Kurt Schwertsik

Kurt Schwertsik ( born June 25, 1935 in Vienna) is an Austrian composer and music teacher.

Life

Schwertsik studied composition with Joseph Marx and Karl Schiske and horn with Gottfried von Freiberg at the Academy of Music in Vienna. 1955 Schwertsik horn player at the Musicians' Orchestra of Lower Austria, but his main interest was in the development of new music, so he mid-1950s dealt at the Darmstadt Summer Courses with the laws of serial composition. As a result, he founded in 1958 together with Friedrich Cerha the ensemble " the row " to present the much-neglected in contemporary Viennese concert life works of new music. During a stay in Cologne in the years around 1960, followed by studies with Karlheinz Stockhausen, Mauricio Kagel, Cornelius Cardew and John Cage. A scholarship to Rome and stay in London (1960 /61) used to evaluate the Schwertsik Cologne impressions and to reflect on their own goals.

From 1962 Schwertsik began experimenting with tonality. In 1965 he founded with composer and pianist Otto M. Zykan the " Salon Concerts ". In 1966 he taught composition at the University of California at Riverside, while he completed further studies with Oswald Jonas. From 1968 he was horn of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and focused - for further studies with Schoenberg's pupil Josef Polnauer the late 1960s - in the following decades on composing what had the appearance of large numbers of works for various instrumentations result. From 1979 to 1988 he headed the composition class at the Vienna Conservatory and taught from 1989 until his retirement in 2003 as professor of composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Offices

Kurt Schwertsik is president of the Joseph Marx Society, the - only founded in the spring of 2006 - sought to the care of the music of the influential composer and teacher Joseph Marx. This Schwertsik has not only taken the first time in his career, the Office of the President of an organization, but at the same time also affirms its commitment to age in the sense of melody taught by Joseph Marx sound philosophy.

Family

Schwertsik is married to the actress Christa Schwertsik; it is thus the stepfather of Catherine and Julia Stemberger.

Awards

Compositional style

His works bear witness of reservations against any form of exaggerated seriousness, which often manifests itself even in the choice of work titles. His deceit despite good-natured music is motivated by the desire to bring truth and important bluntly expressed, the composer often in bizarre searches for a deeper philosophical meaning, however, seems never to take too seriously in the end. Music Aesthetically, the composer always remains unpredictable, as it can be set to never, the choice of means. Undoubtedly Kurt Schwertsik owes it to its accessible musical language and humorously ironic disposition, that he has become one of the most performed contemporary Austrian composers and has earned the meantime also at the international level the reputation as one of the most important Austrian composers.

Works (selection)

Instrumental works

Orchestral works:

  • Underground sounds
  • Sinfonia Sinfonietta
  • Symphony in the mob - style
  • Epilogue to Rosamunde
  • Mr. Mart One
  • Dracula's House and Court Music
  • For ... Audifax and Abachum

Solo concerts with orchestra:

  • Violin Concerto No. 1
  • Violin Concerto No. 2
  • Flute Concerto
  • Trombone Concerto
  • Guitar Concert
  • " Divertimento macchiato per tromba ed orchestra" ( 2007) ( Trumpet Concerto )

Stage Works

  • The long road to the Great Wall, Op 24 (1974). Opera in 2 acts. Libretto: Richard Bletschacher. UA May 13, 1975
  • Walzerträume. Strauss & Strauss ... than the dancing helped yet (1976). Ballet in 2 acts. UA February 16 1977 Cologne (Opera)
  • The Tale of Fanferlieschen Schönefüßchen op 42 (1981 /82). Opera in 10 scenes. Libretto: Karin and Thomas Körner ( by Clemens Brentano ). UA November 24, 1983 Stuttgart (State Opera, directed and stage: Axel Manthey; Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies)
  • The Eternal Peace ( The Peace banquet ), Op 58 (1990). Operetta. Libretto: Thomas grains. UA January 8, 1995
  • Ulrich Legend, Op 63 (1992). Play in one act Libretto: Richard Bletschacher. UA 1992
  • Café Museum or The Enlightenment, Op 67 (1993). Opera in 2 pictures. Libretto: Wolfgang Bauer. UA October 9, 1993
  • The world of the Mongols, Op 72 (1996). Opera in 2 acts. Libretto: Michael Köhlmeier. UA February 9, 1997 Linz ( State Theatre )
  • Katzelmacher (2000-2002). Opera in one act Libretto after the play by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. UA June 1, 2003 Wuppertal ( Opera House, directed by Gerd Leo Kuck; Conductor: Martin Braun )
  • Sleep of the Just ( 2004). Opera Elle. Libretto: Kristine Tornquist. UA October 31, 2004 Innsbruck ( Tyrol State Theatre; Client: siren Opera Theatre Vienna)

Vocal works

  • Starckdeutsche songs and dances for baritone and orchestra
  • The fury of disappearance for mixed choir
  • Numerous songs

Chamber Music

  • Dreams of Love for 7 instruments
  • Eichendorff Quintet
  • Adieu Satie for Bandeneon and string quartet
  • Ganesha Walkabout for String Quartet
  • Blechpartie in the latest taste for wind quintet
Otto Zykan Wolfgang Bauer (writer) Integrated Authority File
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