Burt, Francis
Burt, Francis
Burt, Francis, English composer and teacher; b. London, April 28, 1926. He studied with Ferguson and Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1948–51), and then with Blacher in Berlin (1951–54). After winning the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1954, he completed his studies in Rome (1954–55). In 1956 he settled in Vienna, where he was a prof, of composition at the Hochschule für Musik and Darstellende Kunst from 1973 to 1993. In 1973 he received the Kòrner Prize. He was awarded the Würdigungspreis for music in 1978 and in 1981 he received the music prize of the City of Vienna. He was awarded the Great Silver Medal of Honor in 1992 for services to the Republic of Austria.
Works
DRAMATIC: Opera: Volpone or The Fox, after Ben Jonson (1952-58; Stuttgart, June 2, 1960; rev. 1960-61; Oldenburg, Feb. 8, 1963); Barnstable oder Jemand auf dem Dachboden (1967-69; Kassel, Nov. 30, 1969). ballet:Der Golem (1959-63; Hannover, Jan. 31, 1965).orch.:Jamben (1953; Baden-Baden, Aug. 24, 1955); Espressione orchestrale (1958-59; Vienna, Dec. 18, 1959); Fantasmagoria (London, Aug. 23, 1963); Morgana (1983-86; Vienna, May 16, 1986); Blind Visions for Oboe and Small Orch. (1994-95; Vienna, Nov. 3, 1995). chamber: 2 string quartets: No. 1 (1951-52; Berlin, Jan. 7, 1953) and No. 2 (1992-93; London, June 16, 1995); Serenata Notturna for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1952); Duo for Clarinet and Piano (1954); For William for 9 Players (BBC, London, April 10, 1988); Echoes for 9 Players (1988-89; Vienna, March 1, 1989); Für AlFrED SCHLEE for String Quartet (Vienna, Nov. 18, 1991); Hommage à Jean-Henri Fabre for 5 Players (1993-94; ORF, Vienna, Oct. 24, 1994).piano:Three Little Piano Pieces for J. J.(1949); Musik for 2 Pianos (1952; Berlin, Feb. 27, 1953). vocal:Two Songs of David for Chorus (1951); Hiite in the collection Sieben Lieder nach Gedichten von Carl Sandburg for Medium Voice and Piano (1952; with 6 other composers); The Skull, cantata for Tenor and Piano, afer Cyril Tourneur (1953-54; also for Tenor and Orch., 1955; WDR, Cologne, Dec. 10, 1956); Bavarian Gentians for Vocal Quartet and Piano, after D. H. Lawrence (Dartington, Aug. 1956); linter der blanken Hacke des Monds for Baritone and Orch., after Peter Huchel (1974-76; Munich, Nov. 18, 1976); Und GOtt der HErr sprach for Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Bass, 2 Choruses, and Orch. (1976-83; Vienna, Jan. 25, 1984).
Bibliography
H. Krones, Musikalisches Dokumentation F. B.(Vienna, 1980).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire