Edwin Geist (1902-1942), a German composer and musicologist, has contributed greatly to Lithuania and Lithuanian music. His active work and composition has earned him a position not only in German but also Lithuanian music history. Edwin Geist's life was short and dramatic. Being a descendant of Jewish family from one side, his music was forbidden in Nazi Germany, while the composer of monumental symphonic and chamber works, operas, librettist and author of analytical articles himself was executed in Lithuania during the war. After the WWII part of his legacy was taken to Germany and lost, while several of his works were preserved in Lithuania. Some of them are examples of stylistic synthesis of Richard Wagner and Alban Berg, and also remind of Richard Strauss and Second Viennese School.
Renata Varanavičiūtė
