Page 340 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

338 DIRECTORY

music. Babbitt was a firm proponent of The quietness, he said, meant that Luigi Nono, he coined the term “musique
serialism, as well as a pioneer of electronic audiences could hear the sounds. In concrète instrumentale” (“concrete
music. His most important works include 1977, he composed Neither for soprano instrumental music”). In Pression (1970)
Three Compositions for Piano (1947), and orchestra, a setting of a monologue for solo cello, he uses not only the sounds
Ensembles for Synthesizer (1962–1963), by the playwright Samuel Beckett. His the cellist has been trained to produce
and Philomel (1964) for solo soprano later works, such as the String Quartet II but also other more mechanical sounds,
with electronic accompaniment. (1983), which lasts for five hours without as when the bow is pressed down hard
break, were immersive, almost mystical on the strings. He also incorporates
experiences for listeners. recordings (often distorted) of well-
LUIGI NONO known pieces, such as Mozart’s Clarinet
1924–1990 Concerto, into his compositions, as in
HANS WERNER HENZE his work for clarinet, orchestra, and tape,
The Venetian Luigi Nono was a radical 1926–2012 Accanto (1976). Other pieces include
in music and politics alike, and often NUN (1999) for flute, trombone, male
combined the two. His Il canto sospeso A German living in Italy, Hans Werner chorus, and orchestra, and an opera,
(“The interrupted song”; 1955–1956)— Henze is known for a shimmering Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern
for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra— lyrical style that drew inspiration from (“The little match girl”) in 1997.
excerpts letters written during World traditions as varied as Romanticism,
War II by members of the anti-Nazi neoclassicism, and jazz. Highly prolific,
resistance awaiting execution. Nono’s he wrote 10 symphonies as well as solo ARVO PÄRT
Marxist beliefs are also clear in his instrumental, chamber, and orchestral 1935–
first opera, Intolleranza (1960), about an music. He found fame, above all, for his
Italian migrant looking for work. In the operas, including two collaborations The Estonian-born Pärt’s early works
1960s, he began staging pieces, such as with the English poet W.H. Auden: include unmistakably Modernist pieces,
La fabbrica illuminata (“The illuminated Elegy for Young Lovers (1961) and such as Nekrolog (1960) and his first two
factory”; 1964), in factories and other The Bassarids (1966). symphonies (1963 and 1966). From 1968,
places of work. however, he almost completely ceased
composing for eight years, partly in
HARRISON BIRTWISTLE response to the repressive censorship in
PIERRE BOULEZ 1934– his still Soviet-controlled homeland, but
1925–2016 also in the light of his devout Russian
Harrison Birtwistle was part of a group Orthodox faith. His new style emerged
The avant-garde French composer Pierre of students at the Royal Manchester in a short solo piano piece, Für Alina
Boulez was a hugely influential figure in College of Music in northern England, (1976), remarkable for its pared-back
the late 20th century. One of his most who became known as the Manchester minimalism and the bell-like quality of
admired early works was Le Marteau School. Modernists, they also drew the sound. A stream of works followed,
sans maître (The Hammer without a inspiration from medieval and early including Tabula Rasa (1977), Summa
Master; 1954), a setting of poems by the Renaissance music. Birtwistle came into (1977), the Cantus in memoriam
surrealist René Char. A decade later, he his own in the 1960s with works such Benjamin Britten (1977), and a St. John
composed the successful Pli selon pli as Tragoedia (1965) for wind quintet, Passion (1982).
(“Fold upon fold”; 1964) for soprano and harp, and string quartet and his first
orchestra. Among his later works was opera, Punch and Judy (1968). Operas
Répons (1985), for chamber orchestra remain an important part of his output, ARIBERT REIMANN
with six percussive soloists and live including The Mask of Orpheus (1986), 1936–
electronics. Boulez had an international Gawain (1991), and The Minotaur (2008);
career as a conductor, including periods his instrumental works include Exody Aribert Reimann, a Berlin-born
with the New York Philharmonic and the (1997) for orchestra, The Cry of Anubis composer, pianist, and teacher, has
BBC Symphony Orchestra in London. (1994) for tuba and orchestra, and written chamber works, concertos, and
Harrison’s Clocks (1998) for solo piano. orchestral pieces but is mainly known
for his deft use of the human voice—
MORTON FELDMAN Reimann had a long, close association
1926–1987 HELMUT LACHENMANN with the baritone Dietrich Fischer-
1935– Dieskau, for whom he often acted as
Born in Queens, New York, Morton accompanist. Reimann wrote a series
Feldman was notable for the slow, The German Helmut Lachenmann’s goal of successful operas, mostly based on
deliberate quietness of his music and as a composer is to open up new “sound the works of famous dramatists. Lear,
the exceptional length of his later works. worlds.” A Modernist who studied under adapted from the Shakespeare play, is

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