Selected works of Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) was a product of pre-World War I Vienna. Among the musical elite of the time were Mahler, Berg, Schoenberg, and Webern. These composers were surrounded by successful critics, among whom was Julius Korngold, father of Erich Wolfgang Korngold. As a child, Erich was considered a Wunderkind, having begun composing at the age of six. He first composed cantata, then a musical pantomine premiered for Emperor Franz Joseph. Korngold was given theory and piano lessons, and continued to compose in other genres, that includes operas, instrumental works, songs, works for orchestra, and film scores when he came to America before World War II. Although Korngold's place in music history has not yet been settled, he was a unique, talented individual whose aspirations toward composition of music within the tonal system aided in preserving the Romantic style, and helped establish high ideals of symphonic music in the medium of sound films.