Kazandjiev, Vasil

Kazandjiev, Vasil, Bulgarian conductor and composer; b. Marten, near Ruse, Sept. 10, 1934. He studied composition privately with Iliev, then composition with Vladigerov and conducting with Simeonov at the Bulgarian State Cons, in Sofia, graduating in 1957; in 1964, was appointed to its faculty. In 1979 he became principal conductor of the Bulgarian Radio and Television Sym. Orch. In his music, he applies modern techniques, including modified serialism, to modalities of Bulgarian folk music.

Works

orch: Concerto for Strings (1951); Sinfonietta (1954); Trumpet Concerto (1955); Divertimento (1957); Concerto for Piano, Saxophone, and Orch. (1957–60); Violin Concerto (1961); Complexi sonori for Strings (1965); Symphony of Timbres (1968); The Living Icons for Chamber Orch. (1970); Pictures from Bulgaria for Strings and Percussion (1971); Festive Music (1972); Capriccio (1974); Apocalypse (1978); Illuminations (1980); Sym. No. 3 (1981). chamber: Wind Quintet (1951); Variations for Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (1954); Horn Sonata (1955); Clarinet Sonata (1956); Sonata for Solo Violin (1957); 2 string quartets (1965, 1970); Concert Improvisations for Flute, Viola, Harp, and Harpsichord (1974); Poco a poco for Percussion and Organ (1979); Piano Quintet (1981). Piano: Sonata (1957); The Triumph of the Bells (1974). vocal: Choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire