Beyer, Frank Michael
Beyer, Frank Michael
Beyer, Frank Michael, German composer and pedagogue; b. Berlin, March 8, 1928. He received early music training from his father, a writer and amateur pianist; following studies in sacred music, he was a pupil of Pepping at the Berlin Staatliche Hochschule für Musik (1952–55). He was an asst. prof. (1960–68) and prof. (from 1968) at the Berlin Hochschule der Künste, and founder of the “musica nova sacra” concert series. He was a member of the Berlin Akademie der Künste, serving as director of its contemporary music section.
Works
DRAMATIC: Ballet: Geburt des Tanzes (1987; Berlin, March 27, 1988); Das Fenster (1991). ORCH.: Concerto for Orch. (1957); Ode (1963); Flute Concerto (1964); Organ Concerto (1967); Versi for Strings (Berlin, Oct. 7, 1968); Rondeau imaginaire (1972; Berlin, Sept. 20, 1973); Concertino a tre for Chamber Orch. (Schwetzingen, May 22, 1974); Diaphonie (1975; Nuremberg, Feb. 26, 1976); Streicherfantasien (1977; Berlin, March 12, 1980; also for String Quintet, Berlin, Sept. 18, 1978); Griechenland for 3 String Groups (1981; Berlin, June 22, 1982); Deutsche-Tänze for Cello, Double Bass, and Chamber Orch. (1982; Berlin, June 14, 1984; arranged from Deutsche Tänze for Cello and Double Bass, Vienna, Nov. 10, 1980); Notre-Dame-Musik (1983-84; Saarbrücken, Nov. 2, 1984); Mysteriensonate for Viola and Orch. (1986; Berlin, May 16, 1987); Concerto for Oboe and Strings (1986; Berlin, Oct. 7, 1987); Musik der Fruühe, violin concerto (1993); Canto di giorno for Cello and Orch. (Berlin, April 16, 1999). chamber: 3 string quartets (1957, 1969, 1985); Concerto for Organ and 7 Instruments (1966–69; arranged as Concerto for 5 Instruments, 1968); Wind Quintet (1972); Violin Sonata (1977); De lumine for 7 Players (1978); Trio for Oboe, Viola, and Harp (1980); Passacaglia fantastica for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1984); Sym. for 8 Players (Berlin, Feb. 6, 1989); Sanctus for Saxophone Quartet (1989); Canciones for Clarinet and Ensemble (1991); Clarinet Quintet (1992); Nachstück for Oboe and Piano (1993); Nanie for 2 Guitars (1994); piano pieces; organ works. VOCAL: Choral music, including Maior Angelis, cantata (1970).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire