Joseph Kosma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Kosma
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | József Kozma |
| Born | 22 October 1905 |
| Origin | Budapest, Hungary |
| Died | 7 August 1969 (aged 63) La Roche-Guyon, Val-d'Oise, France |
| Occupation(s) | Composer |
| Years active | 1930-1970 |
Joseph Kosma (born József Kozma) was a talented Hungarian composer who lived from 1905 to 1969. He moved to France and became famous for writing music for movies and popular songs. You might know one of his most famous songs, "Autumn Leaves"!
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Joseph Kosma was born in Budapest, Hungary, on October 22, 1905. His parents taught typing and shorthand. Even at a young age, Joseph showed a great love for music. He started playing the piano when he was just five years old!
When he was 11, he even wrote his very first opera, called Christmas in the Trenches. This showed how creative and skilled he was from a young age.
Studying Music in Hungary and Germany
After finishing high school, Joseph went to the Academy of Music in Budapest. There, he studied with famous teachers like Leo Weiner and Béla Bartók. He earned special degrees in both composing music and leading an orchestra.
In 1928, Joseph won a scholarship to study in Berlin, Germany. While there, he met another musician named Lilli Apel, who later became his wife. He also met and learned from other important artists like Hanns Eisler and Bertolt Brecht.
Moving to France and Film Music
In 1933, Joseph Kosma and his wife moved to Paris, France. This was a big step in his career. In Paris, he met Jacques Prévert, a famous poet and screenwriter. They became good friends and worked together a lot.
Joseph started setting many of Prévert's poems to music. These songs became very popular and were recorded by many singers.
Music for Famous Movies
Prévert also introduced Joseph to Jean Renoir, a well-known film director. Joseph began composing music for Renoir's movies. Some of these films include La Grande Illusion (1937), The Human Beast (1938), and The Rules of the Game (1939). His music helped to tell the stories in these classic films.
Challenges During World War II
During World War II, when Germany occupied France, Joseph Kosma faced difficulties. Because of his background, he was placed under house arrest and was not allowed to compose music openly.
However, his friend Jacques Prévert found a clever way around this. Joseph secretly wrote music for films, and other composers pretended they had written it. This way, his amazing music could still be used in movies.
A Famous Song: Autumn Leaves
One of Joseph Kosma's most famous pieces of music is "Les feuilles mortes," which means "The Dead Leaves." This song is known around the world as "Autumn Leaves." Jacques Prévert wrote the French lyrics, and later, Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics.
The music for "Autumn Leaves" was first used in the 1946 film Les Portes de la Nuit (Gates of the Night). It quickly became a classic song, loved by many. It was even featured in a 1956 movie also called Autumn Leaves.
Later Works and Legacy
Joseph Kosma continued to compose music for many films and other projects throughout his life. He wrote scores for movies like Voyage Surprise (1946) and The Doctor's Horrible Experiment (1959), which was made for television.
Joseph Kosma passed away on August 7, 1969. He left behind a wonderful collection of music that continues to be enjoyed by people all over the world. His ability to create beautiful melodies for both songs and films made him a truly special composer.
Selected Film Music
- La Grande Illusion (1937)
- Children of Paradise (1945)
- Gates of the Night (1946)
- The Lovers Of Verona (1949)
- Picnic on the Grass (1959)
