Fitelberg, Jerzy

Fitelberg, Jerzy, talented Polish composer, son of Grzegorz Fitelberg; b. Warsaw, May 20, 1903; d. N.Y., April 25, 1951. He studied with his father before pursuing-his training with Schreker at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik (1922–26). After living in Paris (1933–39), he settled in N.Y. in 1940. His works were performed at various festivals, including those at the ISCM (1932, 1937). In 1936 he was awarded the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge price for his 4th String Quartet and in 1945 received a prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His works were notable for their energetic rhythm and strong contrapuntal texture. A rather unconventional neo-Classical style later admitted elements of Polish melos.

Works

ORCH 3 suites (1925, 1928, 1930); 2 violin concertos: No. 1 (1928; Vienna, June 20, 1932; rev. 1947) and No. 2 (1935; Paris, June 22, 1937); 2 piano concertos (1929, 1934); Prometeusz zle spetany (The Badly Hobbled Prometheus), ballet suite (1929); Concerto for Strings (1930); String Quartet Concerto (1931); Cello Concerto (1931); 3 Mazurkas (1932); 4 Studies (1932); Suite for Violin and Orch. (1932); Divertimento (1934); Konzertstuck (1937); Zloty róg (Golden Horn) for Strings (1942); Epitafium for Violin and Orch. (1942); Nocturne (1944; N.Y., March 28, 1946); Sinfonietta (1946); Obrazy polskie (Polish Pictures; 1946); Sym. for Strings (1946); Concerto for Trombone, Piano, and Strings (1947); Clarinet Concerto (1948). C H A M B E R: Wind Octet (1925); 5 string quartets (1926, 1928, 1936, 1936, 1945); Serenade for 9 Instruments (1926); Wind Quintet (1929; rev. as Capriccio, 1947); Divertimento for Winds (1929); Piano Trio (1937); Violin Sonata (1938); Sonata for 2 Violins and Piano (1938); Sonata for Solo Cello (1945); piano pieces, including 3 sonatas (1926, 1929, 1936).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire