Otto Klemperer
Compositions
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HEYWORTH: Do you regard yourself as a conductor who happens to compose, or as a composer who has been unjustly neglected?

KLEMPERER: It's a very difficult question. I can only say a few words. Naturally, I would be glad to be remembered as a conductor and as a composer. But, without wanting to be arrogant, I would only like to be remembered as a good composer. If people find my compositions weak, then it is better not to be remembered.

Peter Heyworth, Conversations with Klemperer (London and Boston: Faber and Faber, 1973), p. 129.

These lists (with some corrections by Lotte Klemperer) are from Klemperer on Music: Shavings from a Musician's Workbench. For Dr. Klemperer's comments about some of these compositions, please see Klemperer on Music, pp. 28-30; for editorial footnotes, see pp. 227-233.

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Scores
Scores of Symphony in two movements and Symphony No. 2 are available through Edition-Peters. Photocopies of other Klemperer compositions can be obtained from the Music Division of the Library of Congress, which houses the Otto Klemperer Collection containing the entire collection of Dr. Klemperer's scores.

Kevin LaVine, Music Librarian in charge of the Otto Klemperer Collection, writes:

Our standard procedure for providing patrons with photocopies of any material from special collections is first to obtain written permission from the heirs of the person(s) whose collection it is; in the case of the Klemperer Collection, Lotte Klemperer has always been very cooperative in dealing with such inquiries and providing such permission. Upon receipt of a letter of permission, patrons are then referred to the Library's Photoduplication Service to obtain the requested photocopies. This Service uses specialized photographic equipment to create photoreproductions from multi-format material, and its staff has been trained in archival principles in order to avoid damage to the most fragile material.

In short, the Library serves in a custodial role for this material, making it available to scholars while ensuring its safety and preservation. While examination of the collection is open to anyone with a valid Library Reader Card (the registration process may be done on Library premises, specifically in room LM-140 of the James Madison Building on Independence Avenue, S.E., between First and Second Streets, S.E., and adjacent to the U.S. Capitol), photocopies of an item in the collection is strictly prohibited without permission from Lotte Klemperer. Any questions about this material should be directed to the Music Division at the address given below, or contact us via fax or e-mail. If photocopying of this material is requested, we provide the patron with Lotte Klemperer's address.

Music Division
Reader Services Section
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-4710
(202) 707-5507
(202) 707-0621 [fax]

Royalties
As these works are still under copyright, musicians wishing to perform them publically should contact SUISA.

Performances
If you know of any planned performances of Otto Klemperer's compositions, please email performance date, time, location, and group or individuals performing for posting to this website.

