Kurt Schwertsik
Encyclopedia
Kurt Schwertsik is an Austria
n 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 Academy of Music in Vienna, he later studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen
in Cologne and Darmstadt. In 1958 he founded 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 Konservatorium Wien
(from 1979). Between 1989 and 2004 he was Professor of Composition at the Vienna Musikhochschule (Academy of Music, when he was studying there, now called 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.
Music for solo instrument and orchestra:
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n contemporary composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is famous for creating the “Third Viennese School” and spreading contemporary classical music.
A pupil of Joseph Marx
Joseph Marx
Joseph Rupert Rudolf Marx was an Austrian composer, teacher and critic.-Life and career:Marx pursued studies in philosophy, art history, German studies, and music at Graz University, earning several degrees including a doctorate in 1909. He began composing seriously in 1908 and over the next four...
and Karl Schiske at the Academy of Music in Vienna, he later studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
in Cologne and Darmstadt. In 1958 he founded the ensemble "die reihe" with fellow composer and conductor Friedrich Cerha
Friedrich Cerha
Friedrich Cerha is an Austrian composer and conductor.-Biography:Cerha was born in Vienna.He received his education at the Viennese Music Academy and at the University of Vienna...
(famous for finishing the opera Lulu
Lulu (opera)
Lulu is an opera by the composer Alban Berg. The libretto was adapted by Berg himself from Frank Wedekind's plays Erdgeist and Die Büchse der Pandora .-Composition history:...
, by Alban Berg
Alban Berg
Alban Maria Johannes Berg was an Austrian composer. He was a member of the Second Viennese School with Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern, and produced compositions that combined Mahlerian Romanticism with a personal adaptation of Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique.-Early life:Berg was born in...
) and later, in 1968, the ensemble "MOB art & tone ART" with Otto Matthäus Zykan and Heinz Karl Gruber
Heinz Karl Gruber
Heinz Karl Gruber is an Austrian composer, bass player and singer, born in Vienna on 3 January 1943 and a leading figure of the so-called Third Viennese School.-Career:...
. He served as hornist of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
-History:In 1900, Ferdinand Löwe founded the orchestra as the Wiener Concertverein . In 1913 it moved into the Konzerthaus, Vienna. In 1919 it merged with the Tonkünstler Orchestra. In 1933 it acquired its current name...
(from 1968) while teaching Composition at the Konservatorium Wien
Konservatorium Wien
The Konservatorium Wien Privatuniversität is a private music conservatory in Vienna, Austria established in 1938 as Musikschule der Stadt Wien.The school attained university status on June 15, 2005 as a private institution....
(from 1979). Between 1989 and 2004 he was Professor of Composition at the Vienna Musikhochschule (Academy of Music, when he was studying there, now called University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna). His works are characterised by his particular exploration of tonality
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
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.
Prizes
- Grand Austrian Music Prize of State (1992)
- Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (1997)
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)
- Nachtmusiken
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
Stage music
- Der lange Weg zur großen Mauer – Opera based on a novel by Richard BletschacherRichard BletschacherRichard Max Josef Bletschacher is a German writer and dramatic advisor.Bletschacher studied law, philosophy and literature in Munich, Heidelberg, Paris and Vienna. From 1982 to 1996 he was chief dramatic advisor at Vienna State Opera...
, op.24 (1974) - Wiener Chronik 1848, ballet op.28 (1976-77, originally performed as Walzerträume; written for the Cologne City Opera)
- Katzelmacher – Opera based on 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 based on 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 based on a text by Michael Köhlmeier, op.72 (1996)
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 DahlRoald DahlRoald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
- a huge number of songs
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)
- Twilight Music, A Celtic Serenade for Octet, op. 30 (1976)
- 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)
- Sotto Voce for 4 instruments, Op. 39 (Flute, Violin, 'cello & Guitar) (1980)