Johannes Paul Thilman
Johannes Paul Thilman was a German composer.
Life
Thilman, who actually wanted to become a teacher, encountered music at the age of 18 and taught himself initially. After a private lesson with Paul Hindemith and Hermann Scherchen, he attended the Leipzig Conservatory in 1929 and studied Composition with Hermann Grabner. The first performances of his works took place after he finished his studies in 1931. They were performed in Donaueschingen by his teacher, Hindemith. In the year 1940, he became the instructor of composition at the "Carl Maria von Weber" School of Music in his hometown, Dresden. He was a professor there from the year 1956 until he became an Emeritus professor in 1968. Among his students were composers Friedrich Goldmann and Udo Zimmermann. Besides his academic activities, he was also involved in the music life of Dresden. In 1960, Thilman coveted the National Prize of East Germany.Style
Thilman was a conservative Composer. His music is tonal and refers to the form and harmony of Romantic music. His melody is always catchy and uncomplicated. Thilman was particularly inspired by folk music. This influence can be heard clearly in many of his works. Most of his works are kept short. Generally, his tone is fresh and uncomplicated rather than dramatic. Undoubtedly, Thilman oriented his works towards the aesthetics of the Socialist realism. In his later works, he often chose unusual settings and freer forms for his works. Thilman was very respected in East Germany. His Symphony no. 4 was particularly popular. Today, however, he is mostly forgotten.Selected compositions
;StagePeter Schlemihl, Ballet;OrchestralKleine Sinfonie Nr.1 in G major, Op.56 no.2 Kleine Sinfonie Nr.2 in F major, op.60 or 61 Kleine Sinfonie Nr.3 in D major, op.63
- Symphony No.4 in D minor, op.64
- Symphony No.5 "Sinfonie in einem Satz", op.79
- Symphony No.6 in E major op.92
- Symphony No.7 in A major op.101 Partita piccola for chamber orchestra, op.43 Sinfonische Inventionen, op.77 Sinfonische Prolog, op.94 Music for Strings Sinfonisches Vorspiel, op.100 Episoden Ode Impulse
- Concerto for piano and chamber orchestra Concertino giocoso for trombone and orchestra, op.47
- Concerto for violin and orchestra, op.59
- Concertino for piano and orchestra, op.65
- Concertino for trumpet and chamber orchestra, op.66 Lichtenberger Konzert for violin and string orchestra Concerto piccolo for harpsichord and small orchestra Double Concerto for bass clarinet and piano with string orchestra and percussion
- Concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra Orpheus, Concerto for English horn and small orchestra
- Concerto for violin and chamber orchestra
- Sonata in C minor for viola and piano Kleine Sonate for English horn and piano, op.34
- Sonatine for string quartet, op.49
- Sonata No.1 for violin and piano, op.50
- String Quartet No.1
- String Quartet No.2, op.62
- Piano Quartet No.2, op.70
- Quintet for clarinet and strings, op.73
- Sextet for woodwinds and strings, op.74
- Piano Quintet
- Sonata No.2 for violin and piano, op.80
- String Quartet No.3 in D major, op.81
- String Quartet No.4 "in einem Satz", op.84 Trio Piccolo for alto flute, bass clarinet and viola, op.90Kleine Sonate for cello and piano, op.96
- Piano Trio 4 Gespräche for flute, bass clarinet and piano Concerti espressivi for trombone, timpani and piano Dramatische Szenen for string quartet Kammerspiel for string quartet
- String Quartet No.5 Concertino for string quartet Aspekte for flute, viola and harp6 Duets for violin and viola
- 2 Sonatas, op.30 Sonatina patetica, op.39 Händel-Variations, op.1 10 Neue Inventionen, op.86 Sommerabend am Schwarzen Meer 5 Inventions for four hands piano