Sergiu Natra

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Sergiu Natra

Sergiu Natra (born 12 April 1924) is an Israeli composer of Romanian birth.

He is particularly well known for his compositions for the harp, including Sonatina (1969), Prayer (1970), Divertimento (1976), Trio in One Movement nr. 2 (2006) and Cantosonata 2011.[1]

Life and work

Natra was born in Bucharest, and he began studying music with Leon Klepper at the Jewish conservatory there in 1942.[2] He began composing at a young age, and his work in 1944 for orchestras, called "March and Chorale", earned him the status of a modernist in Romania. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performed this work in 1947 under the direction of Edward Lindenberg. For this work and for the "Divertimento in classic style" from 1943, he received the Enesco prize.

In 1961, Natra and his wife, Sonia, a sculptor, emigrated to Israel.[3] A year later, conducted by Sergiu Comissiona, the Israel Philharmonic performed the "Symphony for strings", which was the last piece he had written in Romania; and the "Music for violin and harp", performed by the violinist Miriam Fried and the French harpist Françoise Netter.

Besides composing music, professor Natra taught music. In 1975, Natra was a guest composer at Tel-Aviv University, where he taught music of the 20th century, composition, and analysis of forms. He was a professor at the Tel-Aviv Music Academy until 1985. Among his hundreds of students were the conductor Lior Shambadal, composers Erel Paz, Ella Milch-Sheriff, Deborah Rothstein Schramm, violinist Yehonatan Berick, pianists Sally Pinkas, Eugene Alcalay, Sivan Silver and Gil Garburg, Dr. Eran Lupu and many others.

