Kurt Schwertsik


Kurt Schwertsik is an Austrian contemporary composer. He is known for creating the "Third Viennese School" and spreading contemporary classical music.

Life

Schwertsik was born in Vienna. A pupil of Joseph Marx and Karl Schiske at the Academy of Music, 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 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 while teaching Composition at the Konservatorium Wien. Between 1989 and 2004 he was Professor of Composition at the Vienna Musikhochschule. His works are characterised by his particular exploration of tonality and his musical irony and humour. He received the Grand Austrian State Prize, the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art 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 melodist according to the musical philosophy that was developed and represented by Joseph Marx.

Prizes

Works (selection)

Instrumental music

Orchestral works... für Audifax und Abachum, symphony for large orchestra, op.8 Draculas Haus- und Hofmusik, a Transylvanian symphony for strings, op.18 Symphonie im MOB-Stil for orchestra, op.19 Epilog zu Rosamunde, op.33 Tag- und Nachtweisen; Im Ton des Mönchs von Salzburg und Herrn Marteins, op.34 Irdische Klänge Cycle, comprising:
  • * Irdische Klänge, Symphony in 2 movements, op.37
  • * Fünf Naturstücke, Der Irdischen Klänge 2. Teil, op.45
  • * Mit den Riesenstiefeln, op.60
  • * Uluru, op.64 Baumgesänge, op.65 Sinfonia-Sinfonietta, op.73 Mond-Lichtung for string orchestra, op.75 Unter Messing Baumen for 4 natural horns and orchestra, op.77 Nachtmusiken
Music for solo instrument and orchestra'
  • Alphorn Concerto ‘'In Keltischer Manier’’, op.27 Violin Concerto No. 1, op.31 Guitar Concerto, op.35 Instant Music for flute and wind orchestra, op.40
  • Timpani Concerto, op.54
  • Double-Bass Concerto, op.56 Violin Concerto No. 2Flute Concerto
  • ''Trombone Concerto''

Stage music

Der lange Weg zur großen Mauer – Opera based on a novel by Richard Bletschacher, op.24 Wiener Chronik 1848, ballet op.28 Katzelmacher – Opera based on a text by Rainer Werner FassbinderFanferlieschen Schönefüßchen – Fairy-tale opera after Clemens Brentano, based on a text by Karin and Thomas Körner, op.42 Das verlorene Wut, Singspiel for TV based on a text by Christine Nöstlinger, op.57 Der ewige Frieden, operetta on a text by Thomas Korner, op.58 Frida Kahlo, dance-theatre work Café-Museum – Die Erleuchtung, chamber opera, op.67 Die Welt der Mongolen, opera based on a text by Michael Köhlmeier, op.72 Schlaf der Gerechten, operella based on a text by Kristine Tornquist Chalifa und die Affen, chamber opera based on a text by Kristine Tornquist from Arabian Nights Alice, phantastic revue based on Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, text editor Kristine Tornquist

Vocal music

shâl-i-mâr for baritone and orchestra, op.17 to texts by H.C. ArtmannStarckdeutsche Lieder und Tänze for baritone and orchestra, op.44 to texts by Matthias KoeppelHuman existence for voice and chamber ensemble, texts by Flann O'BrienDie Furie des Verschwindens for mixed choirRoald Dahl’s Goldilocks for narrator and orchestra, op.74, text by Donald Sturrock after Roald Dahl
  • a huge number of songs

Chamber music

Liebesträume for 7 instruments, op.7 Eichendorff-Quintett for wind quintet, op.9
  • 5 Nocturnes for cello and piano, op.10c Music vom Mutterland Mu for 11 instruments, op.22 Skizzen und Entwürfe for string quartet, op.25 Twilight Music, A Celtic Serenade for Octet, op. 30 Blechpartie im neuesten Geschmack for brass quintet, op.43 Am Ende Steht ein Marsch for wind octet, op. 59 Drei späte Liebeslieder for cello and piano, op.66 Mobelmusik-Klassisch for 2 violins, viola and double bass, op.68 Wake for string quartet, op.70 Adieu Satie for bandoneon and string quartetGanesha Walkabout for string quartet, op.76 Sotto Voce for 4 instruments, Op. 39

Solo instrumental

  • 5 Nocturnes for piano, op.10a
  • Ein Kleines Requiem, op.97