Katzer, Georg
Katzer, Georg
Katzer, Georg , German composer; b. Habelschwerdt, Silesia, Jan. 10, 1935. He studied with Wagner-Régeny and Zechlin at the Hochschule für Musik in East Berlin (1954–59), and then entered the classes of Eisler and Spies at the Akademie der Künste there (1960–63), where he was elected to membership (1979) and became artistic director of its electronic music studio. He served as president of the national section of the International Soc. for Electroacoustic Music (from 1989). In 1981 he received the National Prize for Art of the German Democratic Republic. In his music, Katzer is a universalist, applying constructivist principles with lapidary precision. Under the influence of Eisler, he adopted a broad variety of methods, including 12-tone techniques, using his materials for specific purposes accessible to mass audiences.
Works
dramatic:Das Land Bum-Bum, children’s opera (1974); Schwarze Vögel, ballet (1974); Ein neuer Sommernachtstraum, ballet (1979–80); Gastmahl oder über die Liebe, opera (1987; Berlin, April 30, 1988); Antigone oder die Stadt, opera (1989); De natura hominis, radio piece (1997).orch.: 3 sonatas: No. 1 (1968), No. 2 (1969), and No. 3, Homage à Jules Verne, for Chamber Orch. (1970); Baukasten (1972); Die D-Dur Musik-maschine (1973); Concerto for Orchestra No. 1 (1973), No. 2 (1985), and No. 3 (1988; Berlin, Sept. 22, 1989); Concerto for Jazz Group and Orch. (1975); Empfindsame Musik for 58 Strings and 3 Percussionists (1976; Leipzig, June 2, 1977); Dramatische Musik (1977); Sound-House for Orch., 3 Orch. Groups, Organ, and Tape (1979); Piano Concerto (1980); Double Concerto for Cello, Harp, and Orch. (1980); Cello Concerto (1985; Karl-Marx-Stadt, Oct. 24, 1989); Flute Concerto (1985-86; Berlin, Feb. 25, 1986); Oboe Concerto (Leipzig, Sept. 21, 1989); Offene Landschaft mit Obligatem Ton e (1990); Landschaft mit steigender Flut for Orch. and Tape (1991); Gloria (1991-92; Berlin, Sept. 20, 1992); Recit for Chamber Orch. (1992); Triple Concerto for Saxophone, Percussion, Accordion, and Orch. (1994); Geschlagene Zeit, concerto for Percussion Sextet and Orch. (1996); Gesang —Gegengesang —Abgesang (1998); Schrittweise Auflösung harmonischer Verhältnisse for Chamber Orch. (1998); Nänie für Johannes Bobrowski, organ concerto (1998). chamber: 3 string quartet (1966; with Soprano, 1967; 1987); Streichmusik I for 14 Solo Strings (1971) and II for 18 Solo Strings (1972); Piano Quintet
(1972); Scene for Chamber Ensemble (1975); Concerto for Harpsichord and Wind Quintet (1977); Trio for Oboe, Cello, Piano, and Tape (1979); Concerto for Violin, 14 Strings, and Harpsichord (1980–81); Ballade for Clarinet and Percussion (1982); Kommen und gehen for Wind Quintet and Piano (1982); La Mettrie I (1985) and II (1987) for Wind Quintet and Piano; Hex for 6 Instruments (1988); Zungen und Saiten for String Trio and Accordion (1988); Strahlung/Brechung for String Quintet (1991); Saxophone Quartet (1992); String Trio (1992); Odd and Even for Flute, Percussion, and Piano (1993); La Solidarietà for Chamber Ensemble (1997); piano pieces. vocal:Abgebrochene Sätze for Contralto, Flute, Cello, Piano, and Percussion (1993); Dialog imaginär 6 for Tenor, Saxophone, and Tape (1994); choruses; song cycles.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire