Siegfried Geissler

Full biography Siegfried Geissler

Siegfried Geissler was a German composer, conductor, hornist, and politician. He was born on January 9, 1929, in Wurzen, Germany, and passed away on April 3, 2014, in Halle, Germany. Geissler was a prolific composer who wrote more than 400 works in various genres such as symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and vocal works.

Geissler started playing the horn at a young age and later studied music at the Leipzig University of Music and Theatre. He began his career as a hornist, playing for various orchestras and ensembles in Germany, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Later on, he took up conducting and became the principal conductor of the Merseburg Chamber Orchestra.

Besides his musical career, Geissler was also active in politics, serving as a member of the East German parliament from 1972 to 1990. He was also a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

Geissler's music is characterized by its melodic and harmonic richness, and its deeply lyrical quality. He was strongly influenced by the music of Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, but his works also show the influence of contemporary composers such as Bartók and Shostakovich.

Some of Geissler's notable works include his Symphony No. 1, his concertos for horn and orchestra, and his chamber music, such as his String Quartet No. 2. He was also a respected music educator, having taught at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar and the University of Halle.

In summary, Siegfried Geissler was a highly regarded German composer, conductor, hornist, and politician. He made significant contributions to the German musical world, producing an extensive body of work that earned him a place among the most prominent composers of his generation.