Glaser, Werner Wolf

Glaser, Werner Wolf, German-born Swedish pianist, conductor, teacher, and composer; b. Cologne, April 14, 1910. He studied composition with Jarnach at the Cologne Hochschule für Musik, where he also received training in piano and conducting. He later studied composition with Hindemith at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik, art history at the Univ. of Bonn, and psychology at the Univ. of Berlin, receiving a Ph.D. After conducting the Chemnitz Opera orch. (1929-31) and serving as chorus master in Cologne (1931-33), he went to Copenhagen as a teacher at the Fredriksberg Cons. (1936-43). With I. Skovgaard, he founded the Lyngby School of Music in 1939. He settled in Sweden, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1951. He was conductor of the Södra Västmanland Orch. Soc. (1944-59) and was active as a music critic. With I. Andren and G. Axen, he founded the Västerås School of Music in 1945, and was its director of studies from 1954 until his retirement in 1975. A man of wide interests, he studied modern art and literature, wrote poetry, and investigated the potentialities of music therapy. A prolific composer, he followed the neo-Classical line.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera : Kagekiyo, chamber opera (1961); Encounters, chamber opera (Vasteras, Dec. 13, 1970); A Naked King (1971; Göteborg, April 6, 1973); Cercatori, chamber opera (1972); The Boy and the Voice, children’s opera (1973); freedom Bells (1980). B a l l e t : Persefone (1960); Les Cinq Pas de I’homme (1973). ORCH.: 13 syms. (1934; 1936; 1936; 1943; 1949; 1957; 1961; 1964; 1976; 1974-80; 1983; 1989; 1990); Flute Concerto (1934); Concertino for Alto Saxophone and Strings (1935); Trilogia I (1939) and 71 (1981); 3 Pieces for Strings (1947); Idyll Elegy, and Fanfare (1954); Concerto No. 2 (1957); Music for Strings (1957); Concerto della Capella for Winds, Percussion, and Piano (1960); Le tre gradi for Strings (1961); Capriccio No. 3 for Piano and Orch. (1962); Concertino for Clarinet and Small Orch. (1962); Concerto for Violin, Winds, and Percussion (1962); Violin Concerto (1964); 4 Dance Scenes (1964); 3 pezzi for Oboe d’Amore and Chamber Orch. (1964);

Conflitti (1966); Oboe Concerto (1966); Transformations for Piano and Orch. (1966); Modi gestus for Strings (1966); Syringa for 3 Flutes and Strings (1966); Concerto for 20 Wind Instruments and Percussion (1966); Paradosso for 2 String Orchs. (1967); Concerto for Flute and Strings (1967); Horn Concerto (1969); Arioso e Toccata No. 2 for Piano and Orch. (1969); Canto for Soprano Saxophone and Strings (1970); 3 Symphonic Dances (1975); Cello Concerto (1976); Adagio for Strings (1977); Divertimento No. 2 for Wind Quintet and Strings (1979) and No. 3 (1983); Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Strings (1980); Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Strings (1981); 5 Serious Short Songs for Strings (1984); Concerto breve for Violin, Strings, and Percussion (1986); Nigeria (1986); 5 Choreographic Scenes for Chamber Orch. (1987); Theme and Variations (1987); Piano Concerto (1988); Konzertstiick for Baritone Saxophone and Strings (1992); Divertimento inverso (1995). CHAMBER: 14 string quartets (1934; 1937; 1946; 1947; 1948; 1948; 1954; 1967; 1967; 1978; 1980; 1988; 1992-93; 1997); Quartetto piccolo for Strings (1938); Trio for 2 Violins and Cello (1947); Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Cello (1948); Quartet for Saxophone, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1950); Chamber Music for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1952); Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano (1953); Quartet for Flute, Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1960); Musica sacra for Flute, Clarinet, Organ, and Strings (1960); Intrada for String Quartet (1964); Sonata for Solo Flute (1966); Music for Clarinet, Violin, and Double Bass (1967); 2 string trios (1969, 1975); 2 wind quintets (1970, 1970); Sonata for Solo Violin (1971); Paysages sonores for Piano Trio (1973); Variations and Interlude for 8 Cellos (1978); Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Cello (1978); Trio for Flute, Guitar, and Viola (1979); 3 Pieces for 11 Saxophones (1982); 3 piano quintets (1984; 1991; 1993-94); Saxophone Quartet (1984); Linda Quartet for Baritone Saxophone and String Trio (1985); 2 trios for Flute, Cello, and Piano (1985, 1991); Oboe Sonata (1986); Baritone Saxophone Sonata (1986); Trezze for Oboe and String Quartet (1987); Fantasia all antico for Violin (1988); Concerto da camera for 6 Instruments (1990); Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Cello (1992); Quartet for Oboe, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano (1993); Concerto for Saxophones and Piano (1996); Duo for Clarinet and Saxophone (1998); piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL: Concerto lirico for Soprano, Piano, Timpani, and Strings (1971); Motetto dell’aqua for Chorus, Flute, and Timpani (1998); cantatas; choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire