Kochan, Günter

Kochan, Günter, German composer and teacher; b. Luckau, Oct. 2, 1930. He studied composition with Blacher, Noetel, and Wunsch at the (West) Berlin Hochschule für Musik (1946–50), and then attended Eisler’s master classes at the (East) Berlin Akademie der Künste of the German Democratic Republic (1950–53). From 1950 to 1991 he taught at the (East) Berlin Hochschule für Musik. In 1965 he was elected to the Akademie der Künste. His music is eminently functional, and there is a distinct affinity with the symphonic processes used by Eisler.

Works

Karin Lenz, opera (1968–70); Luther, melodrama (1981). orch.: 2 violin concertos (1951-52; 1980); Kleine Suite (1956); Piano Concerto (1958); Sinfonietta (1960); Fröhliche Ouvertüre for Chamber Orch. (1960); 2 concertos for orchestra (1961-62; 1988-90); 5 syms.: No. 1 for Chorus and Orch. (1963–64), No. 2 (1968), No. 3 for Soprano and Orch. (1972), No. 4 (1983–84), and No. 5 (1985–87); Divertimento, variations on a theme of C.M. von Weber (1964); Variationen über eine venezianische Canzonetta for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1966); 4 Movements for Strings (1966); 2 cello concertos (1967, 1976); Mendelssohn-Variationen for Piano and Orch. (1972); Viola Concerto (1974); Concerto for Wind Quintet and 2 String Groups (1975–77); 7 Orchesterstücke (1976–77); Passacaglia und Hymne (1979); In memoriam (1982); Präludium (1985); Und ich lächle im Dunkeln dem Leben (1987); Herbstbilder, metamorphosen for 28 Strings (1990–91); Divertimento for Recorder Ensemble (1998). chamber: Piano Trio (1953–54); Divertimento for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1956); Cello Sonata (1960); 5 Movements for String Quartet (1961); Short String Quartet (1965); String Quartet (1973–74); 7 Miniaturen for 4 Tubas (1977); String Trio (1979–80); Violin Sonata (1984–85); 5 Bagatelles for 4 Trombones (1987); Piano Quintet (1992–93); 7 Szenen for Flute, Viola, and Guitar (1993); 7 Deutsche Volkslieder for 4 Trombones and Tuba (1993); Duo for Clarinet and Piano (1994–95); Musik for Recorder and Harpsichord (1996); Miniaturen for Double Bass (1999). Piano: Suite (1952); Präludien, Intermezzi und Fugen (1954); 11 Short Pieces for Piano, 4-Hands (1958); 5 Piano Pieces (1971); 7 Short Piano Pieces (1971); Sonata (1981). vocal:Die Welt ist jung, cantata (1952); Ernst Thal-mann, cantata (1959); 3 Shakespeare-Lieder for Alto, Flute, and Strings (1964); Asche von Birkenau, cantata for Alto and Orch. (1965); Aurora for Women’s Voices, Chorus, and Orch. (1966); Wir, unaufhaltsam, “symphonic demonstration” for Baritone, Speaker, Chorus, and Orch. (1970); Das Testament von Ho Chi-Minh for Speaker, Chamber Orch., and 9 Solo Instruments (1971); Die Hände der Genössen, cantata for Baritone and Orch. (1974); 3 Epitaphe for Baritone and Instruments (1975); Das Friedensfest oder Die Teilhabe, oratorio (1978); Tryptichon for Mezzo-soprano, Alto Flute, Bass Clarinet, Viola, and Cello (1991); choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire