Franz Waxman

Who was Franz Waxman?

Franz Waxman - born Franz Wachsmann - was a German-born, Jewish-American composer, known primarily for his work in the film music genre. Waxman was the composer of such film scores as The Bride of Frankenstein, Rebecca, and Rear Window. He also composed concert works, including the oratorio Joshua, and The Song of Terezin, a work for orchestra, chorus, and children's chorus based upon poetry written by children in the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II. Waxman also founded the Los Angeles Music Festival in 1947 with which he conducted a number of West Coast premieres by fellow film composers, and concert composers alike.