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Merry Waltz (1959; from the opera Das Ziel)
Marcia Funebre (1960, from the opera Thamar of which only this intermezzo and the libretto have survived)
Symphony in two movements (1961; published by Hinrichsen)
Symphony No. 2 (1969-70; published by Peters Edition)
Recollections (1968; from 2nd version of Symphony No. 2)
Scherzo (1968; from 2nd version of Symphony No. 2)
Symphony No. 3 (1969-71; two versions)
Symphony No. 4 (1968; two versions)
Symphony No. 5 (1969)
Symphony No. 6 (1969)
Serenata, for large orchestra (1968-69)
Adagio, for large orchestra (1969)
Fugue, for large orchestra (1970)
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Fugato, for strings (1958)
Andante, for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and cello (1968)
Divertimento, for violin, viola and cello (1968)
String Quartet No. 2 (1968)
String Quartet No. 3 (1968)
String Quartet No. 4 (1969)
String Quartet No. 5 (1969)
String Quartet No. 6 (1969)
String Quartet No. 7 (1969)
String Quartet No. 8, for violin, viola, cello and double-bass (1968)
String Quartet No. 9 (1970)
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Geistliches Kampflied, for chorus, organ and orchestra (1917)
Missa in C, for three sopranos, contralto, tenor, bass, chorus, children's chorus, organ and orchestra (1919)
J'accuse - 1933 (1933; text by the composer)
Die Weber (1969; text by Heine)
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Wehen (1915; piano score only survives)
Das Ziel (first version, originally entitled Eros, 1915-1929; published by Universal in 1929; second version 1970)
Bathsheba (1931; libretto and Scene IV only survive)
Juda (1960)
Der verlorene Sohn (first version missing; second version 1968)
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Empfindungen beim Wiedersehen einer vielgeliebten Stadt and Ständchen (1910; text by the composer)
Die Vier Elemente (1915; text by the composer)
Incidental Music to Goethe's Faust (1915; fragments only survive)
Liebeslied (from the opera Das Ziel, q.v.)
Psalm 42, Judica me (1919/1920, revised version 1931)
Die überflüssige Vorsicht (aria for Rossini's The Barber of Seville; text by Klemperer)
Pater Noster and Ave Maria (1929/1931)
Schlaflied (ca. 1930)
Wiegenlied (1933; text by the composer)
Benedictus (1936)
Ade Paris (1967; text by Heine)
Schildwach und Freund Hein (1968; text by Goethe)
Der Musensohn (1968; text by Goethe)
Generalbeichte (1968; text by Goethe)
Es ist gut (1968; text by Goethe)
Reiterlied (1968; text by Liliencron)
Unter Feinden (1968; text by Nietzsche)
Herr, lass mich hungern (1968; text by Falke)
Kreuz der Strasse (1968; text by George)
Wiegenlied (1968; text by the composer)
An einen Verschwender (ca. 1968; text by the composer)
Schlaflied (1968; text by the composer)
Pater Noster and Ave Maria (1969)
Gebet (1969)
Der Prediger Salomo (1969)
Psalm 42 (1942)
Gebet (1969; text by the composer)
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Abglanz (Goethe)
Abschied (Goethe)
Allein (1958; Hesse)
Als Knabe verschlossen (Goethe)
An die Günstigen (Goethe)
An L.A. (text by the composer)
An Lili (1915; Goethe)
Aus dem Dunkel (1908; Annie von Mendelssohn)
Aus tiefer Not (1905; text by the composer)
Begegnung (1901; Heine)
Beherzigung (Goethe)
Benedictus
Blick um Blick (Goethe)
Blumengruss (Goethe)
Contentment (text by the composer)
Dank (Ibsen)
Das Leben ist ein schlechter Spass (Goethe)
Das verlassene Mägdlein (Mörike)
Den Seinen giebts der Herr im Schlaf (text by the composer)
Der Erlkönig (c. 1948)
Der Genesene an die Hoffnung (Mörike)
Der König in Thule (1915; Goethe)
Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht (Heine)
Der Zufriedene (1915; J.M. Miller)
Deutsches Volkslied (text by the composer)
