He died on 11 January 1984 at the age of 62. The compositional legacy of Fritz Geißler involves about 140 pieces, including eleven symphonies, concertos for violin, flute, cello, piano, and organ, four operas -- "Der Zerbrochene Krug" ("The Smashed Jug"), "Der Schatten" ("The Shadow"), "Der Verrueckte Jourdain" ("The Crazy Jourdain"), and "Das Chagrinleder" ("Shagreen"), ballets, cantatas, oratorios, and chamber music of widely varying types and settings. His works were performed by noted artists, and by important orchestras and opera houses of both East and West Germany and elsewhere. His most important works are arguably the operas, including an adaptation (from 1968-1969) of Heinrich von Kleist's comedy "Der zerbrochne Krug". However, his eleven symphonies were also well received, and have been performed by outstanding groups like the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and the Staatskapelle Dresden. His Second Symphony (1962-1964) was the first East German symphony to employ serialism.