Kox, Hans

Kox, Hans, Dutch composer and teacher; b. Arn-hem, May 19, 1930. He studied at the Utrecht Cons, and with Badings. After teaching at the Doetinchem Music School (1956–70), he served as a prof, of composition at the Utrecht Cons. In some of his works, he applied a scale of 31 equal intervals, invented by the Dutch physicist Adriaan Fokker. In his series of Cyclophonies, he experimented with open-end forms.

Works

dramatic:Opera: Dorian Gray (1972-73; Scheveningen, March 30, 1974; rev. 1976); Lord Rochester (1978); Das grüne Gesicht (1991). ORCH.: Little Lethe Symphony (1956; rev. 1959); Concertante Music for Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, and Orch. (1956); Flute Concerto (1957); Macbeth, overture (1958); 3 syms.: No. 1 for Strings (1959), No. 2 (1960–66), and No. 3 (1985); Concerto for Orchestra (1959); Piano Concerto (1961); 2 violin concertos (1963; 1978, rev. 1981); Concerto for 2 Violins and Orch. (1964); Cyclophony I for Cello and Small Orch. (1964), II for 3 Orch. Groups (1964), V for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and 19 Strings (1966), VI for Violin, Trumpet, Piano, Vibraphone, and 16 Strings (1967), IX for Solo Percussion and Small Orch. (1974), and XI for Big Band (1978); Music for Status Seekers (1966); 2 cello concertos (1969, 1997); Phobos (1970); Concerto bandistico (1973); Gothic Concerto for Harp and Chamber Orch. (1975); Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Cello, and Orch. (1976); Vangoghiana for Brass Band, Strings, and Percussion (1977); Alto Saxophone Concerto (1978); Concertino chitarristico for 3 Guitars and Small Orch. (1981); hold’s Youth (1983); Notturno e danza for Violin, Viola or Clarinet, Cello, Piano, and Strings (1983); Le songe du vergier, dispute rêvée for Cello and Orch. (1986); Musica reservata for Symphonic Band and Orch. (1986; rev. 1987); Sinfonia Concertante for Saxophone Quartet and Strings (1988); Ruach (1990); Face to face, concerto for Alto Saxophone and Strings (1992; rev. 1993); Das grüne Gesischt, suite after the opera (1994); Symphonie de Zampillon for Wind Ensemble (1995). CHAMBER: 4 violin sonatas (1952, 1955, 1961, 1966); 2 trios for 2 Violins and Viola (1952, 1954); 2 string quartets (1955, 1996); 4 sextets (1957, 1957, 1959, 1961); String Quintet (1957); 3 Pieces for Violin, in the 31-tone system (1958); 2 piano quartets (1959, 1968); Sonata for Solo Cello (1959; rev. 1985); 4 Pieces for String Quartet, in the 31-tone system (1961); 4 Pieces for 2 Trumpets and Trombone, in the 31-tone system (1964); Cyclophony IV for Treble Recorder and 9 Strings (1965), VII for Violin, Piano, and 6 Percussionists (1971), VIII for Wind Quintet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass (1971; rev. 1982), and XII for 8 Cellos (1979); Piano Trio (1976); Suite for Guitar Trio (1977); Sweerts de Landas, suite for Violin and Piano (1981); Tenor Saxophone Sonata (1983); 2 saxophone quartets (1985; 1987, rev. 1988); Alto Saxophone Sonata (1985); Cello Sonata (1987); 4 études for Double Bass (1988); The 3 Chairs for 3 Saxophones (1989); Through a Glass Darkly for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1989); Asklepios for 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, and 2 Horns (1990); Galgentrio for Alto Saxophone, Cello, and Piano (1997).KEYBOARD: Piano: 2 sonatas (1954, 1955); 3 études (1961); Cyclophony III for Piano and Tape (1964); Melancholies (1975); Looks and Smiles for the Orgellas for 4 Pianists Playing 2 Pianos (1988). Organ: Prelude and Fugue (1954); Passacaglia and Chorale, in the 31-tone system (1960). vocal: chorus and orch.:Stichtse kantate (1958); Zoo, cantata (1964); In those days (1969); Requiem for Europe (1971); Cyclophony X (1975); Anne Frank Cantata: A Child of Light (1984); Amsterdam cantate (1985); Sjoah, oratorio (1989); Das Credo quia absurdum (1995). other:Cyclofonie XV for Mezzo-soprano and Ensemble (1998).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire