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Dieter Schnebel Celebrates 85

Mar. 03, 2015

Dieter Schnebel Celebrates 85

We offer Dieter Schnebel heartiest congratulations on the occasion of his 85th birthday this month. Born in Baden, Germany, the composer and theologian is widely regarded as a major international figure of contemporary music. Schnebel began as a student at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg, subsequently undertaking further studies in Protestant theology, philosophy and musicology. At an early stage, he cultivated close contacts at the Kranichstein (now Darmstadt) International Summer Courses for New Music. Following a period as a pastor and teacher, a professorship for experimental music and musicology was specially created for him at the Hochschule der Künste (HdK) in Berlin in 1976, a position he occupied until becoming Professor Emeritus in 1995. He also continued his theological activities during this period.

Schott has accompanied the composer throughout his career from early works such as Analysis and Maulwerke, later works including Re-Visionen, the Dahlemer Messe and Majakowskis Tod, through to the majestic Sinfonie X. Today Schnebel continues to be not only a prolific composer but also a creative individualist whose music always has an element of surprise. As a composer he is characterized by his resistance to compositional dogma, unconventionality, the absolute freedom of musical thought and the powerful gestures of his music; as a man, Schnebel is known for his warm-heartedness, a reticent but unique sense of humor and a profound sense of humanity. In the past few years he has produced a number of new chamber and choral works and especially noteworthy is his chamber opera Utopien, presented to great acclaim at the Munich Biennale 2014.

For more information on Dieter Schnebel, please visit schott-music.com.

Analysis (1953)
for string instruments and percussion
timp.2perc-hp.pno-2vn.2va.2vc
5’

Maulwerke (1968-1974)
for articulating organs and reproduction equipment
3-12 performers either at different positions in space or on a movable stage with slides, films and video
90’

Re-Visionen (1972-1992)
for orchestra, soprano, alto tenor and SATB chorus
3(1,2.pic; 3.afl).3.ca.3(1.Ebcl; 3.ssax, asax, bcl).2.cbsn-4(2, 4.Wagnertba).3.3(1.ttbn; 2.btbn).1-timp.2perc-hp(or 2gtr).harm(or positive org)-str
75’

Dahlemer Messe (1984-1987)
for four solo voices (SATB), two mixed choirs, orchestra and organ
3(1, 2.pic; 3.afl).3(3.ca).3(3.bcl).3(3.cbsn)-4.3.3.1-timp.perc-cimb.hp.org-str(1.1.1.1.1)
90’

Majakowskis Tod (1989-1997)
chamber opera for 3 protagonists (singer / speaker), speaking choir, small orchestra and electronics
for soprano, alto, bass, 10-20 speakers, female voices and SATB chorus
2(2afl, pic).2(1.ca).2(2bcl).sax(sopsax, barsax).2(2cbsn)-2.2.2.1-4-6perc-hp.pno.Egtr.cimb.acc.synth-str(10.8.6.4.2)
80’

Sinfonie X (1987-92/2004-05)
Parts I and II for large orchestra, alto, live electronics and tape
Parts III for speaker, four soloists (SATB), children’s voices, choir, large orchestra and live electronics
text by Gottfried Benn, Friedrich Hölderlin, Paul Gerhardt, Eduard Mörike, Anonymous, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Ingeborg Bachmann, Anna Akhmatova, Caroline of Günderrode,
James Joyce, Paul Verlaine, Francis of Assisi, Bertolt Brecht, Ernst Bloch, from folk and children's songs and the Bible
3(1, 2.pic, 3.afl).3.3(1.Ebcl, 3.bcl, cbcl).asax(tsax).3(2, 3.cbsn)-4(2, 4.Wagnertb).3.3.1-timp.2perc-Ondes Martenot(or asax).acc..pno-str(14.12.10.8.6 [some strings also play children’s toys])
Group I: bcl(cl, Ebcl, bird whistle)-2vn.2va(2.mar)-2perc-hp
Group II: hn(hunting whistle, Wagnertb. ad lib)-2vc(1.mar)-2perc-cimb
Group III: tpt-2db-2perc
Group IV: ca(ob)-2vn.2va-2perc
210’

Utopien (2008-2013)
for six voices (SSMezTBarB), actors and chamber ensemble
libretto (Ger) by Roland Quitt
cl/sax-perc-synth/acc-vn.vc
90’

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