Albrecht, Alexander

Albrecht, Alexander, Slovak composer, conductor, and pedagogue; b. Arad, Hungary, Aug. 12, 1885; d. Bratislava, July 30, 1958. He was a student at the Budapest Academy of Music (1904–08) of Koessler (composition), Thomán and Bartók (piano), Szandtner (conducting), and Popper (chamber music), and then in Vienna of Dittrich (organ). After settling in Bratislava, he was active as a conductor and served as director of the church music soc. (1921–52); also was director of the music school. His early works were composed in a late Romantic vein but he later pursued more adventuresome paths.

Works

ORCH.: Scherzo: Humoreske (1907); Dornröschen, symphonic poem (1921); Symphony in 1 Movement (1929); Tobias Wunderlich: Túžby a spomienky (Desires and Memories), symphonic poem (1935); Variations for Trumpet and Orch. (1946; also for Trumpet and Piano); Scherzo for Strings (1949; also for String Quartet). CHAMBER: Piano Trio (1907); String Quintet (1908); Piano Quintet (1913); String Quartet (1918); Sonatine for 11 Instruments (1925); Quintetto frammento for Winds and Piano (1929); Trio for 2 Violins and Viola (1943); Präludium und Fuge for Viola and Cello (1950); Die Nacht for Cello and Piano (1950); Suite Concertante for Viola and Piano (1952); Weihnachten for String Quartet (1956); 6 Pieces for String Trio (1957); piano pieces, including a Sonata (1905) and a Suite (1924); organ music. VOCAL: Mass (1902); Drei Gedichte aus dem Marienleben for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1928); Cantate Domino for Chorus and Orch. (1938); Šuhajko, cantata on Slovakian Folk Songs for Chorus and Orch. (1950); choruses; songs.

Bibliography

F. Klinda, A. A. (Bratislava, 1959).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire