Stefan Niculescu
Encyclopedia
Ştefan Niculescu was a Romanian composer
.
Niculescu was born in Moreni
, Dâmbovita
. He was credited with introducing his own brand of heterophony, a technique based on superimposing melodic material onto variations of itself in order to create textures that are propelled by thematic energy as well as by the more common textural factors of density and levels of activity. This creative approach bears similarities with György Ligeti
's micropolyphony
, but important aesthetic and stylistic differences set them apart.
Niculescu's work as a teacher made him a mentor to a whole generation of younger Romanian composers, among them Dan Dediu.
Niculescu's work Ison II for wind and percussion permutates simultaneous segments of a diatonic melody producing a reverberating complexity of sound which is held together by a strong sense of modal clarity. Opus Dacicum for orchestra
applies similar textural explorations but with a stronger sense of harmonic movement, often with a Wagnerian lushness that lends this music a sensuous appeal a world apart from Ligeti's cluster-oriented sonorities.
Among his honors are many awards from the Romanian Academy
and the The Society of Romanian Composers. He also received awards from the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris
(1972), the International Record Critics Award (1985), and the Herder Prize
in Vienna
(1994).
In the 1970s he contributed to the popularization of modern music by organizing public listenings in Bucharest
together with Şerban Stănciulescu
.
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...
.
Niculescu was born in Moreni
Moreni
Moreni is a town in Dâmboviţa County, Romania, located about 100 km north-west of Bucharest, with a population of 22,868.In 1691, Moreni became the first place in Romania where oil was extracted....
, Dâmbovita
Dâmbovita
The word Dâmboviţa can refer to these places in Romania:* Dâmboviţa County* Dâmboviţa River* Dâmboviţa Center, an unfinished Romanian building in Bucharest, near Cotroceni...
. He was credited with introducing his own brand of heterophony, a technique based on superimposing melodic material onto variations of itself in order to create textures that are propelled by thematic energy as well as by the more common textural factors of density and levels of activity. This creative approach bears similarities with György Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
's micropolyphony
Micropolyphony
Micropolyphony is a type of 20th century musical texture involving the use of sustained dissonant chords that shift slowly over time. According to David Cope, "a simultaneity of different lines, rhythms, and timbres"...
, but important aesthetic and stylistic differences set them apart.
Niculescu's work as a teacher made him a mentor to a whole generation of younger Romanian composers, among them Dan Dediu.
Niculescu's work Ison II for wind and percussion permutates simultaneous segments of a diatonic melody producing a reverberating complexity of sound which is held together by a strong sense of modal clarity. Opus Dacicum for orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
applies similar textural explorations but with a stronger sense of harmonic movement, often with a Wagnerian lushness that lends this music a sensuous appeal a world apart from Ligeti's cluster-oriented sonorities.
Among his honors are many awards from the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
and the The Society of Romanian Composers. He also received awards from the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1972), the International Record Critics Award (1985), and the Herder Prize
Herder Prize
The Herder Prize, established in 1963 and named for Johann Gottfried von Herder, was a prestigious international prize dedicated to the promotion of scientific, art and literature relations, and presented to scholars and artists from Central and Southeastern Europe whose life and work have improved...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
(1994).
In the 1970s he contributed to the popularization of modern music by organizing public listenings in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
together with Şerban Stănciulescu
Serban Stanciulescu
Şerban Stănciulescu was a Romanian Anti-Communist dissident, audio engineer and disc jockey....
.