Hans Hammerschmid, Composer of Iconic 'Schwarzwaldklinik' Theme, Dies at 94

The Austrian musician, known for his work in film, TV, and collaborations with Hildegard Knef, passed away peacefully at home in Gräfelfing.

Hans Hammerschmid, born in Vienna in 1930, was a celebrated composer, jazz pianist, and arranger with a career spanning decades.
He gained widespread recognition for composing the theme music for the popular ZDF series 'Die Schwarzwaldklinik.'
Hammerschmid also collaborated with notable artists such as Hildegard Knef, contributing to hits like 'Für mich soll’s rote Rosen regnen,' which became a pop classic.
His experimental 1970 album with Knef, 'Knef,' initially a commercial failure, experienced a revival in 2022, reaching the German LP charts over 50 years later.
Hammerschmid continued to play music until shortly before his death, with his final performance being 'As Time Goes By' from the film 'Casablanca,' a personal favorite.