Kurzbach came from simple circumstances and became involved early as leader of 'choirs of the workers' in the workers‘ movement. From 1916 to 1923 he studied at the Zschopau teacher training college and worked as a teacher from 1921 to 1933. In 1920 he began studying music at the Leipzig Conservatory, which he graduated in 1928. Here he became acquainted with Hermann Scherchen, who promoted the young composer. From 1939 to 1942 he was a student of Carl Orff. During the Nazi era, Kurzbach became a member of the NSDAP in 1939. He became a soldier in World War II and was taken prisoner until 1946. He then moved to Chemnitz (Karl-Marx-Stadt) and became a member of the SED and the FDGB. He worked as a choir director and employee of the FDGB, the Kulturbund and other institutions. Kurzbach returned to school and was, among other things, director of the Karl Marx Stadt folk music school. From 1951 to 1975 he was chairman, then honorary chairman of the composers' association in the district Karl-Marx-Stadt. Kurzbach was also a member of the Central Board of the Composers' Association and was its Vice President from 1968 to 1977. Since 1955 he worked as a freelancer. Kurzbach was very well respected in the GDR, among other awards he received the honorary clasp for the Patriotic Order of Merit in gold in 1982, the Order of the Star of Friendship of Nations in gold in 1987 and the prize for artistic folk art. He was also an honorary citizen of Karl Marx City. Crucial for Kurzbach's musical language were impulses from Carl Orff and Hanns Eisler. Orff's influence can be seen above all in a differentiated, complex rhythm, a sound called rough, hard or robust and a preference for clear structures. Eisler gave Kurzbach important suggestions regarding his understanding of the social function of music: Kurzbach saw himself as motivated by a social mission, endeavored to provide musical facilities for a broad mass and saw music as a means of changing the world. There are therefore many works in his oeuvre composed for laypeople. Kurzbach's musical creativity only found its full expression around the time the GDR was founded. The focus of his work is vocal music. Song-like, vocal melody guidance can also be found in his instrumental music. Kurzbach did not categorically ignore musical innovations, but he believed that intelligibility and the relationship with the listener should be given top priority. For this reason, he did not give up the relation to tonality, but of course repeatedly tested its limits. In reunited Germany, however, he did not find the recognition he had enjoyed in the GDR. (Wikipedia)