Borck studied piano with Bronisław von Poźniak from 1920 to 1926 and had composition lessons from Ernst Kirsch. After graduating from school with his Abitur, he began studying musicology. He continued this study in Berlin in 1928, but soon afterwards switched his focus to conducting,[2] and completed the conducting (Kapellmeister) class at the Berliner Musikhochschule under the direction of Julius Prüwer.[1]
He was regarded as one of the most promising composers of his generation in Europe.[3] His works were published by Universal Edition in Vienna starting in 1936.
Borck was called up for military service in 1940 and died in Nettuno, Italy during Operation Shingle, the allied invasion of Italy. His grave is in the German military cemetery in Pomezia (Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Pomezia).[4]
Works
Choral works
op. 9 Ländliche Kantate (rural cantata) for female, male, and boys' voices and string orchestra, on texts by Richard Billinger
Chamber music
op. 7 Sonata for violin and piano
op. 11/1 Introduction and Capriccio for violin and piano (1934)
op. 11/2 Präludium (prelude) for violin
op. 12 Allegro ditirambico for piano (1934)
op. 13 Altlieder (old songs) (1937)
op. 15a Sextet for flute and string quintet (1936)
op. 19 Kleine Suite (Little suite) for flute
op. 23 Three songs for alto voice, viola, and piano, on poems of Rainer Maria Rilke
Operas
op. 18 Napoleon, opera in three acts, freely adapted from Ch. D. Grabbe's drama (1940–42), (premiered 19 September 1942 at the Theater Gera in Gera, Thuringia, Germany)
Orchestral works
op. 6 Concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra (1932), (premiered 1932 at Musikfest Hannover by saxophonist Sigurd Raschèr and conductor Rudolf Krasselt)
op. 8 Five orchestral pieces (1933)
op. 10 Prelude and fugue for orchestra (1934)
op. 14 Concerto for orchestra (1935) (Premiered 4 February 1936 in the Kurzwellensender Berlin)
op. 15b Concertino for flute and string orchestra (1936)
