Bernd Alois Zimmermann

Biography

1918Born in Bliesheim near Cologne on 20 March
1929-36Attended the Salvatorian School in Steinfeld (Eifel)
1937Matriculation
Began training as elementary school teacher in the winter term in Bonn
Began music teachers' course at Cologne Conservatory
1938Labour service
1939Called up into the army. 
1943Became ill in 1942, released for treatment in Cologne, and began studying musicology there
1945Resumption of studies as music teacher. Music theory with Heinrich Lemacher.
Composition with Phlipp Jarnach
1946First performances
1947Music teachers' examination
ab 1948Occasional compositions (at first arrangements, folk music, original "light music compositions, then music for schools broadcasts and radio plays, incidental and film music) 
1948Attended Darmstadt Music Course, and took part in courses given by René Leibowitz 
1950Married Sabine von Schablowsky
1952First performance of Oboe Concerto by Hans Rosbaud at Donaueschingen  
1954 
1956Zimmermann was elected as President of the German section of the ISCM,  resigned in 1957 when he failed to initiate a dialogue between composers of the older and the younger generation 
1957Became first composer to be awarded a scholarship to the Villa Massimo. In autumn 1957, began composing his opera "Die Soldaten".
Appointed Professor at the Cologne Conservatory succeeding Frank Martin   
1960Awarded "Großer Kunstpreis" of North Rhine-Westphalia 
1963From autumn a further stay at Villa Massimo
1965First performance of "Die Soldaten"
1966Awarded the "Kunstpreis" of the city of Cologne
Composition of "Musique pour les soupers du roi Ubu. Ballet noir in sieben Teilen und einem Entrée", first performed in 1968 in Berlin
1969First performance of "Requiem für einen jungen Dichter - Lingual"
1970Composition of "Stille und Umkehr", "Ich wandte mich und sah an alles Unrecht, das geschah unter der Sonne".
On 10th August Bernd Alois Zimmermann committed suicide