Siegmund von Hausegger

Siegmund von Hausegger was a German composer and conductor who lived from 1872 to 1948. He is considered one of the most important late Romantic composers of the early 20th century.

Von Hausegger was born in Graz, Austria and studied music at the Munich Conservatory. He went on to become a highly respected conductor, serving as the principal conductor of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra from 1920 to 1938.

As a composer, von Hausegger is best known for his large-scale orchestral works that draw inspiration from nature and mythology. His most famous composition is the tone poem “Natursymphonie” (Nature Symphony), which was completed in 1912 and is considered one of the pinnacles of the late Romantic orchestral repertoire.

The “Natursymphonie” is a sprawling, 75-minute work that depicts the cycle of nature through music. It moves from a depiction of the primordial origins of the earth, through the emergence of life, and ultimately to the triumph of nature over humanity. The work is notable for its lush, chromatic harmonies, expansive melodic lines, and masterful orchestration.

In addition to the “Natursymphonie,” von Hausegger composed several other tone poems, including “Dionysische Phantasie” and “Wieland der Schmied.” He also wrote a symphony, chamber works, and choral pieces. His music is characterized by a strong sense of drama, a love of nature, and a highly individual harmonic language.

Despite his significant contributions to late Romantic music, von Hausegger's works are not as widely performed today as those of his contemporaries such as Richard Strauss or Gustav Mahler. However, there has been a renewed interest in his music in recent decades, and his “Natursymphonie” in particular is considered a masterpiece of the orchestral repertoire.

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