Christoff, Dimiter

Christoff, Dimiter, Bulgarian composer and musicologist; b. Sofia, Oct. 2, 1933. He studied composition with Goleminov at the Bulgarian State Cons, in Sofia (1951–56) and completed his Habilitation in 1975. In 1970 he joined the faculty of the Bulgarian State Cons., where he bearne a prof, in 1976. He served as vice president of the Bulgarian Composers Union from 1972 to 1985. From 1975 to 1979 he was general secretary of the International Music Council of UNESCO. He was ed.-in-chief of the musicological journal of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and also publ, several books, including a study of the theoretical foundations of melody (three vols., 1973, 1982, 1989).

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Game (1978); The Golden Fish Line, chamber opera (1984). orch.: 3 piano concertos (1954, 1983, 1994); Sinfonietta for Strings (1956); 3 syms. (1958, 1964, 1969); Symphonic Episodes (1962); 3 violin concertos (1966, 1997, 1998); Chamber Suite for Flute, Piccolo, and Chamber Orch. (1966); Cello Concerto (1969); Quasi una fantasia-gioco (1981); Game for Cello and Orch. (1983); Perpetui mobili in pianissimi (1987); Silent Adagio (1989); Cantilena sopra due toni (1990); Merry-go-round of the Suffering (1991); It Streams, It Runs Out (1994); Await Your Pizzicata for Strings (1994); High Up, It Shines (1999). chamber:Suite for Wind Quintet (1953); 2 Dances for Trumpet and Piano (1960); Sonata for Solo Cello (1965); Concerto for 3 Small Drums and 5 Instruments (1967); String Quartet (1970); Quartet for Flute, Viola, Harp, and Harpsichord (1973); Ricercari for Cello and Piano (1987); Cortège presque sans chef d’orchestre for 5 Instruments (1989); Meditations of a Lonesome Violoncello for Cello (1991); Sad Silk Bows for Violin and Viola (1996). keyboard: Piano: 12 sonatas (1962–98); Toccata on All Soul’s Day (1993). vocal: Choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire