Werner Bochmann

Influential composer of music for films, opera and ballet, as well as popular songs. The son of a textile merchant, he was at his peak while under contract to Universum AG (Ufa films) during the 1930s and 40s. Bochmann began his career as a pianist for the Argentinian orchestra of Jose Soler. His first compositions were published by Irving Berlin in 1929. At Ufa from 1933, he wrote numerous themes for motion pictures, often leading his own Tango orchestra. Some of his recordings (for Columbia) feature his most famous discovery, the actress and singer Ilse Werner.

He got his first important musical work as a pianist at the Argentine orchestra of Jos Soler and was introduced into a new music world.

During wartime, when the entertainment film was very important for the public mental state he composed musical backgrounds and hits to movies like "Quax, der Bruchpilot".

The film-composer Werner Bochmann belonged to the leading film-composers from the middle of the 30s and influenced the golden era of the musical movies.

Werner Bochmann studied at his fathers request chemistry after World War I but soon his enthusiasm for music caught on. He earned his first money at the State Opera where he rehearsed roles with singers. In the following years he studied music by Joseph Gustav Mraczek and Frank Schreker.

His great breakthrough came with his engagement at the Ufa where he composed countless film scores in the following decades.

Werner Bochmann spotted in his long career, among others, the later actress Ilse Werner as a singer and art whistler.

When Germany was exposed to the biggest armed conflicts, Werner Bochmann found refuge in his weekend house on the Schliersberg which became his fixed residence. There he set many movies to music and many of his songs outdid often the movie in popularity.

Werner Bochmann began to commit first compositions to paper. In 1929 the time came up. The American publishers Irving Berlin published Bochmanns first hit called "I Called to Say Good Night".