Volker David Kirchner
Encyclopedia
Volker David Kirchner is a German composer
and violist
.
. Following this he studied with Bernd Alois Zimmermann
at the Hochschule für Musik Köln
from 1959 to 1963, and then under Tibor Varga at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold
from 1964 to 1965, Kirchner played in jazz
ensembles in Cologne, and played in several high-level ensembles as a violist, including the hr-Sinfonieorchester
in Frankfurt
from 1966 to 1988. He moved to Mainz and became a freelance composer in 1989. Invited by Walter Fink
, he was the third composer featured in the annual Komponistenporträt of the Rheingau Musik Festival
in 1992.
He has written works for musical theater, the Bavarian State Opera
, Staatsoper Hannover
, Katholikentag
, etc. Among awards he has won the 1994 Rheingau Musikpreis of the Rheingau Musik Festival and the 2007 Peter Cornelius Medal.
Sacred music
Orchestra
Concertante
Chamber music
Keyboard
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
.
Biography
Kirchner studied at the Peter Cornelius Conservatory in Mainz from 1956 to 1969 under Günter Kehr and Günter RaphaelGünter Raphael
Günter Raphael was a German composer. Born in Berlin, Raphael is the grandson of composer Albert Becker. His first symphony was premiered by Wilhelm Furtwängler in 1926 in Leipzig. From 1926 to 1934 he taught in Leipzig, but illness and the rise of National Socialism - he was declared a half-Jew -...
. Following this he studied with Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Bernd Alois Zimmermann was a post-WWII West German composer. He is perhaps best known for his opera Die Soldaten which is regarded as one of the most important operas of the 20th century...
at the Hochschule für Musik Köln
Hochschule für Musik Köln
The Cologne University of Music is a music college in Cologne, and Germany's largest academy of music.-History:The academy was founded by Ferdinand Hiller in 1850 as Conservatorium der Musik in Coeln...
from 1959 to 1963, and then under Tibor Varga at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold
Hochschule für Musik Detmold
The University of Music Detmold is one of Germany's leading university-level schools of music, situated in Detmold, Germany.- Academics :...
from 1964 to 1965, Kirchner played in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
ensembles in Cologne, and played in several high-level ensembles as a violist, including the hr-Sinfonieorchester
HR-Sinfonieorchester
The hr-Sinfonieorchester is the radio orchestra of Hessischer Rundfunk, the public broadcasting network of the German state of Hesse. Until 2005 it was the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, a name still used for international tours....
in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
from 1966 to 1988. He moved to Mainz and became a freelance composer in 1989. Invited by Walter Fink
Walter Fink
Walter Fink is a German retired executive and a patron of Contemporary music. He is mostly known for being a founding member, Executive Committee member and sponsor of the Rheingau Musik Festival.- Biography :...
, he was the third composer featured in the annual Komponistenporträt of the Rheingau Musik Festival
Rheingau Musik Festival
The Rheingau Musik Festival is an international summer music festival in Germany, founded in 1987. It is mostly for classical music, but includes other genres...
in 1992.
He has written works for musical theater, the Bavarian State Opera
Bavarian State Opera
The Bavarian State Opera is an opera company based in Munich, Germany.Its orchestra is the Bavarian State Orchestra.- History:The opera company which was founded under Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy has been in existence since 1653...
, Staatsoper Hannover
Staatsoper Hannover
Staatsoper Hannover is an opera house and opera company in Hanover. It is one of the leading opera companies in Germany.During the course of its season from September to June, Staatsoper Hannover mounts productions of a variety of operas from the standard operatic repertoire as well as 20th century...
, Katholikentag
Katholikentag
Katholikentag is a festival-like gathering in German-speaking countries organized by the Roman Catholic laity. Katholikentag festivals occur approximately every 2–4 years in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.-History:...
, etc. Among awards he has won the 1994 Rheingau Musikpreis of the Rheingau Musik Festival and the 2007 Peter Cornelius Medal.
Selected works
Opera- Die Trauung (The Wedding) (1974) after Witold GombrowiczWitold GombrowiczWitold Marian Gombrowicz was a Polish novelist and dramatist. His works are characterized by deep psychological analysis, a certain sense of paradox and an absurd, anti-nationalist flavor...
- Belshazar (1986); commissioned by the Bayerische Staatsoper
- Gilgamesh (2002); commissioned by the Niedersächsische Staatsoper Hannover on the occasion of the EXPO 2000Expo 2000Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
- Ahasver (2001); commissioned by the BielefeldBielefeldBielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
Theatre
Sacred music
- Requiem – Messa di Pace for soloist, choir and orchestra (1988)
- Missa Moguntina for soloist, choir, two echo-choirs, orchestra and organ (1993)
- Aus den 53 Tagen, Passion music for soloists, mixed chorus, male chorus, boys chorus, speaker (Evangelist) and orchestra (1998); commissioned by the "93. Deutscher Katholikentag" in Mainz
Orchestra
- Choral Variations for 15 solo strings (1967–1968)
- Bildnisse I for orchestra (1981–1982)
- Bildnisse II for orchestra (1983–1984)
- Bildnisse III: Hommage à W. A. Mozart for small orchestra (1989–1991)
- Symphony No. 2 "Mythen" (1992), premiered in Wiesbaden as part of the Rheingau Musik FestivalRheingau Musik FestivalThe Rheingau Musik Festival is an international summer music festival in Germany, founded in 1987. It is mostly for classical music, but includes other genres...
Concertante
- Nachtstück: Varianten über eine Wagnersche Akkordverbindung (Nocturne: Variations on a Wagnerian Chord Progression) for viola and chamber orchestra (1980–1981, revised 1983)
- Schibboleth, Poème Concertante for viola and orchesta (1989)
- Concerto for violin and orchestra (Hommage à Krzysztof PendereckiKrzysztof PendereckiKrzysztof Penderecki , born November 23, 1933 in Dębica) is a Polish composer and conductor. His 1960 avant-garde Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima for string orchestra brought him to international attention, and this success was followed by acclaim for his choral St. Luke Passion. Both these...
) (1981–1982) - Concerto for oboe and orchestra (1997–1998)
Chamber music
- Dybuk for marimba solo (1995)
- Aus dem Buch der Könige, 3 Meditations for cello solo (2000)
- Piano Trio (1979)
- String Quartet [No.1] (1982–1983)
- Mysterion for altoflute, horn, viola d'amore, cello and piano (1985)
- Lamento d'Orfeo for horn and piano (1986)
- Drei Lieder (2 Songs) for medium voice, horn, violin, cello and piano (1985–1986)
- Und Salomo sprach ... (And Salomo Spoke) for cello solo (1987)
- Tre poemi (3 Poems) for horn and piano (1986–1987)
- Der blaue Harlekin (Hommage à Picasso) for flute, clarinet, 2 bassoons (also contrabassoon), 2 trumpets and 2 trombones (1981)
- Saitenspiel for violin and cello (1993)
- Gethsemani, Notturno for string sextet (1994)
- Quartet for clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1984)
- Il canto della notte, Poema for clarinet, horn, piano, violin, viola and cello (1997–1998)
- Orphischer Gesang II for string sextet (1998)
- String Trio (2000)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1999)
- String Quartet No. 3 (2000)
- String Quartet No. 4 with obligato clarinet (2000)
- String Quartet No. 5 (2000, revised 2002)
- String Quartet No. 6 (2000)
- "Meine Augen möchte ich erfreuen, Shulamith..." for flute, horn, viola, cello and piano (2001)
- Pierrots Galgenlieder for clarinet solo (2001)
- Kreuzweg for 2 oboes and English horn (2001)
- Pietà, Partita for violin solo (2001)
- Threnos for solo cello (2006); written for the Feuermann Competition
- Strophen for 2 clarinets (also bass clarinet) and piano (2007)
Keyboard
- Sonata for piano (1985–1986)
- Luces and Sombras, 5 Tangos for piano (1999)
- Con mortuis in lingua mortua, 3 Pieces for organ (2000)
- Nachlese for piano (2010); commissioned by Walter FinkWalter FinkWalter Fink is a German retired executive and a patron of Contemporary music. He is mostly known for being a founding member, Executive Committee member and sponsor of the Rheingau Musik Festival.- Biography :...
for his 80th birthday
External links
- Volker David Kirchner on the SchottSchott MusicSchott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
website