Michalsky, Donai

Michalsky, Donal, American composer and teacher; b. Pasadena, Calif., July 13, 1928; d. in a fire at his home in Newport Beach, Calif., Dec. 31, 1975. After clarinet training in his youth, he studied with Stevens (theory) and Dahl (orchestration) at the Univ. of Southern Calif, at Los Angeles (Ph.D., 1965) and on a Ful-bright scholarship with Former in Freiburg im Breisgau (1958). From 1960 until his tragic death he was a prof, of composition at Calif. State Coll. in Fullerton. His music was marked by robust dissonant counterpoint, often in dodecaphonic technique, and yet permeated with a lyric and almost Romantic sentiment.

Works

dramatic:Opera: Der arme Heinrich (unfinished MS destroyed in the fire that took his life). orch.: Concertino for Trombone and Band (1953); 6 Pieces for Chamber Orch. (1956); Little Sym. for Band (1959); 3 syms.: No. 1, Wheel of Time, for Chorus and Orch. (1967), No. 2, Sinfonia concertante, for Clarinet, Piano, and Orch. (1969), and No. 3 (1975). chamber: Quintet for 2 Trumpets, 2 Clarinets, and Piano (1951); Divertimento for 2 Clarinets and Bass Clarinet (1952); Partita for Oboe d’Amore, String Trio, and Strings (1958); Cello Sonata (1958); Morning Music for Chamber Ensemble (1959); Trio Concertino for Flute, Oboe, and Horn (1961); Variations for Clarinet and Piano (1962); Fantasia alla marcia for Brass Quartet (1963); Partita piccola for Flute and Piano (1964); Allegretto for Clarinet and Strings (1964); 3 x 4 for Saxophone Quartet (1972). Piano: Sonata for 2 Pianos (1957); Sonata concertante (1961); Song Suite (1970). VOCAL: Cantata memoriam for High Voice and 12 Instruments (1971); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire