Georg Kreisler
Encyclopedia
Georg Kreisler was an Austrian-American Viennese-language
cabaret
tist, satirist, composer
, and author
. He was particularly popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Since 2007 he has lived in Salzburg
with his third wife, Barbara Peters. He died 22 November 2011 in Salzburg, Austria "after a severe infection" according to his wife Barbara.
, where he learned music theory
, and learned to play violin
and piano
. In 1938, he was forced to flee with his parents due to increasing Nazi restrictions on Jews. In 1943, he became an American citizen and enlisted in the Army
, and was stationed in Europe. He wrote songs for soldiers in Britain and France with the help of Marcel Prawy
. After the war, he went to Hollywood and worked on movies with Charlie Chaplin
. He performed at nightclubs and bars to make ends meet. In 1947, he was rejected by the record companies because his songs were "Un-American
", especially songs with titles such as "Please Shoot Your Husband". In 1955, he returned to Europe, starting in Vienna, then Munich
in 1958, Berlin
in 1976, Salzburg
in 1988, Basel
in 1992, and back to Salzburg
in 2007. Since 2001, Kreisler had dedicated himself to writing novels and opera
s and but no longer performed.
Kreisler may sometimes have used ideas and material from other artists in his work. Kreisler's "Die Hand" has strong similarities to Tom Lehrer
's "I Hold Your Hand in Mine", first recorded in 1953 Songs by Tom Lehrer
. This recording predates any documented recording or performance of "Die Hand" by Kreisler by several years, as well as Kreisler's return to performance in German-speaking countries in 1955. Kreisler's "Taubenvergiften im Park" has strong similarities to Lehrer's "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park". But until today, noone really knows if Lehrer or Kreisler wrote "his" song first. Both deny copying from each other. Kreisler's "Das Mädchen mit den drei blauen Augen" appears to be related to the Abe Burrows
song "The Girl with the Three Blue Eyes" (first recording in 1950).
Viennese German
Viennese German is the city dialect spoken in Vienna, the capital of Austria and is counted among the Bavarian dialects. Even in Lower Austria, the state surrounding the city, many of its expressions are not used, while farther to the west they are often not even understood.- Linguistic...
cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
tist, satirist, composer
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 author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He was particularly popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Since 2007 he has lived in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
with his third wife, Barbara Peters. He died 22 November 2011 in Salzburg, Austria "after a severe infection" according to his wife Barbara.
Life
Kreisler went to high school in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where 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...
, and learned to play 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....
and 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...
. In 1938, he was forced to flee with his parents due to increasing Nazi restrictions on Jews. In 1943, he became an American citizen and enlisted in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and was stationed in Europe. He wrote songs for soldiers in Britain and France with the help of Marcel Prawy
Marcel Prawy
Marcel Horace Frydmann, Ritter von Prawy was an Austrian dramaturg, opera connoisseur and opera critic.Prawy was born into a Jewish Austro-Hungarian noble family....
. After the war, he went to Hollywood and worked on movies with Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
. He performed at nightclubs and bars to make ends meet. In 1947, he was rejected by the record companies because his songs were "Un-American
Un-American
Un-American is a pejorative term of US political discourse which is applied to people or institutions in the United States seen as deviating from US norms....
", especially songs with titles such as "Please Shoot Your Husband". In 1955, he returned to Europe, starting in Vienna, then Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1958, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1976, Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
in 1988, Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
in 1992, and back to Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
in 2007. Since 2001, Kreisler had dedicated himself to writing novels and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s and but no longer performed.
Style
Kreisler's songs are characterized by black humor and uncompromising criticism of society and politics. This caused him many difficulties and also contributed to appearance prohibitions in radio and television.Kreisler may sometimes have used ideas and material from other artists in his work. Kreisler's "Die Hand" has strong similarities to Tom Lehrer
Tom Lehrer
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Lehrer is an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, mathematician and polymath. He has lectured on mathematics and musical theater...
's "I Hold Your Hand in Mine", first recorded in 1953 Songs by Tom Lehrer
Songs By Tom Lehrer
-Production and release history:Songs by Tom Lehrer was recorded in a single one hour session on January 22, 1953 at the TransRadio studio in Boston for the total studio cost of $15. The first pressing was an issue of 400 copies, produced at Lehrer's own expense in the 10" LP record format. Records...
. This recording predates any documented recording or performance of "Die Hand" by Kreisler by several years, as well as Kreisler's return to performance in German-speaking countries in 1955. Kreisler's "Taubenvergiften im Park" has strong similarities to Lehrer's "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park". But until today, noone really knows if Lehrer or Kreisler wrote "his" song first. Both deny copying from each other. Kreisler's "Das Mädchen mit den drei blauen Augen" appears to be related to the Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...
song "The Girl with the Three Blue Eyes" (first recording in 1950).