Skalkottas, Nikolaos [ Nikos Skalkottas] (b Chalkis, 1904; d Athens, 1949). Greek composer and violinist. Studied in Athens and then in Berlin. Returned to Gr. 1933, where his mus. attracted little attention and he comp. mainly in secret, working as back-desk orch. violinist. Collected Greek folk mus. After his death, committee was formed to promote interest in and publication of his mus., much of which was written in the 12-note system, but after 1938 was often freely atonal. Works incl.:

ORCH.: Symphonic Suite No.1 (1929, rev. 1935), No.2 (1944, orch. 1946–9); conc. for wind (1929); conc., pf., vn. (1929–30); pf. concs.: No.1 (1931), No.2 (1937–8), No.3, 10 winds, perc. (1939); 36 Greek Dances (1933–6); 9 Greek Dances, large wind orch. (transcr. from 36 Greek Dances, 1936); vc. conc. (1937–8); The Maid and Death, ballet suite (1938); vn. conc. (1937–8); conc., vn., va., large wind orch. (1939–40); 10 Sketches, str. (1940); db. conc. (1942–3); Little Suite, str. (1942); The Return of Ulysses (1942–3); conc., 2 vn. (1944–5); 5 Short Greek Dances (1946); Classical Symphony in A, wind (1947); Sinfonietta in B♭ (1948); Ballet Suite (1948); The Sea, ballet (1949); Pf. Concertino in C (1949).CHORAL, etc.: The Unknown Soldier (1949); The Mayday Spell, narrator, sop., dancers, orch. (1944–9).CHAMBER MUSIC: str. qt. (1923–24); str. qts.: No.1 (1928), No.2 (1929), No.3 (1935), No.4 (1940); Easy Str. Qt. (1929); str. trio (1923–4); sonata, solo vn. (1925); vn. sonatinas, No.1 (1928), No.2 (1929), Nos. 3 and 4 (1935); vn. sonata No.1 (1928), No.2 (1940); octet, 4 ww., str. qt. (1931); Piece, 8 ww. or double str. qt. (1931); pf. trio (1936); March of the Little Soldiers, vn., pf. (1937–8); Rondo, vn., pf. (1936); Little Chorale and Fugue, vn., pf. (1936); 8 Variations on a Greek Theme, pf. trio (1938); Suite, vc., pf. (1938); vc. sonata (1938); concertino, ob., pf. (1939); Duo, vn., pf. (1938); Largo, vc., pf. (1941–2); Qt., pf., winds, No.1 (1941–3), No.2 (1941–3); concertino, tpt., pf. (1940–2); Sonate concertante, bn., pf. (1943); Little Suite, vn., pf., No.1 (1946), No.2 (1949); Echo, hp. (1947); Duo, vn., vc. (1947); Bolero, vc., pf. (1945); Little Serenade, vc., pf. (1945); vc. sonatina (1949); Tender Melody, vc., pf. (1949).VOICE(S) & PIANO: Sometime (1939); The Moon (1942); 16 Songs (poems by Evelpidis) (1941).PIANO: Greek Suite (1924); Suite, 2 pf. (1924); Sonatina (1927); 15 Little Variations (1927); 10 Canons (1936); 32 Pieces (1940); Piano Suites, No.1 (1936), Nos. 2, 3, and 4 (1940); 4 Études (1940).