Main works

  • Divertimento in Classical Style (1943) string orchestra; 1945: also with piano or harpsichord MS (score & part—rental) 12'15", First performance: 1943, Bucharest, Romania, Jewish Symphony Orchestra; also performed: 1945, Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra Tape in RBA 1945: Received Enesco Prize
  • March and Chorale (1944) Orchestra MS 10'45", First performance: 1944, Bucharest, Romania, Jewish Symphony Orchestra; also performed: 1947, Tel Aviv, Palestine Symphony Orchestra 1945: Received Enesco Prize, "A young composer's revolt against Nazi oppression during World War II"
  • Three Street Cortèges (1945) Piano Pub : Romanian Composer's Society, 1945 6' CD: IMC/5, Psanterin (2003)
  • Music for Children (1947) 7 pieces on Romanian folk tunes from the Bartok collection of Bihor songs- for piano Pub: Editura de Stat, Romania,1949; republished by Or-Tav 1970 4'10 Score: in HAS (Or-Tav)
  • Suite for Orchestra (1949) 4 movements Pub: Editura de Stat, Romania 11'15"; score and parts—on rental First performance: 1950, Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra Tape in RBA; recording: Electrecord Records (Romania),1951: Received Romanian State Prize Dedicated to Leon Klepper,composer's teacher Suite is from the music for the documentary film, New Land in the Pruth Valley
  • Symphony 4 movements (1951–53) MS 25' First performance: 1953, Romanian Radio Orchestra Recording: Electrecord Records (Romania)
  • Four Poems (1954–1956) Baritone & orchestra Texts: Stefan 0. Iosif (1887–1913, Romania), Tudor Arghezi [1880-1967 Romania] Mihail Eminescu (1850–89, Romania), Emil Isac (1889–1955, Romania), in Romanian MS (score & parts) 28' Score: in Library of the Ministry of Romanian Culture, no. 4486, Bucharest (piano-vocal score) First performance: Bucharest, Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra Tape in Radio Romania
  • Music for Violin and Harp (1960: rev. 1981) Pub: IMI (1962, 1981) 12’First performance: 1965, Paris, France, Israeli entry, Composer's Rostrum; widely performed Score: in IU; JMI Tape in IU; IBA
  • Synphonia for Strings (1969: 1972)Second Symphony Pub: IMI (score & parts—rental [both versions]) 1) 26'; 2) 18'30" First performances (1st version): 1962, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; Sergiu Comissiona, cond.; 2nd version: Jerusalem Symphony orchestra; Mendi Rodan, cond. Score: in IU Tapes in IBA (both versions); HAS
  • Toccata-Festive Overture (1963)Toccata and fugue for orchestra Pub: IMI (score & parts—rental) 12' First performance: 1963, Israel Festival, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; Mendi Rodan, cond.; many performance Tape in IBA 1963: Commissioned for the Israel Festival
  • Music for Harpsichord and Six Instruments (1964) harpsichord and flute, clarinet, 2 violas, cello, & double bass Pub: IMI (min. score; parts on rental) 19’ First performance: 1964, Jerusalem; many performances as a ballet in Edinburgh Festival, Scotland; London, England, Sadler Wells Theater, Bat or Dance Company; performed in Israel as concert piece. Tape in IBA; recording: CBS S72821 (197-) Title of ballet: The Wait Commissioned by Israel Composer's Fund, 1964, for Frank Pelleg 1972: Entrant for Italia Prix Received MILO Prize, awarded by the Writers and Artists Club, Tel Aviv
  • Sonatina for Harp (1964, rev. 1978) Pub: IMI (both versions) 7' Many performances worldwide Score: in IU (both versions); Tape in IBA; recordings: ARS NOVA/ARS ANTIQUA AN 1004; Jerusalem Records ATD 8505—in IU; Dorian Reference Series DRS 8501; Educo 4031; Jerusalem, Israeli Music for Harp, (1985); CDs: Netherlands, Harp Music From Six Centuries, (1995); CBC, Of Fields and Forests (1998) 1965 :Received prize for the required piece in Israeli International Harp Contest Required piece for the 2004 ASTA National Solo Competition, Dallas, TX CDs: Globe (1995); CBC: 1964 version (1998)
  • Music for Oboe and Strings (1965) Oboe & string orchestra 3 movements Pub: IMI (score & parts—rental)16' First performance: 1965, Israel Chamber Ensemble, Gary Bertini, cond., Avner Itai oboe Score: in HAS Tape in IBA, HAS Commissioned by Israel Composer's Fund Dedicated to composer's wife, Sonia
  • Variations for Piano and Orchestra (1966) Pub: IMI (rental; also piano score) 22'10" First performance: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Frank Pelleg, piano Tape in IBA, HAS Commissioned & premiered by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Voices of Fire (1967)Le'shonot ha'esh Ballet music in 4 acts for chamber orchestra Pub: IMI (orchestral suite, score & parts) 35’ Many performances; also performed: 1974, in concert form; 1978, full orchestra Tape in IBA Choreographed & premiered by Bat Sheva Dance Company[Pearl Lang, USA]
  • Song of Deborah (1967, 1978) Shirat Devorah 1967: mezzo & chamber orchestra; 1978: mezzo & full orchestra Text: Bible: Judges: 5, in Hebrew Pub: IMI (score and parts—rental [both versions])17' First performance: 1967, Israel Chamber Ensemble; Gary Bertini,cond.,Rema Samsonov, mezzo, on tour of US; also many performances of both versions in Israel and USA. Score: in IU (1978 version)Tape in IBA, HAS; recording: CBS S72838 (1972,in IU Received Tel-Aviv Municipality Engel Prize
  • Prelude and Commentary on Nehemiah (1968)SATB choir,baritone,& orchestra Texts: Bible: Apocrypha; Book of Nehemiah,in Hebrew Pub: IMI 10' First performance: 1968, 1st Testimonium,Jerusalem,Symphony Orchestra, Mendi Rodan, cond., Willi Harparnas, baritone Score: in IBA Tape in IBA,in H.University library. Commissioned, 1968, by Recha Freier for 1st Testimonium
  • Sonatina Trombone 5 movements (1969) Pub: IMI 11’ Many performances Score: in IU Pedagogical work—advanced level Commissioned for the IMI Peri Educational Music Series
  • Sonatina Trumpet 4 movements (1969) Pub: IMI 8’ Many performances Score: in IU Commissioned for the IMI Peri Educational Music Series
  • Prayer (1970) Harp Pub: IMI 6' Many performances worldwide Tape in IBA, IU: CD: Harp recital by Judith Liber, Israel (1996)
  • Trio in One Movement (1971) Piano trio Pub: IMI (score & parts—rental) 12’ First performance: 1972, NYC Tape in IBA CDs: Romeo Records 7231; MII- CD-08, The Yuval Trio, (1988)
  • Various passages from Bible Psalms;Isaiah,in Hebrew & English Pub: IMI (score & parts—rental) First performance: 1972, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, cond., Rema Samsonov, mezzo Tape in IBA 1972: Commissioned for Israel Festival
  • A Book of Hebrew Songs (1973–77) Sefer shirim Ivriyim 10 pieces for harp Pub. IMI 12' First performance: 1977,NYC; many performances in Israel and abroad Score: in NLI Tape in IBA (excerpts); CD: Eroica (1994) Based on songs from various Jewish communities Commissioned for the IMI Peri Educational Music Series
  • Divertimento for Harp and Strings (1974; 1985) string quartet& double bass ad lib. 1985: 2nd version with flute, violin, viola, cello, & double bass ad lib. 3 movements Pub: IMI (all versions)15, first performance (with string quartet): 1977,Boston,MA,US Harp Society National Conference; also performed 1983: Maastricht, Netherlands, World Harp Congress Score: in HAS Commissioned & premiered by Pearl Chertok, harpist
  • Sacred Service (1975–78) Avodat ha'kodesh 1) SATB choir, baritone, soprano, violin, cello, harp, & organ; 2) same with chamber orchestra 21 parts Liturgical text, in Hebrew & transliterated Hebrew; English text Pub: IMI (version 1): a) min. score; 40’; b) 3 choruses organ (score & parts)7’; c) 2 sacred songs (score & parts 11’; (version 2): (Score & parts), 3 orchestral interludes (score & parts) First performances (1st version): 1982, San Francisco, CA, Temple Emanu-El; (2nd version): 1983, Tel Aviv Excerpts on tape, in IBA Commissioned for the 125th anniversary of Congregation Emanu-El
  • Discoveries (1976) Children’s play for 10 pedal harps, 5 Irish harps, & percussion (3) Text: Pia Berghout (Netherland); Sonia & Sergiu Natra, in German MS 7' First performance:1977Maastricht,Nederlands. Conceived as a project for ISCM Days, Bonn, Germany Title in German "Entdeckungen" Written for and by children not trained in playing the harp
  • Pages from a Composer's Diary (1978) Dapim mi yomano shel malchin Chamber orchestra Pub: IMI (score and parts—rental) 15’First performance: 1978, Israel Chamber Ensemble, Mendi Rodan, cond. Tape in IBA
  • Variations (1978) Harpsichord Pub: IMI 13' First performance: 1978, Tel Aviv, concert of composer's works CD: Albany Records. Harpsichord Music by Israeli Composers (2007) Variations on a theme by composer
  • Museum on the Hill (1979) Film music for clarinet, French horn, viola, cello, (or piano), harp, percussion, & accordion MS 27' Recorded, 1979, Jerusalem Center Film about the Israel Museum in Jerusalem
  • Hours (1981)7 songs for alto, clarinet, violin, & piano Text: Sonia Natra, composer’s wife in Hebrew, French, & Pub: IMI (rental) 12' First performance: 1981, Tel Aviv, 20th anniversary of Israel Music Institute Accompanied slides of paintings Sonia Natra
  • Diary of a Choreographer (1982) Ballet music for flute, piano, & tape MS & tape 30' First performance: 1982, Tel Aviv Bat Sheva Dance Company (Robert Cohan UK)
  • Music For Harp and Three Brass Instruments [1983 Harp, trumpet, trombone, & French horn Pub: IMI (rental)8’ First performance: 1983, Tel Aviv, Tape in IBA
  • Miracle of the Peoples (1984) Cantata for SATB choir, soprano, baritone, & chamber orchestra Text: Bible: Isaiah, in German Pub: IMI 16' First performance: 1984, Jerusalem; also performed: Düsseldorf, Germany Tape in IBA Title in German: "Ness-Amim Kantata" Commissioned by the Rheinische Landeskirche
  • Music for Violin and Piano (1986) Pub: IMI Version of Music for Violin and Harp (1981 version)
  • Fantasia for Violoncello and Piano (1987) Pub: IMI 1987
  • Sonatina for Piano (1987) Version of Sonatina for Harp (1964—1978 version)Pub:IMI 1988
  • Developments (1988) Viola & chamber orchestra Pub: IMI[rental]—also as version. viola-piano 15, commissioned by Lior Shanbadal & Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra for Daniel Benyamini,violist CD: Kibbutz Orchestra (1989)
  • Music for Nicanor (1988) Harp, flute, clarinet & string quartet. Pub: IMI 12’ Commissioned by Nicanor Zabaletta, harpist[4]
  • Ancient Walls (1990) Harp & trombone Pub: IMI 10’ CD: Ars Musici AM 1294-2 Kompositionen für Posaune und Harfe, in IU Commissioned by Adina Haroz,harpist
  • String Quartet No. 2 (1991) Pub: IMI 15’ Commissioned by IBA for Blum (Israel) Festival
  • Concerto a quattro (1993) Clarinet, trombone, cello, organ, & string orchestra Pub: IMI 18’
  • Sonata for Four Harps (1993) Pub: Harposphere, Paris Composed during Sonia and Sergiu’s creative stay in Paris,1992, at Citee des Arts.
  • Ballade millenaire (1998)Harp Pub: IMI 7’ Required work at 1998 Israel International harp Contest
  • Wings (1994) K’nafa’im Pub: IMC 4’ SATB choir, a cappella Text: Sonia Natra, composer’s wife, in Hebrew Dedicated to granddaughter, Gillie.
  • Harmonic Tone Image for Sivan and Gil (1998)2 pianosPub:IMI 10’ Written for piano duo, Sivan and Gil Garburg CD:JMC-CD-118, Piano Duo Sivan Silver and Gil Garburg(2000), IU
  • Reflections on Mordechai Zeira’s Song, Two Roses (1998) String quartet Pub: IMI 3’
  • Sonata in One Movement (1999) Harp & string quartet 15’ Pub: Harposphere, Paris, France, performed: Prague, Czech Republic, 7th World Harp Congress
  • Three Poems (2000) Alto, 1) Exod; 2) Ricercare; 3) Destin Text: Sonia Natra, composer’s wife, in Romanian Pub: IMI Written for Sofia Ghelman-Kiss
  • Trio in One Movement (2001) Piano trio Pub: IMI 14’ Commissioned by Hava Armonn
  • Two Poems (2001) Alto & harp 6’ 1) Migration; 2) Ricercare Text: Sonia Natra, composer’s wife, in French. Pub: Harposphere, Paris France Score: in IU
  • Commentaires Sentimentaux (2002) Flute, viola, & harp Pub:Harposphere,Paris, Commissioned by Radio France for the Turner Trio 2002: performed at the 8th Harp Contest, Geneva, Switzerland 2006: Required work at Israel International harp Contest
  • Trio in One Movement nr. 2 (2006) 2 French horns & harp Pub: IMI 10’ Commissioned by musician Daniel Lienhard who did the first performance in Bern, 2006
  • Ancient Walls [2008] for French and harp a new version of the same work trombone and harp.Pub. IMI 2009 10’
  • Composer’s Diary for double chamber orchestra, 2009
  • Prelude and commentary for Nehemiah new version for orchestra, 2010
  • Cantosonata for Harp solo, 2011
  • Sonata for Clarinet (B) and Piano, 2011
  • Kozertstuck for two Pianos and Orchestra, 2012
  • Divertimento in Classical Style version for Piano - four hands, 2012

,[5] [6]

Awards

  • Romanian State prize, 1951
  • America–Israel cultural foundation award
  • Milo award, 1966
  • Engel award, 1970
  • Acum lifetime achievement award
  • Israel prime Minister's award
  • Honorary director of the World Harp Congress

Other

Letters 2 Natra Sergiu
Robert Craft and Igor Stravinsky letters to Sergiu Natra (1963, 1967)

References

  1. ↑ Toeplitz, Uri and Seter, Ronit. "Natra, Sergiu [Nadler, Serge]", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed 21 April 2010), grovemusic.com (subscription access). (Print version: Sadie, Stanley (ed.), The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Macmillan, 1980, Vol. 13 p. 76. ISBN 0-333-23111-2)
  2. ↑ Cummings, David (ed.), "Natra, Sergiu", International Who's Who in Classical Music, Routledge, 2000, p. 261. ISBN 0-948875-53-4
  3. ↑ Ben, Itzhak (ed.), "Natra, Sonia", Who's Who in Israel and Jewish Personalities from All Over the World, Bronfman, 1985, p. 237
  4. ↑ Oestreich, James. R., "A Harp Commands the Spotlight", New York Times, 10 May 1990
  5. ↑ The Israel Music Institute
  6. ↑ harpebudin
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