Jelinek, Hanns
Jelinek, Hanns
Jelinek, Hanns, Austrian composer; b. Vienna, Dec. 5, 1901; d. there, Jan. 27, 1969. He studied harmony and counterpoint with Schoenberg (1918–19) and piano, harmony, and counterpoint with F. Schmidt (1920–22) at the Vienna Academy of Music. Jelinek’s output ranged from light music to works utilizing serial techniques. He made a living by playing piano in bars, leading his own band, and composing for films under the name Hanns Elin. He became a lecturer (1955) and a prof. (1965) at the Vienna Academy of Music. He publ. the manual Anleitung zur Zwölftonkomposition (2 vols., Vienna, 1952 and 1958; 2nd ed., 1967).
Works
dramatic: Operetta: Bubi Caligula (1947) ORCH.: Praeludium, Passacaglia und Fuge for Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Strings (1922; Wuppertal, March 12, 1954); 6 syms.: No. 1 (1926-30; Breslau, June 13, 1932; rev., 1940 and 1945-46), No. 2, Sinfonia ritmica, for Jazz Band and Orch. (1929; Vienna, March 14, 1931; rev. 1949), No. 3, Heitere Symphonie, for Brass and Percussion (1930-31; Vienna, June 20, 1932), No. 4, Sinfonia concertante, for String Quartet and Orch. (1931; rev. 1953; Vienna, May 2, 1958), No. 5, Symphonie brevis (1948-50; Vienna, Dec. 19, 1950), and No. 6, Sinfonia concertante (Venice, Sept. 15, 1953; rev. 1957); Sonata ritmica for Jazz Band and Orch. (1928; rev. 1960; Vienna, Nov. 26, 1960); Rather Fast, rondo for Jazz Band and Orch. (1929); Suite for Strings (1931); Concertino for String Quartet and String Orch. (1951); Phantasie for Clarinet, Piano, and Orch. (1951; Salzburg, June 21, 1952); Preludio solenne (1956); Rai buba,étude for Piano and Orch. (1956–61); Perergon for Small Orch. (1957). CHAMBER: 6 Aphorismen for 2 Clarinets and Bassoon (1923–30); Suite for Cello (1930); 2 string quartets (1931, 1935); Das Zwölftonwerk, a collection of 9 individually titled chamber pieces in 2 series: Series 1 of 6 works for Piano (1947–49) and Series 2 of 3 works for Various Instruments (1950–52); 3 Blue Sketches for 9 Jazz Soloists (1956); Sonata for Solo Violin (1956); Ollapotrida, suite for Flute and Guitar (1957); 2 Blue O’s for 7 Jazz Performers (1959); 10 Zahme Xenien for Violin and Piano (1960). Piano: 4 Structuren (1952); Zwölftonfibel (1953–54). VOCAL: Prometheus for Baritone and Orch., after Goethe (1936); Die Heimkehr, radio cantata for Soloists, Chorus, Orch., and Tape (1954); Unterwegs, chamber cantata for Soprano, Vibraphone, and Double Bass (1957); Begegnung, dance scene for Chorus and Orch. (1965); songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire