The Soldiers by Bernd Alois Zimmermann: A Monolith in Two Parts

• Applicant: Andreas Dorfner
• Subject Area: Musicology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 559094125

This monograph on Bernd Alois Zimmermann's opera Die Soldaten represents the first systematic analysis of all source material related to the opera, using Zimmermann's estate, which is housed in the archives of the Berlin Academy of Arts. This includes sketches, draft scores, final manuscripts, various versions of the libredo, and correspondence, all of which are made accessible to the public for the first time. While previous literature on this opus magnum in Zimmermann's oeuvre has largely been limited to what Klaus Ebbeke describes as "essayistic day productions," this study fills a critical gap in post-1950 music theatre research. Owing to the opera's complexity, the serial structures embedded within it can only be partially deciphered from the score alone; it is the sketch material that offers a glimpse into the composer's workshop, allowing for the reconstruction of compositional decisions from the material itself. This analysis reveals that the serial structures sometimes extend beyond mere material generation, offering insights into the dramaturgical implementation that complements the stage directions provided in the score. Key concepts such as pluralism and the "spherical shape of time" are examined from within the compositional process, clarifying their significance for postmodern aesthetics. Consequently, this work is likely to become an indispensable compendium for anyone who engages with this seminal work in 20th-century music theatre, whether academically or aesthetically.

• DFG Programme: Publication Grants