Die Liebende abermals (Goethe)
Die üflüssige Vorsicht (1920; text by the composer)
Drei Mignon Lieder (1970; Goethe)
Du gingst vorüber (Goethe)
Ein Andres (Goethe)
Eine liebe Stunde (1913; Calé)
Ein rascher Sinn (Goethe)
Ein Stündlein wohl der Tag (Mörike)
Entspannung (text by the composer)
Erinnerung (Goethe)
Es grüsst dich aus der Ferne (Chamisso)
Es ist gut (Goethe)
Es was ein alter König (Heine)
Feiger Gedanken, bängliches Schwanken (Goethe)
Fort! (Ibsen)
Frech und Froh (Goethe)
Frühlingsglaube (Keller)
Fünf Andere (Goethe)
Gebet (1915; text by the composer)
Gebet (text by the composer)
Gebet (text by the composer)
Gebet (text by the composer)
Gefunden (1915; Goethe)
Gleichnis (Dehmel)
Glückes genug (Lilienkron)
Gottes ist der Orient! (Goethe)
Grabschrift (Goethe)
Hab' ich tausendmal geschworen (Goethe)
Hab' mein Lieb so lieb (1915; Simon)
Harfenspieler No. 1 (Goethe)
Harfenspieler No. 2 (Goethe)
Hatem (Goethe)
Hochbeglückt (Suleika) (1915; Goethe)
Hochzeitslied (Chamisso)
Ich habe, lieben Brüder (Calé)
Ich will mich im grünen Wald ergehen (Heine)
Ja, die Augen (Goethe)
Klagen (Eichendorff)
Kreuz der Strasse (Goethe)
Lesebuch (Goethe)
Lieb um Liebe (Goethe)
Liebeslied (1915; text by the composer; from the opera Das Ziel)
Lied (1915; text by the composer)
Märchen (text by the composer)
Mag sie sich immer ergänzen (Goethe)
Mit der Teutschen Freundschaft (Goethe)
Nachtgesang (Goethe)
O Du, die mir die Liebste war (1958; Wilhelm Busch)
Psalm 23
Rezensent (Goethe)
Schlafen, schlafen, nichts als schlafen (Hebbel)
Schlaflied (text by the composer)
Sie haben wegen der Trunkenheit (Goethe)
Sie liebten sich beide (1915; Heine)
Sitz' ich allein, wo könnt' ich besser sein (Goethe)
'Sliegt eine Stadt im Tale (1958; Dehmel)
So ist die Lieb' (Mörike)
Soldatenlied (Goethe)
Tadelt man, dass wir uns lieben (Goethe)
Tristan (Platen)
Trost in Tränen (Goethe)
Ungeduld (Goethe)
Unter Freunden (Nietzsche)
Vielleicht (Gustav von Preising)
Volkslied (text by the composer)
Vollmondnacht (Goethe)
Vor Gericht (Goethe)
Vorschlag zur Güte (Goethe)
Wandrers Gemütsruhe (Goethe)
Wandrers Nachtlied No. 1 (Goethe; composed by Ida and Nathan Klemperer, Otto's parents, and noted down by Otto)
Wandrers Nachtlied No. 2 (Goethe)
Was machst Du an der Welt (Goethe)
Was soll ich sagen (Chamisso)
Was wird mir jede Stunde so bang (Goethe)
Wechsellied zum Tanz (Goethe)
Weihnachten (1967; Eichendorff)
Wenn die Rosen ewig blüten (1908; Hebbel)
Wie ein Volkslied (text by the composer)
Wie mit innigstem Behagen (Suleika)
Wiegenlied (Ibsen)
Wiegenlied (text by the composer)
Willst Du Dir ein hübsch' Leben zimmern (Goethe)
Wo? (Heine)
Woher sind wir geboren (Goethe)
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Adagio, for piano
Adagio No. 2, for piano
Berceuse, for piano; a version exists also for violin and piano (1905)
Caprice pour piano
Hommage à Brahms, for piano
Klavierstück from Das Ziel
Klavierstück (1967)
Klavierstück in A minor
Klavierstück in G sharp minor
Klavierübung
Nocturne, for piano
Ressentiment, for piano
Scherzo, for piano
Study, for violin and piano
Study: Allegro passionato, for piano (1958)
Variations, for piano (1958)
Cadenza for Beethoven's Piano Concerto in G major, first movement
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Bach 'Bist Du bei mir' (from the Anna Magdalena Notebook, Book II), BWV. 508 (ca. 1937)
  'Nun komm', der Heiden Heiland', BWV. 599 (ca. 1937)
  Trio Sonata in E flat major, BWV. 525 (ca. 1937)
Mozart Concert Ending to the Overture to Don Giovanni (ca. 1950)
Rameau Gavotte and Six Variations from the Suite in A minor for harpsichord (1967)
Gluck Gavotte (1968)
Mendelssohn Revised conclusion to the Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, Scottish (1968)