Franz Waxman - Later Life (1960-1967)

Later Life (1960-1967)

Waxman’s later life continued to see extreme growth as a composer. Christopher Palmer writes that at the time of his death in 1967, “Waxman was at the Zenith of his powers.” Waxman’s output in the 1960s was perhaps more subdued than that which came before it, however he did write one of his great masterpieces, Taras Bulba in 1962. Waxman worked on several television shows, including Gunsmoke, in 1966. Even so, the true masterpiece of Waxman’s life appeared in 1965, The Song of Terezin. Written based upon poetry by children trapped in a Nazi concentration camp. Perhaps Waxman’s deep spiritual connection to the subject came from his own encounters with Nazism on a Berlin street in 1934, but whatever the reason for Waxman’s deep commitment to the subject, The Song of Terezin stands as the exemplary work of the composer’s life, and seems to be one of the great-unsung concert works of the twentieth century. Composed for mixed chorus, children’s chorus, soprano soloist, and orchestra, Terezin is in many ways the suggestion of a religious experience.

Waxman’s career ended with his death from cancer in February of 1967, two months after his sixtieth birthday. He leaves a legacy of over 150 film scores and an abundant collection of concert works.