Blum, Robert (Karl Moritz)

Blum, Robert (Karl Moritz) Swiss composer and teacher; b. Zurich, Nov. 27, 1900; d. there, Dec. 10, 1994. He was a student of Andreae, Baldegger, Jarnach, Laquai, and Vogler at the Zurich Cons. (1912–22). After attending Busoni’s master class in composition at the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin (1923), he returned to Switzerland and conducted various amateur orchs. and choirs. From 1943 to 1976 he taught counterpoint and composition at the Zurich Cons. In his extensive output, Blum utilized various contemporary means of expression, from polytonal to 12-tone writing.

Works

DRAMATIC: Amarapura, opera (1924); film music.ORCH.: 10 syms. (1924–80); 4 Partite (1929, 1935, 1953, 1967); Passionskonzert for Organ and Strings (1943); Lamentano angelorum for Chamber Orch. (1943); Overture on Swiss Folk Songs (1944); Viola Concerto (1951); Concerto for Orch. (1955); Oboe Concerto (1960); Christ ist erstanden (1962); Triple Concerto for Violin, Oboe, Trumpet, and Chamber Orch. (1963); Concertante Symphonie for Wind Quintet and Chamber Orch. (1964). CHAMBER: 3 string quartets; Flute Quartet (1963); Sonata for Flute and Violin (1963); Divertimento for 10 Instruments (1966); Le Tombe di Ravenna for 11 Winds (1968); Quartet for Clarinet and String Trio (1970); piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL: Oratorios; cantatas; Psalms; hymns; songs.

Bibliography

G. Fierz, R. B.: Leben und Werk (Zurich, 1967); G. Lehmann, Zur Musik von R. B. (Baden, 1973).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire