Bruno Balz
Encyclopedia
Bruno Balz was a German
songwriter
and schlager
writer
.
From the time he wrote the music for the first German sound film until his retirement in the 1960s, Balz was responsible for the lyrics to over a thousand popular hits. Much of his output was in conjunction with the composer Michael Jary
; their songs helped make the singer Zarah Leander
popular.
Balz was arrested several times for homosexuality. In 1936 he spent several months in prison, and was released under an agreement that mandated that his name was no longer to appear in public. To maintain the appearance of propriety he entered a "mariage blanc
" with a woman named Selma. He was rearrested in 1941 by the Gestapo
and was tortured in the Gestapo headquarters in Prinz-Albrecht-Straße. He was saved from imprisonment in a concentration camp by the intervention of Jary, who persuaded officials that he could produce songs that would aid the war effort. Within a day of his release, he had written two of his greatest successes, "Davon geht die Welt nicht unter" and "Ich weiß, es wird einmal ein Wunder gescheh'n". His film songs for Leander, a star of UFA
musicals which were later criticised as having helped public and armed forces morale during the war, became anthems for homosexuals imprisoned in concentration camps.
The fall of the Nazi regime did not spell an end to the persecution of Balz, as Paragraph 175
, the law against homosexuality, continued in force. Thus his name is considerably less well-known than if he had been properly credited for his lyrics.
Balz's companion was painter and actor Jürgen Draeger, who was enjoined by a clause in Balz's will from talking about their relations for ten years following Balz's death.
The Bruno Balz Theatre in Berlin
is named for him.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and schlager
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
From the time he wrote the music for the first German sound film until his retirement in the 1960s, Balz was responsible for the lyrics to over a thousand popular hits. Much of his output was in conjunction with the composer Michael Jary
Michael Jary
Michael Jary was a German composer.- Early years :...
; their songs helped make the singer Zarah Leander
Zarah Leander
Zarah Leander was a Swedish actress and singer.Leander began her career in the late 1920s, and by the mid 1930s her success in Europe, particularly in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, led to invitations to work in the United States...
popular.
Balz was arrested several times for homosexuality. In 1936 he spent several months in prison, and was released under an agreement that mandated that his name was no longer to appear in public. To maintain the appearance of propriety he entered a "mariage blanc
Mariage blanc
Mariage blanc is a marriage which is without consummation. The persons may have married for a variety of reasons, for example, a marriage of convenience is usually entered into in order to aid or rescue one of the principals of the marriage from persecution or harm; or for economic, social or visa...
" with a woman named Selma. He was rearrested in 1941 by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
and was tortured in the Gestapo headquarters in Prinz-Albrecht-Straße. He was saved from imprisonment in a concentration camp by the intervention of Jary, who persuaded officials that he could produce songs that would aid the war effort. Within a day of his release, he had written two of his greatest successes, "Davon geht die Welt nicht unter" and "Ich weiß, es wird einmal ein Wunder gescheh'n". His film songs for Leander, a star of UFA
Universum Film AG
Universum Film AG, better known as UFA or Ufa, is a film company that was the principal film studio in Germany, home of the German film industry during the Weimar Republic and through World War II, and a major force in world cinema from 1917 to 1945...
musicals which were later criticised as having helped public and armed forces morale during the war, became anthems for homosexuals imprisoned in concentration camps.
The fall of the Nazi regime did not spell an end to the persecution of Balz, as Paragraph 175
Paragraph 175
Paragraph 175 was a provision of the German Criminal Code from 15 May 1871 to 10 March 1994. It made homosexual acts between males a crime, and in early revisions the provision also criminalized bestiality. All in all, around 140,000 men were convicted under the law.The statute was amended several...
, the law against homosexuality, continued in force. Thus his name is considerably less well-known than if he had been properly credited for his lyrics.
Balz's companion was painter and actor Jürgen Draeger, who was enjoined by a clause in Balz's will from talking about their relations for ten years following Balz's death.
The Bruno Balz Theatre in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
is named for him.
Songtexts
- Das kann doch einen Seemann nicht erschüttern (melody: Michael JaryMichael JaryMichael Jary was a German composer.- Early years :...
, in: Paradies der Junggesellen) - Wir wollen niemals auseinandergehen" (melody:Michael Jary)
- Das machen nur die Beine von Dolores (melody:Michael Jary)
- Kann denn Liebe Sünde sein? (Lothar Brühne, in: Der Blaufuchs)
- Roter Mohn (Michael Jary, in: Schwarzfahrt ins Glück)
- Der Wind hat mir ein Lied erzählt (Lothar Brühne, in: La HabaneraLa Habanera (film)La Habanera is a 1937 German melodramatic feature film directed by Detlev Sierck . Zarah Leander, recently signed by UFA, is the main star in the lead role of Astrée Sternhjelm and performs its title song, "La Habanera"...
) - Davon geht die Welt nicht unter (Michael Jary, in: Die große Liebe)
- Ich weiß, es wird einmal ein Wunder gescheh'n (Michael Jary, in: Die große Liebe)
- Ich sende dir Rosen (Red Roses for a Blue LadyRed Roses for a Blue Lady"Red Roses for a Blue Lady" is a 1948 popular song by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett . It has been recorded by a number of performers. The best-selling recording was made by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra Vocalists: Vaughn Monroe and The Moon Men on December 15, 1948...
)