Acker, Dieter

Acker, Dieter, German composer and pedagogue; b. Sibiu, Romania (of German parents), Nov. 3, 1940. He studied piano, organ, and theory with Franz Dressier in Sibiu (1950–58), and composition with Toduţ at the Cluj Cons. (1959–64), where he then was on faculty (1964–69). From 1969 to 1972 he taught at the Robert Schumann Cons. in Dusseldorf. In 1972 he joined the faculty of the Munich Hochschule für Musik, where he was a prof. of composition from 1976.

Works

ORCH.: Texturae I (1970); Quodlibet II for Chamber Orch. (1975); 4 syms., including No. 1, Lebensläufe (1977–78), No. 3 (1992), and No. 4 (1998); Bassoon Concerto (1979–80); 2 violin concertos (1981; 1994-95); Concerto for Strings (1984); 2 piano concertos (1984, 1998); Musik for Strings and Harp (1987); Ballad for Violin and Orch. (1989); Musik for Oboe and Strings (1989); Musik for 2 Horns and Strings (1989); 2 sinfonia concertantes (1991, 1991); Musik for Viola, Harp, and Strings (1992); Fresko (1999). CHAMBER: 3 string trios (1963, 1983, 1987); 5 string quartets (1964; 1965-66; 1966-68; 1971-75; 1990); Clarinet Quintet (1973); Nachstücke for 2 Flutes (1978); Mörike Sonata for Cello and Piano (1978); Serenata Notturna for Wind Quintet (1983); String Sextet (1983); Rilke Sonata for Violin and Piano (1983); Eichendorff Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1983); Quibbles for Brass Quintet (1983); 3 piano trios, including No. 2 (1984) and No. 3 (1992); Kammerspiel for 12 Solo Instruments (1985); Viola Sonata (1985); Harp Quartet (1986); 2 piano quartets (1986, 1986); Quartet for Violin, Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1987); Quartet for Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1988); Trio for 2 Flutes and Piano (1988); Octet for Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass (1989); Trio for Trumpet, Trombone, and Piano (1990); Sinfonia brevis for 10 Brass Instruments (1993); Septet for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Violin, Cello, Piano, and Percussion (1994); Trio for Horn, Violin, and Piano (1995); Quintet No. 1 for Strings (1996); Bassoon Sonata (1996); Saxophone Quartet (1997); Egnale III for 4 Bassoons (1997); Oboe Sonata (1997); Trombone Sonata (1997); Scene spezzate for 8 Instruments (1998). KEYBOARD: Piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL: Motets a cappella; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire