The publication about the work and life of the Jewish composer “Richard Fuchs – A Composer’s Search for Identity” has now been published by Böhlau Verlag!
Author: Valentina Strobl
Editor: Gerold Gruber
Publisher: Böhlau Verlag Vienna
176 pp. / Language: English
Böhlau Verlag Vienna, 1st edition 2025
Richard Fuchs: A Musical Reflection on Homeland, Exile, and Identity
Richard Fuchs (1887–1947) is among the German-Jewish composers whose work emerged at the intersection of exile, loss of homeland, and cultural marginalization. After emigrating to New Zealand, Fuchs, formerly active in Germany as an architect and musician, sought to develop his compositional voice under new social and cultural conditions – yet he remained deeply rooted in his homeland. Based on archival research, the study traces the composer’s “three lives” – as a German, a Jew, and an émigré. It highlights how Fuchs responded to political and social exclusion through his music, reflecting on identity, belonging, and memory.
The estate includes Bürger’s compositions in the form of autograph manuscripts as well as a large collection of personal documents and photographs.
The publication was published in English by Böhlau Verlag.
