Kaufmann's music was largely forgotten until recently, partly because his style was considered 'too tonal' for the avant-garde and 'too bold' for traditionalists.
Cultural Impact
While in India, Walter Kaufmann composed the signature tune for All India Radio, which was later used by American jazz composer Carla Bley in her 1972 work 'Escalator over the Hill'.
Composer Biography
Walter Kaufmann, a Jewish composer, was forced into exile due to the rise of Nazism, leading him to India, Canada, and finally the USA.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Walter Kaufmann's interest in Indian music stemmed from his ethnomusicology studies with Curt Sachs and influenced his compositions, including the 'Indian Symphony' and 'Six Indian Miniatures'.
Historical Context
Kaufmann withdrew his dissertation on Gustav Mahler's symphonies in 1934 because the dean of the musicology faculty at Charles Ferdinand University in Prague was a member of the Nazi party.
Composer Biography
Walter Kaufmann's uncle, Moritz Kaufmann, a music historian and composer, was murdered in the Treblinka concentration camp in 1942.
Composer Biography
Kaufmann financed his emigration to India in 1934 by selling the rights to his operetta, 'Die Weiße Göttin' (The White Goddess).
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