Siegfried Borris

Siegfried Jakob Boris Zuckermann was born in Berlin on 4 November 1906,[3] the son of the economist Salomo Zuckermann and his wife Martha, a teacher.[1] His father was Jewish and had converted to Christianity when he married in 1905.[1]

He initially studied national economics at the University of Berlin as his father wished, but also studued music at the same time.[1] In 1927, he was accepted in Paul Hindemith's composition class.[1][4] From 1929, he additionally studied musicology at the Humboldt University of Berlin. He obtained a doctorate in 1933, supervised by Arnold Schering.[2][3] His disertation was Kirnbergers Leben und Werk und seine Bedeutung im Berliner Musikkreis um 1750, about the life and influence of Johann Kirnberger.[4]

As early as 1929, he worked as a lecturer at the Musikhochschule in Berlin.[2] He was dismissed in 1933, at the instigation of the Kampfbund für deutsche Kultur under the Nazi regime.[1]. He then taught music privately.[1] When the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 were enacted, he also lost his German citizenship which had been granted to him in 1925. He subsequently remained in statelessness until 1950.[1]

After World War II, Borris returned to the Musikhochschule in Berlin, where he was appointed professor.[1] He established and directed a teachers' seminary.[2][4] He was made an emeritus in 1972.[1] His focus was on topics such as school music, young musicians and the popularisation of contemporary music.[1] He composed operas for schools and fairy-tale operas, and produced radio programs of new music. He became a member of the advisory board of the broadcaster Sender Freies Berlin. Borris was chairman of the new Neue Musik in Darmstadt from 1961 to 1972,[1] also president of Verband Deutscher Musikerzieher und konzertierender Künstler, an association of German music educators and performers from 1963 to 1972,[1] and in a leading position in the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Musikerziehung und Musikpflege. He was a member of the Deutscher Musikrat from 1964, serving as its president from 1971 to 1976.[1]

Honorary grave of Siegfried Borris at the Dahlem Cemetery

Borris died in Berlin at the age of 80.[2] He was buried in the Dahlem Cemetery. His grave was designated as a grave of honour in Berlin until 2014.[1]

• 1972: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany[1]
• 1981: Ernst-Reuter-Plakette of Berlin.[1]
• 1986: Great Cross of Merit of Germany[1]

As a composer, Borris wrote five symphonys, suites and divertimento, a harpsichord concerto and a flute concerto, pieces for organ, and cantatas. Borris also wrote several works for mandolin orchestra. The main focus of his compositional work was in the field of youth opera and Spielmusik, music used in musical education.[4] Borris also published numerous writings on music theory.[2][5] His works and personal documents are held by the Academy of Arts, Berlin.[2]

• Compositions[6]
  • Kammermusik für fast alle Instrumente und Instrumentenkombinationen
  • 8 Studien for accordion
  • Allegretto for accordion
  • Allegro moderato for accordion
  • Sonatine for violin and accordion
  • Kleine Abendmusik for mandolin orchestra
  • Aufzug=Frühlingsgesellen for mandolin orchestra
  • Symphony No. 1 in B minor, Op. 19
  • Orchestersuite, Op. 25
  • Symphony No. 3 in A major, Op. 29
  • 3 Kleine Suiten für Klavier, Op. 31 (1942)
  • Lieder und Sätze zum Singen und Spielen, Op. 38 (1947)
  • Concertino for Englisch horn and string orchestra, Op. 48
  • Intrada for accordion orchestra in C major, Op. 57
  • Ländliche Suite – Spielmusik zum "Bruder Singer" for three wind instruments and strings
  • Symphony No. 4 in E major, Op. 60
  • Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, Op. 61
  • Konzert für Gambe, 3 Holzbläser und Streichorchester, Op. 87
  • Villanellen for flute, violin and cello, Op. 97
  • Konzert für Orgel und kleines Orchester, Op. 110
  • Concerto for Orchestra in one movement, Op. 112
  • Konzert für Sopran Saxophon und Orchester, Op. 120 (1966)
• Poem collections[2]
  • Herbstaufbruch", printed as manuscript, 47 pages, undated
  • Der klingende Kreis, printed as manuscript, Berlin 1938
  • Weg und Wende, printed as manuscript, 1941
• Books[2]
  • Beiträge zu einer neuen Musikkunde[7] 1947/48[3]
  • Praktische Harmonielehre, Berlin (1938) 1950/1977[3][1]
  • Einführung in die moderne Musik[8] Halle 1950[3][1]
  • Der Schlüssel zur Musik von heute. Düsseldorf, Wien: Econ-Verlag 1967[9]
  • Grundlagen einer musikalischen Umweltkunde. Wolfenbüttel, Zürich: Möseler 1975[10]
  • Kulturgut Musik als Massenware. Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel 1978[11]

• Official website
• Literature by and about Siegfried Borris in the German National Library catalogue
• Siegfried Borris Archive at the Akademie der Künste, Berlin
• Siegfried Borris at AllMusic
• Siegfried Borris discography at Discogs