Cesar Bresgen

Cesar Bresgen (16 October 1913 – 7 April 1988) was an Austrian composer.

Biography

He was born in Florence to Maria and August Bresgen, both artists. He spent his childhood in Zell am See, Munich, Prague, and Salzburg.

He studied from 1930 to 1936 at the Musikhochschule München piano, organ, conducting and composition with Joseph Haas. From 1933 he moved to London, where he worked as a pianist and composer, co-operating with dancers, including Leslie Barrowes.

He married in 1936. He worked at the Munich radio station from 1936 to 1938. In 1939, he became professor of composition at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.

He became one of Hitler's favourite composers, composing the three act official commemorative cantata in 1938 entitled The SA lives forever, dedicated to the Sturmabteilung.^[1] He composed several of the most famous vocal works for the Hitler Youth. He was one of the most important guides of the Hitler Youth movement.^[2] He worked with the Cultural Office of the Reich Youth Leadership. He was regularly invited to perform by the SS Main Office and commissioned to compose for, perform at, and invited to, the most important Nazi Party events.^[3]

He was a soldier in the final years of World War II, fighting on the Western front. After the war he worked as an organist and choral director in Mittersill, Austria. He met there Anton Webern, which made a significant impression on him. In 1947, he began to teach again at the Mozarteum, becoming eventually a professor.

In 1956, he married pianist Eleonore Jorhan.

Like his friend Carl Orff, he work in extensively in pedagogy.

In 1976 he won the Grand Austrian State Prize for music.

He died in Salzburg.

Works

Opera

• de:Krabat (1982)

Literature

In german language

• "Im Anfang war der Rhythmus", Heinrichshofen Verlag 1977, ISBN 3795902177

References

1. ^ Adolf Hitler: A Psychological Interpretation of His Views on Architecture, Art, and Music (Hardcover 1990), Sherree Owens Zalampas, page 107
2. ^ Michael H. Kater: Die mißbrauchte Muse: Musiker im Dritten Reich (zit. nach der engl. AusgabeThe Twisted Muse, S. 143)
3. ^ Fred K. Prieberg: Handbuch Deutsche Musiker 1933–1945, S. 728.

Persondata
Name	Bresgen, Cesar
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	16 October 1913
Place of birth
Date of death	7 April 1988
Place of death