Lewkowitch, Bernhard

Lewkowitch, Bernhard, Danish organist and composer; b. Copenhagen (of Polish parents), May 28, 1927. He studied organ, theory, and music history at the Royal Danish Cons, of Music in Copenhagen (graduated in theory, 1948; organ degree, 1949), then completed his studies of composition and orchestration there with Jersild and Schierbeck (1950). He was organist and choirmaster at Copenhagen’s St. Ansgar Catholic Church (1947–63), and also founded the Schola Cantorum choral society (1953), with which he performed medieval and Renaissance music. He served as director of music at Copenhagen’s Church of the Holy Sacrament (1973–85). In 1963 he was awarded the Carl Nielsen Prize; in 1966 he was given a lifetime Danish government pension. His music is primarily choral, to Latin texts, and is derived essentially from the Renaissance paradigms of modal counterpoint; it has an affinity with sacred works of Stravinsky, but is otherwise sui generis in its stylized archaisms; several of these works have become repertoire pieces in Denmark, and were also performed at various international festivals.

Works

Mariavise for Chorus (1947); 2 salmi for Chorus (1952); 3 motets for Chorus (1952); Mass for Chorus (1952); Massfor Chorus, Harp, and Woodwinds (1954); Tre madrigali di Torquato Tasso for Chorus (1954–55); Tres orationes for Tenor, Oboe, and Bassoon (1958); Cantata sacra for Tenor and Instrumental Ensemble (1959); Improperia per voci (1961); II cantico delle creature for 8 Voices, after St. Francis of Assisi (1962–63); Veni creator spiritus for Chorus and 6 Trombones (1967); Laudi a nostra Signora for Chorus (1969); Stabat Mater for Chorus (1969); Sub vesperum for Chorus (1970); 65 organ chorales (1972); Folk Mass for Unison Voices and Organ (1974); 32 motets for Chorus (1975–76); De Lamentatione Jeremiae Prophetae for Chorus and Orch. (1977); Memoria apostolorum for Chorus (1978); Mass for Chorus and 2 Horns (1978); Vesper in Advent for Tenor, Chorus, and Organ (1979); 12 organ chorales (1979); Ad nonam for Chorus and Orch. (1980); Requiem for Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1981); Tenebrae-Responsoria for Chorus (1983); Magnificat for Chorus and Orch. (1983); Pater noster for Chorus and 6 Wind Instruments (1983); Deprecations for Tenor, Horn, and Trombone (1984); Songs of Solomon for Tenor, Clarinet, Horn, and Trombone (1985); Preacher and Singer for Tenor and Piano (1986); 6 partitas for Brass (1986–88); Via Stenonis for Chorus and Brass Quintet (1987); 6 Partitas for Organ (1990).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire