Koppel, Herman D(avid)

Koppel, Herman D(avid), Danish pianist, teacher, and composer of Polish parentage, father of Thomas Herman Koppel; b. Copenhagen, Oct. 1, 1908; d. there, July 14, 1998. He was a student of Simonson (piano), Bangert (theory), and Hansen (orchestrtion) at the Copenhagen Cons. (1926–29). He made his debut in 1930 as a concert pianist, and toured widely in Europe. He taught at the Royal Inst. of Music for the Blind in Copenhagen (1940-43; 1945-49), and lived in Örebro, Sweden (1943–45), to avoid the Nazi occupation. In 1949 he joined the faculty of the Royal Danish Cons, of Music in Copenhagen, and was a prof, there from 1955 to 1979. As a pianist, he performed the music of Nielsen and other 20^th century Danish composers. His early compositions were influenced by Nielsen, Stravinsky, and Bartók, but he eventually developed an individualistic style, marked by rhythmic intensity and melodic expressivity.

Works

dramatic:Macbeth, opera (1968; Copenhagen, 1970); also incidental music; music to 29 films. orch.: Violin Concerto (1929); 7 syms.: No. 1 (1930), No. 2 (1943), No. 3 (1944–45), No. 4 (1946), No. 5 (1955), No. 6, Sinfonia breve (1957), and No. 7 (1960-61; Copenhagen, May 16, 1961); Music for Strings (1930); 4 piano concertos (1931-32; 1936-37; 1948; 1960-63); Music for Jazz Orchestra (1932); Capriccio for Violin and Orch. (1934); Variations for Small Orch. (1935); 2 concertinos for Strings (1937-38; 1957); Clarinet Concerto (1941); Sinfonietta (1945); Concerto for Violin, Viola, and Orch. (1947); Cello Concerto (1952); Oboe Concerto (1970); Chamber Concerto for Violin and Strings (1970); Flute Concerto (1971); Concerto for Orchestra (1977–78); Intrada (1979); Concerto for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Small Orch. (1984); Bassoon Concerto (1989); Memory for the 50^th anniversary of the liberation of Denmark (Ârhus, May 5, 1995). chamber: 6 string quartets (1928-29; 1939; 1944-45; 1964; 1975; 1979); Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1931); Sextet for Winds and Piano (1942); Fantasy for Clarinet (1947); Piano Sonata (1950); Ternio I for Cello or Violin and Piano (1951) and II for Saxophone (1973); Piano Quintet (1953); Cello Sonata (1956); Variations for Clarinet and Piano (1961); 9 Variations for Piano Trio (1969); Suite for Cello (1971); Piano Trio (1971); 8 Variations and Epilogue for Piano and 13 Players (1972); Divertimento for String Trio (1972); Pastorale Variations for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1975); Piano Quartet (1985); Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1986); Cantilena for Violin and Cello (1988); Music for Wind Octet (1991); Music for Violin and Piano (1991). vocal: 3 Psalms of David for Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (1949); Immortalis mortalium for Baritone, Boy’s Chorus, and Orch. (1954); 2 Biblical Songs for Soprano and Orch. or Piano (1955); The Song of the Sun for Children’s Chorus, Strings, and Piano (1958); Moses, oratorio (1963-64; Copenhagen, Oct. 21, 1965); Requiem (1965–66); Hymns of Thanksgiving for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1974).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire