Heinsheimer, Hans (Walter)

Heinsheimer, Hans (Walter), German-born American publishing executive and writer on music; b. Karlsruhe, Sept. 25, 1900; d. N.Y., Oct. 12, 1993. He studied law in Heidelberg, Munich, and Freiburg im Breisgau (Juris Dr., 1923), and then joined Universal Edition in Vienna, where he was in charge of its opera dept. (1924–38), and supervised the publication of such important stage works as Berg’s Wozzeck, Krenek’s Jonny spielt auf, Weinberger’s Schivando., Weill’s Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny, and Antheil’s Transatlantic. He went to the U.S. in 1938 and was associated with the N.Y branch of Boosey & Hawkes. In 1947 he was appointed director of the symphonic and operatic repertoire of G. Schirmer, Inc., and in 1957 he became director of publications and in 1972 vice-president of the firm. In these capacities, he promoted the works of Barber, Menotti, Bernstein, and Carter. He retired in 1974 and devoted himself mainly to writing. A brilliant stylist in both German and English, he contributed numerous informative articles to Melos, Musical Quarterly, Holiday, Reader’s Digest, etc. He publ, the entertaining books Menagerie in F-sharp (N.Y, 1947) and Fanfare for Two Pigeons (1952); the 2 works were publ, in German in a single vol. entitled Menagerie in Fis-dur (Zürich, 1953); he also wrote Best Regards to Aida (publ, in Ger. as Schönste Grüsse an Aida; Munich, 1968).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire