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Kurt Weill

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Kurt Weill was born in Dessau in 1900, the son of a cantor in a Jewish congregation. He had piano lessons at the age of twelve, wrote songs at an early age and studied in Berlin with Engelbert Humperdinck and later with Ferruccio Busoni. In his view his music had to serve a socially useful purpose, which he called Gebrauchsmusik. The best-known example is his work with the writer Bertolt Brecht, and within that above all Die Dreigroschenoper, which contains the ballad Mack the Knife.

Music and breakthrough

In 1933 Weill fled Nazi Germany. Two years later he arrived in the United States and settled in New York. There he wrote for Broadway, including Lady in the Dark, One Touch of Venus from 1943 and Street Scene from 1947. His song September Song became a standard. With Brecht he had also made Die sieben Todsünden, a ballet with singing. His wife, the singer Lotte Lenya, continued to perform his music, for example on Lotte Lenya singt Kurt Weill.

Influence

Weill also wrote for the concert hall and made works on Jewish themes. He died in 1950. His music is a bridge between classical composition, cabaret and jazz: sharp harmonies, dance rhythms and lyrics that are often socially engaged. Many jazz musicians later played his songs anew, and Mack the Knife became a worldwide hit.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Mack the Knife in a version from Die Dreigroschenoper and notice the simple, almost childlike melody and how it contrasts with the gruesome lyrics.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists