- Joseph Kosma
Joseph Kosma (born Kozma József
October 22 ,1905 inBudapest , diedAugust 7 ,1969 outsideParis ) was a Hungariancomposer , of Jewish background. His parents taught stenography and typing. He had a brother, Akos. A maternal relative was the photographerLászló Moholy-Nagy .Kosma started to play the piano at age 5, and later took piano lessons. After completing his education at the Gymnasium Franz-Josef, he attended the Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied with Leó Weiner. He also studied with
Béla Bartók in Academy Liszt. He earned diplomas in composition and conducting. He won a grant to study in Berlin in 1928. There, he met Lilli Apel, another musician, whom he later married. Kosma also met and studied withHanns Eisler in Berlin. He also became acquainted withBertolt Brecht and Helene Weigel.Kosma and his wife emigrated to Paris in 1933. Eventually, he met
Jacques Prévert , who introduced him toJean Renoir . DuringWorld War II and the Occupation of France, Kosma was placed under house arrest in the Alpes-Maritimes region, and was banned from composition. However, Prevert managed to arrange for Kosma to contribute music for films, with other composers fronting for him. Among his credits are the scores to these classic French films: "The Testament of Doctor Cordelier " (telefilm, 1959), "La Grande Illusion", "Les Enfants du Paradis" (1945), and "The Rules of the Game " (1939). He was also known for writing the standard classical-Jazz piece "Les feuilles mortes" "Autumn Leaves" (with French lyrics byJacques Prevert , and later English lyrics byJohnny Mercer ), which was derived from music in Carne's film "Les Portes de la Nuit" (1946).Kosma's mother and brother were killed by the Arrow Cross Nazi auxiliaries in 1944. Kosma himself was wounded in an explosion in August 1944 in France. Kosma's father survived the war, and died in 1957. Joseph Kosma died in 1969 and was buried in the
Cimetière de Montmartre in theMontmartre Quarter of Paris.External links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XspiZwZv5Nw Brass band Tar] from Croatia playing ’’Autumn Leaves’’ - (video)
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