Alfred Heinemann Papers

Alfred Heinemann was a German composer, concert pianist, and lecturer. Born in Bueckeburg, Germany on April 10, 1908, he began playing piano at age three and started composing by age 10.

In 1936, Heinemann immigrated to Johannesburg, South Africa. By 1944, he moved to Cape Town and it was at this time that he conducted the Cape Town Municipal Youth Orchestra. While in Cape Town, Heinemann also taught Composition and Orchestration at Stellenbosch University, conducting numerous piano recitals and lectures. The Cape Town Symphony Orchestra performed several of Heinemann’s compositions, including Galaxy, Pax Hominibus, and March of the Neanderthal Men.

Alfred Heinemann immigrated to the United States in 1949 and took up residence just outside of Queens, New York. The same year, Heinemann won a competition for best new composer in Queens with his Concert Overture. The piece was performed for the first time by the Queens Symphony Orchestra on September 29, 1949. In 1956, Heinemann’s String Quartet was performed at the Barnard Hall of Columbia University by the Music of Our Time String Quartet.

In 1967, Heinemann joined the staff of Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) as a member of their foreign department. He retired in 1975 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he volunteered for eight years teaching Music Appreciation at the Washington Adult Center. He continued to perform and lecture at various community centers in the Phoenix area. Alfred Heinemann died on October 9, 1995 at age 87.

His major works include Piano Concerto (1941), Violin Concerto (1942), March of the Neanderthal Men (1946), Symphony (1959-1964), the opera Torso (1958), and the ballets Galaxy (1941), Roulette (1946), La Manie des titres et des abbreviations (1953) and Kobold (1963).

Sources consulted:

Heinemann, Gerda. (1995, October). “Alfred Heinemann Obituary.” The Arizona Republic.

Slonimsky, N. (1978). Baker's biographical dictionary of musicians. New York: Schirmer Books.