithuania after he was expelled by the Nazis from the Reichsmusikkammer (Reich Music Chamber) in 1937. After arriving in Lithuania, Geist married the pianist Lyda Bagriansky, in 1938, and experienced his most productive period as a composer during the next several years, creating the opera "Die Heimkehr des Dionysos" (1934-1939), "Kleine Deutsche Totenmesse" (1940), and "Kosmischer Frühling" (1941). After the German invasion of Lithuania in 1941, Geist and his wife Lyda were imprisoned at the Ninth Fort in Kaunas, where Geist was held until he was released through the intervention of friends in March1942. Geist sought to obtain the release of Lyda as well, but he was rearrested several months later and was shot on 10 December 1942. After learning of his death, Lyda took her own life as well. Geist's music was rediscovered in Lithuania in the 1970s, and "Die Heimkehr des Dionysos" had its premiere in Vilnius in 2002, and his works have been performed in Germany, Lithuania, and the United States in the years since.
Scope and Content
"The Music of Edwin Geist" recorded in performance at Slosberg Recital Hall, Brandeis University, October 26, 2008. See program: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn88429#?rsc=141950&cv=3&c=0&m=0&s=0&xywh=-632%2C-1%2C3958%2C3467 Track 1 = ""Der seltsame Abend,"" for soprano and string trio. (words: Hugo Salus) Berlin, 1933. Track 2 = Drei Lieder für Bariton und Solo-Violine (Zürich, 1928). No. 1. ""Tagesanbruch"" (words: Gustav Falke) Track 3 = Drei Lieder für Bariton und Solo-Violine (Zürich, 1928). No. 2. ""Abbild"" (words: Peter Hille) Track 4 = Drei Lieder für Bariton und Solo-Violine (Zürich, 1928). No. 3. ""Durch die Nacht"" (words: Richard Dehmel) Track 5 = “Ich finde dich in allen diesen Dingen” (words: Rainer Maria Rilke). Sung in German. Track 6 = ""Drei litauische Lieder"" for soprano and piano. ""Schwerer Abend"" (words: Benediktus Rutkūnas). Composed Kaunas 1939. Sung in German. Track 7 = ""Drei litauische Lieder"" for soprano and piano. ""Seebalade"" (words: Benediktas Rutkūnas). Composed Kaunas 1940. Sung in German. Track 8 = ""Drei litauische Lieder"" for soprano and piano. ""Dynamik des Frühlings"" (words: Benediktas Rutkūnas). Composed Kaunas 1940. Sung in German. Track 9 = ""Kosmischer Frühling"" aus Das Tanzlegendchen for piano trio. Composed Kaunas 1942. Track 10 = Arioso der Apolloneia aus ""Die Heimkehr des Dionysos"" Track 11 = Gebet der Apolloneia aus ""Die Heimkehr des Dionysos"" Track 12 = Tanzpantomime (dedicated to Lydia Geist) from ""Die Heimkehr des Dionysos."" Arranged for solo piano. Track 13 = Thebanerchor from ""Die Heimkehr des Dionysos."" Track 14 = Schlusschor from Skizzen zum Faustmusik. Contributors include: Verena Rein, soprano; Sharan Leventhal, violin; Nathaniel Farny, viola; David Russell, cello (track 1). Mark McSweeney, baritone; Sharan Leventhal, violin (tracks 2-4). Verena Rein, soprano; Eliko Akahori, piano (tracks 5-8; tracks 10-11). Sharan Leventhal, violin; Nathaniel Farny, viola; David Russell, cello (track 9). Jae Kyo Han, piano (track 12). The Irving Fine Society Singers; music director: Nicolas Alexander Brown (tracks 13-14).
Note(s)
The program for this event can be viewed here: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn88429#?rsc=141950&cv=11&c=0&m=0&s=0&xywh=-40%2C-1%2C3520%2C2686 Manuscript scores available in Lyda Bagriansky Geist and Edwin Geist collection at USHMM. https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn88429.
People
- Geist, Edwin, 1902-1942.
Subjects
- Songs, German.
- Jewish composers--Lithuania.
- Jewish composers--Germany.
- Kaunas (Lithuania)
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Lithuania--Kaunas.
- Songs, Lithuanian.
Genre
- Recorded Sound
- Music.