Block, Frederick, 1899-1945.

Frederick Block was born in Vienna on August 30, 1899. He displayed musical talent early and began studying piano and composition at age nine.

Block enrolled at the Vienna Conservatory where he studied composition with Josef Bohuslav Foerster, and later with Hans Gál. The first public performances of his music took place in Vienna in 1922. Block's music was heard on radio broadcasts in Prague and Vienna in the late 20s and early 30s. After first concentrating on smaller forms (string quartets, piano pieces, songs), Block began to write for orchestra and particularly for opera in the 30s. From 1933-1937 he wrote six operas: Platonow, Rauschgold, Samum, Fiore, America and Pan. In later years he composed two more, Schattenspiel and Esther. Block wrote his own libretti, and also tried his hand at writing plays, though none were produced. Samum was produced by the Slovak National Opera in 1936 in Bratislava (one performance was broadcast) and received good reviews and audience response. Block's career continued successfully until the Nazi invasion of Austria in 1938, after which he fled to London, where he married his wife. They remained there a year before moving to New York in June 1940. There Block found work as a composer, arranger and orchestrator for radio and music publishers. In 1942 he composed music for the film We Are The Marines. Aside from his commercial work, Block's artistic output was prolific in the last period of his life. In his New York years he completed the opera Esther, three symphonies, four suites, a piano quintet and other chamber works, piano pieces and songs. Block died on June 1, 1945.

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