David, Thomas Christian

David, Thomas Christian , noted Austrian composer and teacher, son of Johann Nepomuk David; b. Wels, Dec. 22, 1925. He was a choirboy at Leipzig’s Thomaskirche and studied with his father at the Leipzig Hochschule für Musik before studying musicology at the Univ. of Tubingen (1948). He taught flute at the Salzburg Mozarteum (1945–48) and was founder-director of the South German Madrigal Choir (1952–57); he then went to Vienna, where he taught harmony and composition at the Academy of Music (from 1957), later serving as prof. of harmony at the Hochschule für Musik (from 1973) and director of the Austrian Composers Soc. (from 1986). He also taught at the Univ. of Teheran and was director of the Iranian Television Orch. (1967–73). He made various appearances as a flutist, harpsichordist, pianist, choral director, and conductor. David received several awards for his compositions, which are noted for their innovative, modernistic uses of contrapuntal devices.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera : Atossa (1968); Der Weg nach Emmaus (Alpbach, Aug. 28, 1982); Als Oedipus kam (1986).ORCH.: Divertimento for Strings (1951); Serenade for Strings (1957); Concerto No. 1 for Strings (1961; Munich, Sept. 20, 1962); Concerto for 12 Strings (1964); Sym. No. 1 (1965); Concerto (1967); Concerto No. 2 for Strings (1971; Teheran, Jan. 10,1973); Concerto No. 3 for Strings (1974; Linz, Nov. 30,1975); Entrada (1975); Sinfonia giacosa (1975); Concerto grosso (1978; Prague, Feb. 21, 1982); Duplum for Wind Orch. (East Lansing, Mich., June 3, 1983); Festival Prologue (1982).CONCERTOS WITH ORCH.: Piano (1960); Clarinet (1961); 5 Brass Instruments and Strings (1962); Violin (1962; Munich, May 26, 1965); Violin (No. 1,1962; Munich, May 26, 1965; No. 2,1986); Guitar and Chamber Orch. (1963); Violin and Strings (Teheran, Sept. 3, 1970); Oboe (1975; Hagen, March 18, 1976); Organ (1976; Vienna, Dec. 11, 1981); 2 Violins and Strings (1977; Hagen, March 8, 1979); Bass (1979; Hagen, Oct. 16,1980); 3 Violins and Strings (1981); Flute (1982; Vienna, March 3, 1983); Cello (1983; Vienna, March 20, 1987); Violin, Clarinet, and Piano (1983; N.Y., May 1, 1984); Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Clarinet, Piano, and Wind Orch. (1986).CHAMBER : 5 string quartets (1952, 1953,1954,1965,1967); Quartet for Flute and String Trio (1958); Concerto for 9 Instruments (1961; Vienna, Feb. 28, 1962); Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet (1963); 3 Intermezzi for

Violin and Piano (1964); 2 wind quintets (1966, 1979); Cello Sonata (1970); Trio for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano (1977); Tridnium for Flute, English Horn or Viola, and Cello (1977); Quartet for Oboe and String Trio (1979); Sonata for Violin and Viola (1980); Sonata for Clarinet and Violin (1980); Sonata for Flute and Clarinet (1980); Sonata for Cello and Guitar (1982); Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello (1984); Toccata for 9 Flutes (1985); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1985); Trio for Flute, Viola, and Guitar (1985); Quintet for 2 Flutes, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1987); many works for solo instruments.VOCAL: 10 madrigals (1950–82); Wer ist es, motet (1960); Missa in honorem Mariae (1965); Das Lied des Menschen, oratorio (1975; Gumers-bach, May 1978); Die Vogel, cantata for Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, and Piano (1981); Und wir haben erkannt, motet (1982); also 15 songs (1963–86).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire