Petridis, Petros (John)

Petridis, Petros (John),eminent Turkish-born Greek composer; b. Nigdé, July 23,1892; d. Athens, Aug. 17,1977. He studied in Constantinople at the American Robert Coll. and received instruction in piano from Hegey and in harmony from Selvelli. He then went to Paris and read law at the Sorbonne and political science at the École Libre des Sciences Politiques (1911–14), and later studied with Wolff (1914) and Roussel (1919). He became a naturalized Greek citizen (1913). He subsequently was a music critic for English, American, and Greek publications, dividing his time between Paris and Athens. His use of Byzantine modalities, adorned with contemporary harmonies, reveals the influence of Greek culture.

Works

dramatic:Zefyra, opera (1923–25; rev. 1958–64); Iphigenia in Tauris, incidental music to Euripides’ play (Athens, Oct. 15,1941); O pramateftis (The Pedlar), ballet (1941–43; Athens, May 6, 1944). orch.:Kleftikoi horoi (Cleftic Dances; 1922); 5 syms.: No. 1, Greek (1928–29; Athens, Jan. 16, 1933), No. 2, Lyric (1941; Athens, Dec. 11, 1949), No. 3, Parisian (1944–46; Geneva, 1949), No. 4, Doric (1941; Athens, May 20, 1945), and No. 5, Pastoral (1949–51; rev. 1972–73); Concerto Grosso for Winds and Timpani (c. 1929); Greek Suite (1929–30; Athens, Nov. 27, 1932); Dighenis Akritas (1933–39; Athens, May 17,1940); Studies for Small Orch. (Athens, Jan. 29,1934); 2 piano concertos (1934, rev. c. 1948; 1937); Vyzantini thyssia (Byzantine Offering; 1934–35); Ionian Suite (c. 1935); Cello Concerto (1936); Chorale and Variations on Kyrie ton dynameon for Strings (1940; Athens, June 28, 1941); Chorale and Variations on Christos anesti for Strings (1944; Athens, May 20, 1945); Largo for Strings (Athens, Feb. 6,1944); Issagoghi pentihimi ke heroiki (Funeral and Heroic Overture; 1944; Athens, May 20, 1945); Violin Concerto (1972); Concerto for 2 Pianos (1972). chamber: Piano Trio (c. 1933); String Quartet (1951; unfinished); piano pieces. vocal: Hay os Pavios, oratorio for Narrator, Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1950; Athens, June 29, 1951); Requiem ya ton aftorkratora (Requiem for the Emperor) for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1952-–64); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire