Kurt Schwertsik
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Kurt Schwertsik (born in Vienna, June 25, 1935) is an Austrian contemporary composer. He is famous for creating the “Third Viennese School” and spreading contemporary classical music.
A pupil of Joseph Marx and Karl Schiske at the Aacdemy of Music in Vienna, he later studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen in Cologne and Darmstadt. In 1958 he dounded the ensemble "die reihe" with fellow composer and conductor Friedrich Cerha (famous for finishing the opera Lulu, by Alban Berg) and later, in 1968, the ensemble "MOB art & tone ART" with Otto Matthäus Zykan and Heinz Karl Gruber. He served as hornist of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (from 1968) while teaching Composition at the Vienna Conservatory (from 1979). Between 1989 and 2004 he was Professor of Composition at the Vienna Musikhochschule (now University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna). His works are characterised by his particular exploration of tonality and his musical irony and humour. He received the Grand Austrian State Prize (1992), the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (1997) and numerous other awards.
Kurt Schwertsik is President of the Joseph Marx Society that was founded in 2006 in order to implement the Renaissance of this composer. Thus, Schwertsik has accepted the position of the leader of an organisation for the first time in his career and also avowed himself a melodicist according to the musical philosophy that was developed and represented by Joseph Marx.
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[edit] Prizes
- Grand Austrian Music Prize of State (1992)
- Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (1997)
[edit] Works (Selection)
[edit] Instrumental music
Orchestral works:
- ... für Audifax und Abachum, symphony for large orchestra, op.8 (1963-70)
- Draculas Haus- und Hofmusik, a Transylvanian symphony for strings, op.18 (1968)
- Symphonie im MOB-Stil for orchestra, op.19 (1971)
- Epilog zu Rosamunde, op.33 (1978)
- Tag- und Nachtweisen; Im Ton des Mönchs von Salzburg und Herrn Marteins, op.34 (1978)
- Irdische Klänge Cycle (1980-1992), comprising:
- Irdische Klänge, Symphony in 2 movements, op.37 (1980)
- Fünf Naturstücke, Der Irdischen Klänge 2. Teil, op.45 (1983-4)
- Mit den Riesenstiefeln, op.60 (1991)
- Uluru, op.64 (1992)
- Baumgesänge, op.65 (1992)
- Sinfonia-Sinfonietta, op.73 (1996)
- 'Mond-Lichtung for string orchestra, op.75 (1997)
- Unter Messing Baumen for 4 natural horns and orchestra, op.77 (1998)
Music for solo instrument and orchestra:
- Alphorn Concerto ‘'In Keltischer Manier’’, op.27 (1975)
- Violin Concerto No. 1, op.31 (1977)
- Guitar Concerto, op.35 (1979)
- Instant Music for flute and wind orchestra, op.40 (1981)
- Timpani Concerto, op.54 (1987-88)
- Double-Bass Concerto, op.56 (1989)
- Violin Concerto No. 2
- Flute Concerto
- Trombone Concerto
[edit] Stage music
- Der lange Weg zur großen Mauer – Opera after a novel by Richard Bletschacher, op.24 (1974)
- Wiener Chronik 1848, ballet op.28 (1976-77, originally performed as Walzerträume; written for the Cologne City Opera)
- Katzelmacher – Opera after a text by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Fanferlieschen Schönefüßchen – Fairy-tale opera after Clemens Brentano, based on a text by Karin and Thomas Körner, op.42 (1982)
- Das verlorene Wut, Singspiel for TV after a text by Christine Nöstlinger, op.57 (1989)
- Der ewige Frieden, operetta on a text by Thomas Korner, op.58 (1990)
- Frida Kahlo, dance-theatre work (1991)
- Café-Museum – Die Erleuchtung, chamber opera, op.67 (1993)
- Die Welt der Mongolen, opera after a text by Michael Köhlmeier, op.72 (1996)
[edit] Vocal music
- shâl-i-mâr for baritone and orchestra, op.17 (1962-72) to texts by H.C. Artmann
- Starckdeutsche Lieder und Tänze for baritone and orchestra, op.44 (1982) to texts by Matthias Koeppel
- Human existence for voice and chamber ensemble (1992), texts by Flann O’Brien
- Die Furie des Verschwindens for mixed choir
- Roald Dahl’s Goldilocks for narrator and orchestra, op.74 (1996), text by Donald Sturrock after Roald Dahl
- a huge number of songs
[edit] Chamber music
- Liebesträume for 7 instruments, op.7 (1962)
- Eichendorff-Quintett for wind quintet, op.9 (1964)
- 5 Nocturnes for cello and piano, op.10c (1966)
- Music vom Mutterland Mu for 11 instruments, op.22 (1974)
- Skizzen und Entwürfe for string quartet, op.25 (1974)
- Blechpartie im neuesten Geschmack for brass quintet, op.43 (1982)
- Am Ende Steht ein Marsch for wind octet, op. 59 (1991)
- Drei späte Liebeslieder for cello and piano, op.66 (1992)
- Mobelmusik-Klassisch for 2 violins, viola and double bass, op.68 (1994; also version for string orchestra)
- Wake for string quartet, op.70 (1994)
- Adieu Satie for bandoneon and string quartet
- Ganesha Walkabout for string quartet, op.76 (1998)
[edit] Solo Instrumental
- 5 Nocturnes for piano, op.10a
