Baldur Böhme was born in 1932 in Weimar, died 2008 in Weimar. His parents, both music teachers, gave him music lessons from around 1937. He studied the violin under professors Fritz Ehlers, Robert Reitz and Walter Hausmann. His first efforts in composition, (1944 -Pieces for Piano), were supervised by his father, Fritz Böhme, who taught at the Franz-Liszt-Hochschule (the music college in Weimar). His father was also publicly known as a composer. Baldur Böhme gave his first violin recital shortly after the end of the war, in a gloomy period in Weimar (spring 1947).
Böhme dedicated himself to orchestral work in 1952. For many years he either played first violin or was concertmaster at the “Städtischen Bühnen Erfurt”, at the “Gewandhaus zu Leipzig” and at the “Staatsoper Berlin”. He views orchestral experience as being a fundamental and indispensable basis for composition - that and the striving towards complete mastery of musical interpretation, on whichever instrument. This is vouched for by countless examples throughout the history of music. Böhme has taught violin since 1966; and in 1976 he became lecturer, later professor, at the Franz Liszt - Hochschule in Weimar (until his retirement in 1999). During this period he performed extensively with the “Schumann-Trio” (with Martin Högner: piano and Brunhard Böhme: violoncello). He conducted the orchestra of the specialist music school Belvedere in 1983 and 1984 and, from time to time, the chamber orchestra at the Franz-Liszt -Hochschule. He has also conducted numerous performances of his own works.
For a list of Boehme's most important compositions, see below. He also wrote the film music for two DEFA films. Recently his chief interest has been the composition of opera.
One could describe Böhme's compositional style as classic-romantic with a modern element, by all means independent and therefore recognizable within the present-day cultural scene. In accordance with his beliefs, and ever following his aims, he rejects all efforts that try to kindle interest through outer instances in favour of the true and original “mission” of music.
About this, Böhme himself said:
For me, most important are the words of Robert Schumann: “To send light into the depths of the human heart is the artist's mission.” A more apt expression is surely not to be found, the content of which should to my mind be effected anew in a comprehensive way; in our time in particular this seems to be necessary. To put this into practice it would be helpful to build a nest in a fitting place with like-minded people. Perhaps there are three of four willing “singers” through whose voices, with the help of passion and skill, joyfulness and warmth of heart could shine.
Web: http://www.baldurboehme.de/