Edet, Helmut

Edet, Helmut, Austrian composer and pedagogue;b. Linz, Dec. 26, 1916. He studied at the Linz teacher training inst. (diploma, 1937). In 1938 he entered the Austrian Army. During his service in World War II, he was taken prisoner of war. After his release, he studied with Hindemith in Salzburg (1947, 1950), Orff in Munich (1953–54), and J. N. David in Stuttgart (1954). From 1950 to 1967 he was prof, of theory at the Linz Cons. He subsequently was prof, of composition at the Salzburg Mozarteum from 1967. In 1962 he was awarded the Austrian State Prize. In 1963 he received the Theodor Korner Prize for music. He was awarded the Würdigungspreis in 1972. In 1986 he was made an honorary member of the Austrian Composers Guild.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera : Odipus (1958); Der Kardinal (1962); Die weisse Frau (1968); Konjugationen 3, television opera (1969); Der Aufstand (1975); Georges Dandin oder Der betrogene Ehemann (1978–79); Mozart in New York (1989–90; Salzburg, Aug. 15, 1991). B a l l e t : Moderner Traum (Linz, Sept. 29, 1957); Anamorphose (1963; Linz, June 22, 1966); Die Irrfahrten des Odysseus (1964–65). ORCH.: Praludium und Ricercar for Strings (1949; Linz, May 16, 1950); 5 syms.: No. 1 (1950), No. 2 (Vienna, Jan. 31, 1962), No. 3 for Strings (1959), No. 4, Choral (1973–75; Vienna, Oct. 15, 1977), and No. 5, Organ (1979–80; Salzburg, Aug. 13, 1980); Musica semplice for Flute, Harpsichord, and Strings (1953); Tanzreihen, ballet suite (1954; Linz, Jan. 24, 1956); Musik for 2 Trumpets and Strings (1955); Concerto for Piano, 15 Winds, Double Basses, and Percussion (1956); Pezzo sereno (1958); Concerto semiserio for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1960); Oboe Concerto (1962); 3 violin concertos: No. 1 (1963; Vienna, Feb. 10,1964), No. 2 for Violin and Strings (1964; Linz, Jan. 31,1967), and No. 3 (1981–82; Munich, Jan. 21,1983); Danza a solatia (1963; Linz, Jan. 27, 1964); Concerto a dodici per[12] archi (Vienna, Oct. 22,1963); Nil admirari (1966; Linz, Oct. 2, 1967); Syntagma (Vienna, Oct. 6, 1967); Concerto for Bassoon and Chamber Orch. (Vienna, June 4, 1968); L’Homme arme, organ concerto (1968–69; Nuremberg, July 5, 1969); Metamorphosen for Flute, Oboe, String Quartet, and Orch. (1970; Salzburg, Jan. 31, 1971); Memento for Positive Organ, String Quartet, and String Orch. (1970; Bayreuth, May 22, 1971); Melodia-ritmica for Strings (Linz, Dec. 13, 1973); Pastorale for Strings (Linz, Nov. 30, 1974); Jubilatio (Linz, Dec. 26, 1976); Serenade for 6 Horns and 46 Strings (1977); Double Concerto for Cello, Double Bass, and Orch. (1977–78; Saarbriicken, May 21, 1979); Cello Concerto (Linz, Sept. 5, 1981); Concerto A. B. for Chamber Orch. (1982; Linz, March 17, 1983; also for Orch., 1983; Vienna, March 14, 1984); Notturni…von Tanzern, Traumen und allerlei Vogelsang for Flute, Oboe, and Strings (Munich, Sept. 29, 1983); Haffner Concerto for Flute and Orch. (1983–84; Salzburg, Jan. 31, 1985); Concertino for Classical Orch. (1984; Graz, April 14, 1986); Piece de concert for Strings (1984); Schwanengesang for Cello and Chamber Orch. (Linz, Nov. 22, 1987); Stracci II, chamber sym. (Vienna, May 14, 1993). CHAMBER : Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello (Vienna, Jan. 8, 1957); 3 wind quintets: No. 1 (1958; Linz, May 6, 1959), No. 2, Septuagesima instrumentalis (1968–69; Mannheim, June 11, 1969), and No. 3, Begegnung (1987–88; Berlin, Sept. 29, 1989); Ottetto breve for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, 2 Violins, Viola, and Cello (1960; Vienna, Feb. 12, 1961); Impressioni for String Quartet (Linz, Oct. 4, 1966); Wind Septet, Hommage a Johannes Kepler (1970; ORF, Linz, April 16, 1971); Piano Trio (Salzburg, May 24, 1971); So-no-ro I for Clarinet, Viola, Piano or Celesta, and Organ (1974; Salzburg, April 23, 1975) and II for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar, and Piano (Hamburg, Dec. 1, 1977); Litzlberg Serenade for 2 Clarinets, Trumpet, Horn, and Bassoon (1976; Litzlberg, July 29, 1986); Suite mit intermezzi for 11 Winds (1979; London, May 29, 1981); 4 Pieces for 2 Violins (1980; Linz, June 14, 1981); 6 Bagatelles for 3 Violins (1980); Clarinet Quintet (1982; Berlin, Feb. 18, 1984); Quartet for Flute and String Trio (1983; Vienna, Jan. 9, 1984); String Quartet (1985); Aulodie for Flute, Bassoon or Cello, Double Bass, and Percussion (Cardiff, Nov. 21, 1986); Gedanken for Horn, Violin, and Piano (Vienna, April 26, 1993); piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL: Drei Tierlieder for High Voice and Orch. (1966); Cadunt umbrae for Alto, 8 Women’s Voices, Orch., and Tape (1973–74; Salzburg, May 22, 1974); Non sum qualis eram, oratorio for Soprano, Baritone, Bass, Chorus and Orch. (1975; Salzburg, Dec. 10, 1976); Divertimento for Soprano and 2 Orch. Groups (Salzburg, Aug. 14, 1976); … Missa est for 3 Soloists, 2 Choruses, and 3 Orch. Groups (Salzburg, Aug. 23, 1986); Dir, Seek des Weltalls, cantata for 2 Tenors, Bass, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (Vienna, June 7, 1991); Gebet und Verzweiflung for Chorus and Orch. (1992–93); Herbstgesange for Chamber Chorus and 7 Instruments (Vienna, Nov. 25, 1993).

Bibliography

G. Gruber and G. Kraus, H. E. (Vienna, 1988).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire