Richard Fuchs: A Composer’s Search for Identity

Richard Fuchs (1887-1947) is among the German-Jewish composers whose work emerged at the intersection of exile, loss of homeland, and cultural marginalization. After emigrating to New Zealand, Fuchs, formerly active in Germany as an architect and musician, sought to develop his compositional voice under new social and cultural conditions - yet he remained deeply rooted in his homeland. Based on archival research, the study traces the composer's 'three lives' - as a German, a Jew, and an émigré. It highlights how Fuchs responded to political and social exclusion through his music, reflecting on identity, belonging, and memory.