Joachim Werzlau

Joachim Werzlau (5 August 1913 – 23 October 2001) was a German pianist, radio consultant and composer. He belonged to the first generation of composers in the GDR, where he was also active in organisations and politics. As a pianist, he played for the theatre, for Mary Wigman's dance school, and a kabarett, among others. He composed popular songs, music for audio plays, film scores, incidental music, and three operas. With films such as Nackt unter Wölfen (Naked Among Wolves) and Jakob der Lügner (Jacob the Liar), he was the most popular film composer of the GDR of his time. Werzlau tried first compositions at age twelve. His father taught him violin and piano. Since the family's economic situation prevented him from studying music, Werzlau began as an apprentice piano maker at the Blüthner company in his home town. He made money as a pianist as well as a composer at various cultural institutions in Leipzig. At age 22, he was offered the prospect of admission to study music at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, which he soon lost because of close contacts with left-wing artists.

Werzlau wrote his probably most popular song, Weil wir jung sind, ist die Welt so schön (Because we are young, the world is so beautiful) to lyrics by Gerhard Wolfram. Between 1949 and 1952, he was a music consultant (Musikreferent) at Berlin Radio, for which he also worked as a composer and program planner. and became one of the influential film composers of the GDR. Unser Leben im Lied, cantata for soloists, choir and orchestra, text by B. Seeger, 1959 Episoden, five orchestral pieces, 1962 Hans Marchwitza, a symphonic portrait for large orchestra, 1971 Der strenge Chronos, 13 songs after Soviet poems, 1977 Partita for violin solo, 1978 Fahnenmarsch für großes Blasorchester, 1979 Sanssouci for orchestra, 1979 Szenen for orchestra, 1979 Erinnerungen an Heinrich Zille, four sketches for piano, 1984 Zille Heinrich, opera, libretto by H. Kahlau, first version 1980–84, second version 1986–88 Kartoffelkantate, cantata for soloists, choir and instruments, text by Maria Dresdner, 1986 Kontra Lamento for orchestra, new version 1986 Aktion Berlin for large wind orchestra, 1986

Film scores Werzlau's film scores include:

1950: Saure Wochen – frohe Feste 1953: Die Störenfriede 1953: Jacke wie Hose 1954: Das geheimnisvolle Wrack 1955: Der Teufel vom Mühlenberg 1955: Robert Mayer – der Arzt aus Heilbronn 1956: Genesung 1956: Das tapfere Schneiderlein 1957: Lissy 1957: Tinko 1957: Zwei Mütter 1957: Polonia-Express 1958: Sonnensucher 1959: 1959: Eine alte Liebe 1960: Fünf Patronenhülsen 1960/2014: 1962: Königskinder 1963: Karbid und Sauerampfer 1963: Nackt unter Wölfen 1974: Jakob der Lügner

Recording 1961: Bernhard Seeger: Unterm Wind der Jahre, radio play, directed by , Rundfunk der DDR