Eric Zeisl, (b. Vienna, May 18, 1905; d. Los Angeles, February 18, 1959) entered the Vienna State Academy at the age of fourteen; two years later, Edition Strache issued his first publication, a set of three songs. Between 1922 and 1938, the young composer attained ever-increasing recognition for a host of imaginative and significant works. Forced to flee the Hitler regime, Zeisl found temporary refuge in Paris. The United States offer permanent sanctuary, and in 1941, after two years in New York, Zeisl moved to California to compose for MGM. He soon befriended many other émigré artists, notably Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Igor Stravinsky, Hugo Strelitzer, Alexandre Tansman, and Ernst Toch. Disillusioned by the movie industry, Zeisl entered the teaching profession, ultimately receiving an appointment to the evening division of Los Angeles City College, where he remained until his untimely death.

The Eric Zeisl Archive of the UCLA Music Library was founded with the generous donation by Gertrude Zeisl in 1976 of the music manuscripts, published scores, correspondence, documents, recordings, and other materials that comprised the musical estate of her husband.

Processing of the Zeisl Collection is progressing. The finding aids currently available are linked below:

• Manuscripts
• Published Scores
• Correspondence
• Other Documents
• Sound Recordings
• Other Materials

For more information about Eric Zeisl, including contact information for publishers of his music, see the Eric Zeisl web page.