Rihm, Wolfgang (Michael)

Rihm, Wolfgang (Michael) , distinguished German composer and teacher; b. Karlsruhe, March 13, 1952. He received training in composition with Eugen Veite at the Karlsruhe Hochschule für Musik (1968–72), with Stockhausen in Cologne (1972–73), and with Klaus Huber in Freiburg im Breisgau (1973–76). He also studied with Fortner and Searle, and received training in musicology with Eggebrecht in Freiburg im Breisgau. From 1970 he attended the summer courses in new music in Darmstadt, and then taught there from 1978. He taught at the Karlsruhe Hochschule für Musik (1973–78). After teaching in Munich (1981), he returned to the Karlsruhe Hochschule fur Musik as a prof. (from 1985). In 1997 he won the Prix de Composition Musicale de la Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco. In his music, Rihm embraces an atonal, post-expressionist path with occasional infusions of tonal writing.

Works

DRAMATIC : Faust und Yorick, chamber opera (1976; Mannheim, April 29, 1977); Jakob Lenz, chamber opera (1977–78; Hamburg, March 8, 1979); Tutuguri, ballet (1981–82; Berlin, Nov. 12, 1982); Die Hamletmaschine, music theater (1983–86; Mannheim, April 4, 1987); Oedipus, music theater (1986–87; Berlin, Oct. 4, 1987); Die Eroberung von Mexico, music theater (1987–91; Hamburg, Feb. 9, 1992); Medea-Spiel, dance theater (1988–89; Salzburg, April 6, 1989); Séraphim, music theater (Frankfurt am Main, Sept. 7, 1994; stage perf., Stuttgart, Nov. 24, 1996). ORCH. : 4 syms.: No. 1 (1969; Hannover, Feb. 5, 1984), No. 2 (1975; Berlin, June 27, 1976), No. 3 for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1976–77; Berlin, Nov. 15, 1979), and No. 4, Symphonie fleuve (Hamburg, Nov. 6, 1994); Adagio for Strings (1969); Magma (1973); Dis-Kontur (1974; Stuttgart, Oct. 10, 1975); Sub-Kontur (1974–75; Donaueschingen, Oct. 26, 1976); Lichtzwang for Violin and Orch. “in memoriam Paul Celan” (1975–76; Royan, April 3, 1977); Cuts and Dissolves (1976; Paris, March 3, 1977); Nachtordnung, 7 pieces for 15 Strings (1976; Berlin, Sept. 19, 1977); La Musique creuse le ciel for 2 Pianos annd Orch. (1977–79; Cologne, Nov. 14, 1980); Abgesangsszene No. 1 (Kassel, Nov. 8, 1979) and No. 5 (1979; Kiel, Jan. 12, 1981); 3 waltzes: No. 1, Sehnsuchtswalzer (1979–81; Stuttgart, Oct. 23, 1981), No. 2, Drängender Walzer (1986–87; Frankfurt am Main, Feb. 21, 1987), and No. 3, Brahmsliebewalzer (1979–88; Flensburg, July 6, 1988); Viola Concerto (1979–83; Berlin, Nov. 13, 1983); Doppelgesang No. 1 for Viola, Cello, and Orch. (1980; Baden-Baden, Jan. 18, 1984) and No. 2 for Clarinet, Cello, and Orch. (1981–83; Hitzacker, Aug. 7, 1983); Zeichen I for 2 Soloists and 2 Orchs. (1981–85; Venice, Sept. 29, 1985); Monodram for Cello and Orch. (1982–83; Graz, Oct. 9, 1983) Schattenstück (1982–84; Karlsruhe, June 24, 1984); Klangbeschreibung I for Cello and Orch. (1982–87; Donaueschingen, Oct. 18, 1987) and III (1984–87; Donaueschingen, Oct. 18, 1987); Gebild for Piccolo Trumpet, 2 Percussionists, and 20 Strings (Zürich, May 15, 1983; rev. version, Lucerne, July 7, 1997); Chiffre II: Silence to be Beaten (London, Nov. 30, 1983), V (Paris, Dec. 3, 1984), and VII (Frankfurt am Main, Sept. 15, 1985); Spur (1984–85; Saarbrücken, March 24, 1985); Umriss (1985–86; Berlin, May 5, 1986); Compresenze (1985–87; Cologne, June 4, 1987); Unbenannt I (Munich, May 23, 1986), II (Tokyo, Oct. 30, 1987), and III (1989–90; WDR, Cologne, March 23, 1990); Blick (1987–88; Freiburg im Breisgau, April 25, 1988); Kein Firmament for Chamber Orch. (Berlin, Oct. 29, 1988); Ungemaltes Bild (1988–90; Stockholm, May 17, 1990); Ins offene…(Glasgow, Sept. 22, 1990); bildos/weglos (1990–91); La lugubre gondola/Das Eismeer for 2 Orch. Groups and Piano “in memoriam Luigi Nono” (1990–92); et nunc I and II for Wind Orch. (both 1992); Form/Zwei Formen (1993–94); Musik for Oboe and Orch. (1994); Ernster Gesang (Philadelphia, April 25, 1997); Toccata for Piano and Orch. (Bremen, May 11, 1998); Vers une symphonie fleuve IV (Dresden, Sept. 22, 1998); Styk und Lethe for Cello and Orch. (Donaueschingen, Oct. 18, 1998); Marsyas for Trumpet, Percussion, and Orch. (Karlsruhe, Nov. 1, 1998); New work for Piano, Harp, and Orch. (Berlin, May 22, 1999); Musik for Clarinet and Orch. (Munich, Nov. 12, 1999); Spiegel und Fluss: Nachspiel und Vorspiel (1999; Hamburg, Jan. 2, 2000). chamber: Concerto for Piano and 8 Instruments (1969; Karlsruhe, Oct. 3, 1987); 10 string quartets: No. 1 (1970; Hamburg, June 15, 1987), No. 2 (1970), No. 3, Im Innersten (1976; Royan, April 3, 1977), No. 4 (1979–81; Badenweiler, Nov. 12, 1983), No. 5, Ohne Titel (1981–83; Brussels, Dec. 9, 1983), No. 6, Blaubuch (1984; Kassel, Oct. 26, 1985), No. 7, Veranderungen (1985; Darmstadt, June 1986), No. 8 (1988; Milan, Jan. 17, 1989), No. 9 (1993); Music-Hall Suite for 8 Players (1979; Baden-Baden, April 1980), and No. 10 (Berlin, Sept. 20, 1997); Chiffre I for Piano and 7 Instruments (1982; Saarbrücken, April 22, 1983), III for 12 Players (Karlsruhe, Dec. 7, 1983), IV for Bass Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1983–84; Hamburg, Feb. 3, 1984), VI for 8 Players (Karlsruhe, April 12, 1985), and VIII for 8 Players (1985–88; Witten, April 23, 1988); Musik for 3 Strings (Darmstadt, July 31, 1978); Canzona for 4 Violas (Stuttgart, June 6, 1982); Fremde Szene I for Violin, Cello, and Piano (Salzburg, Aug. 17, 1982), II for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1983; Düsseldorf, June 8, 1984), and III for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1983; Gelsenkirchen, Nov. 21, 1984); Clarinet Quintet (London, June 29, 1988); Kalt, octet (Berlin, Feb. 16, 1991); Sphere for Piano, Winds, and Percussion (1992–94); Antlitz for Cello and Piano (1993); Pol.Kolchis.Nucleus for Chamber Ensemble (Badenweiler, Nov. 13, 1996); De Coloribus for Chamber Ensemble (Lucerne, Aug. 23, 1997); Gedrangte Form for Chamber Ensemble (Frankfurt am Main, Dec. 1, 1998); Über die Linie for Cello (Cologne, April 5, 1999); Fetzen for String Quartet (Munich, June 23, 1999); Trigon: Jagden und Formen for Chamber Ensemble (Paris, Nov. 18, 1999); piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL : Konzertarie, “telepsychogramm” for Mezzo-soprano and Orch. (1975; Rome, June 28, 1989); Abgesangsszene No. 2 for Medium Voice and Orch. (1979; Karlsruhe, Nov. 5, 1980), No. 3 for Baritone and Orch. (1979–80; Freiburg im Breisgau, May 18, 1981), No. 4 for Medium Voice and Orch. (1979; Berlin, Sept. 18, 1983), and No. 5 for Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, and Orch. (1979–81; Berlin, Sept. 18, 1983); Lowry-Lieder for Voice and Orch. (1982–87); Umsungen for Baritone and 8 Instruments (1984); Dies for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, 2 Speakers, Children’s Chorus, Speaking Chorus, Mixed Chorus, Organ, and Orch. (1984; Vienna, Nov. 13, 1986); Andere Schatten, musical scene for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Speaker, Chorus, and Orch. (Frankfurt am Main, Sept. 6, 1985); Klangbeschrei-bung II for 4 Voices, 5 Brass, and 6 Percussion (1986–87; Donaueschingen, Oct. 18, 1987); Mein Tod: Requiem in memoriam Jane S. for Soprano and Orch. (1988–89; Salzburg, Aug. 16, 1990); Frau/Stimme for Soprano and Orch. (Donaueschingen, Oct. 22, 1989); Geheimer Block for 4 Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (Frankfurt am Main, Aug. 27, 1989); Abschiedsstücke for Woman’s Voice and Small Orch. (1993); Maximum est unum for Mezzo-soprano, 2 Choruses, and Orch. (Freiburg im Breisgau, Nov. 17, 1996); Deutsches Stück mit Hamlet for 2 Soloists and Orch. (Frankfurt am Main, May 18, 1998); Drei späte Gedichte von Heiner Müller for Alto and Orch. (Berlin, May 22, 1999); In doppelter Tiefe for Mezzo-soprano, Alto, and Orch. (Berlin, Sept. 22, 1999);

Bibliography

R. Urmetzer, W. R. (Stuttgart, 1988).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire