Steffen, Wolfgang

Steffen, Wolfgang, German composer; b. Neu-haldensleben, April 28, 1923; d. Berlin, Dec. 4, 1993. He studied at the Berlin Cons. (1946−49) and with Tiessen at the Hochschule für Musik there (1949−53); after graduation, he devoted himself principally to the promotion of new music. He was active as a conductor (1947−59); was an honorary and guest prof. at the Berlin Staatliche Hochschule der Künste (from 1974). In 1978 he won the Australian composition prize and in 1979 the Johann Wenzel Stamitz Prize.

Works

ORCH.: Serenade for Hute and Strings “im alten Stil” (1948); Sinfonietta for Strings (1949); Tanzerische Impression I for Piano and Orch. (1950) and II for Piano, Percussion, and Orch. (1970); Intrada seria (1953); Meditations de la nuit (1954); Aus dem Lebensbuch eines Tanzers (1954); Piano Concerto (1955); Violin Concerto (1966); Polychromie for Piano and 10 Instruments (1970; also for Piano and Orch., 1971); Klangsegmente for Cymbal, Harp, Harpsichord, and Orch. (1973−74); Sinfonia da camera (1976); Chamber Concerto (1978); Concerto for 6 Flutes and Orch. (1979-83); Concertino for Piano and 9 Instruments or Chamber Orch. (1984); goslar, symphonic poem (1991). CHAMBER : Trio for Oboe, Flute, and Bassoon (1947); Theme with 8 Variations for String Quartet (1948); Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1959); Diagram for Viola or Cello and Piano (1965); Wind Quintet (1966); Jeu for Violin and Piano (1967); Trio for Flute, Cello, and Piano (1970); Triplum 71 for Flute, Piano, and Percussion (1972); Tetraphonie for Flute Ensemble (1974); Trilogie 75 for Bandoneon, Flute, and Percussion (1975); Music for Piano and 7 Players (1975); Meditation for Violin (1981); Duo for Cello and Accordion (1982); Piece for Clarinet (1983); String Trio (1983); Duo Serenade for Flute and Piano (1987); Klangdialog for Mandolin and Guitar (1989); Klangspiele for 6 to 7 Percussionists (1991). Piano: Fantasy (1947); Sonata (1955); Reihenproportionen (1961); Notturno for 4-Hands (1968); Les Spirales (1969); Introversion (1982); Music (1985). VOCAL.: Nachtwachen for Chorus, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and String Quintet (1954); Hermann-Hesse-Zyklus for Chorus, Clarinet, Viola, and Piano (1955); Botschaft, oratorio (1975-76); Augenblicke for Chorus (1986); Kantate nach Gedichten von Gertrud Kolmar for Soprano, Chorus, and 6 Instruments (1987); Bilder von Algina for Baritone or Bass-baritone and Piano (1987; also for Baritone, Piano, and Orch., 1989); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire