Wittinger, Robert
Wittinger, Robert
Wittinger, Robert, Austrian-born German composer; b. Knittelfeld, April 10, 1945. He grew up in Budapest, where he studied with Zsolt Durkó. He then studied in Warsaw (1964), received training in electronic music in Munich (1965), and attended the summer courses in new music in Darmstadt (1965-68). He subsequently was active at the Villa Massimo in Rome on a scholarship (1972-73). His technique of composition is sonoristic, with sound blocks forming thematic groups, while the continuity is achieved by Baroque formulas; the titles of his pieces are often indicative of their construction.
Works
orch: 5 syms.: No. 1 (1962-63; rev. 1976), No. 2 for Women’s Chorus and Orch. (1978-80), No. 3, Funèbre (1982), No. 4 (1993), and No. 5 (1995); Dissoziazioni (1964); Consonante for English Horn and Orch. (1965); Espressioni, ballet music (1966); Concent?-azione (1966); Compensazioni for Small Orch. (1967); Irreversibilitazione for Cello and Orch. (1967); Om (1968); Divergenti (West Berlin, Oct. 4,1970); Sinfonia for Strings (1970); Costellazioni (Stuttgart, Sept. 25, 1971); Montaggio, concerto No. 1 for Small Orch. (1972); Relazioni for 7 Soloists and Orch. (West Berlin, April 11, 1972); Concerto for Oboe, Harp, and Strings (1972); Concerto Polemica (1975); Concerto Lirico (1977); Concerto Entusiastico (1977); Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1981); Concerto Grosso (1983); Intreccio (1985); Violin Concerto (1988); Cronogramme I for Strings, Harp, Piano, and Percussion (1992-93; Graz, Oct. 8, 1993); Sinfonietta (1994); Concerto for String Trio and Orch. (1997). CHAMBER: 4 string quartets (1964, 1966, 1970, 1977); Concentiazioni, wind quintet (1965); Itrospezioni for Bassoon (1967); Tendenze for Piano, Cello, and Percussion (1970); Tensioni, wind quintet (1970); Tolleranza for Oboe, Celesta, and Percussion (1970); 6 Strutture simmetriche, each for a different Solo Instrument (1970); Sillogismo for Violin and Percussion (1974); Dialoghi e scherzino for 2 Pianos (1985). VOCAL: Catalizzazioni for 24 Vocalists and 7 Instrumentalists (1972); Maldoror-Requiem for Chorus and Orch. (1984-86).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire