Lachenmann, Helmut (Friedrich)

Lachenmann, Helmut (Friedrich), German composer and pedagogue; b. Stuttgart, Nov.27, 1935. He was a student of Jürgen Uhde (piano) and J.N. David (theory and counterpoint) at the Stuttgart Staatliche Hochschule für Musik (1955–58), and of Nono (composition) in Venice (1958–60); he then pursued research at the electronic studio at the Univ. of Ghent (1965). He taught theory at the Stuttgart Hochschule für Musik (1966–70), and then music at the Ludwigsburg Pädagogische Hochschule (1970–76). He also served as coordinator of the composition studio at the Darmstadt Internationale Ferienkurse (1972) and led a master class in composition at the Univ. of Basel (1972–73). In 1976 he became a teacher at the Hannover Hochschule für Musik. He also taught at the Ferienkurse in Darmstadt (from 1978). From 1981 he was prof, of composition at the Stuttgart Hochschule für Musik. Among his honors are the cultural prize for music of Munich (1965), the composition prize of Stuttgart (1968), the Bach prize of Hamburg (1972), and the prize of the Ernst von Siemens Foundation (1997). He is also a member of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin, the Akademie der Schönen Künste in Munich, and the Freie Akademie der Künste in Mannheim. J. Häusler ed. a vol. of his writings as Helmut Lachenmann:Musik als existentielle Erfahrung: Schriften 1966-1995 (Wiesbaden, 1996). While producing works based upon structural techniques, he has made it his central aim as acomposer to create scores free of societal expectations.

Works

dramatic: music theater:Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern (1990-96; Hamburg, Jan. 26, 1997). orch.:Souvenir for 41 Instruments (1959; Stuttgart, Nov. 11, 1994); Notturno (Musik für Julia) for Cello and Small Orch. (1966-68; Brussels, April 25, 1969); Air for Percussionist and Orch. (1968-69; Frankfurt am Main, Sept. 1, 1969; new version, Graz, Oct. 8, 1994); Kontrakadenz (1970-71; Stuttgart, April 23, 1971); Klangschatten- mein Saitenspiel for 3 Grand Pianos and 48 Strings (Hamburg, Dec. 20, 1972); Fassade for Orch. and Tape (Bonn, Sept. 22, 1973); Schwankungen am Rand for Brass and Strings (1974-75; Donaueschingen, Oct. 17, 1975); Accanto for Clarinet and Orch. (1975-76; Saarbrücken, May 30, 1976); Tanzsuite mit Deutschlandlied for String Quartet and Orch. (1979-80; Donaueschingen, Oct. 18, 1980); Harmonica for Tuba and Orch. (1981-83; Saarbrücken, May 15, 1983); Mouvement (-vor der Erstarrung) (1982-84; Paris, Nov. 12, 1984); Ausklang for Piano and Orch. (1984-85; Cologne, April 18, 1986); Staub (1985-87; Saarbrücken, Dec. 19, 1987); Tableau (1988-89; Hamburg, June 4 , 1989); “…Zwei Gefühle…”, Musik mit Leonardo (Stuttgart, Oct. 9, 1992); Nun for Flute, Trombone, and Orch. (1998–99). chamber: 5 Strophen for 9 Instruments (1961; Venice, April 13, 1962; Introversion I for 6 Instruments (1963; Darmstadt, July 19, 1964) and II for 6 Instruments (1964; Munich, Feb. 22, 1965); String Trio (1965; Ghent, March 29, 1966); Interieur I for Percussionist (1966; Santa Fe, N.Mex., Aug. 14, 1967); Trio fluido for Clarinet, Viola, and Percussion (1966; Munich, March 5, 1968); tern A for Flute, Mezzo-soprano, and Cello (1968; Stuttgart, Feb. 19, 1969); Pression for Cello (1969; Corno, Sept. 30, 1970); Dal niente (Interieur III) for Clarinet (Nuremberg, June 4, 1970); Gran Torso for String Quartet (1971-72; Bremen, May 6, 1972; rev. 1972-76, 1988); Salut für Caudwell for 2 Guitars (Baden-Baden, Dec. 3, 1977); Toccatina for Violin (1986; Stuttgart, May 20, 1988); Allegro Sostenuto for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1986-88; Cologne, Dec. 3, 1989); String Quartet No. 2, Reigen seliger Geister (Geneva, Sept. 28, 1989).p i a n o: 5 Variationen über ein Thema von Franz Schubert (1956); Rondo for 2 Pianos, 4-Hands (1957; Stuttgart, March 12, 1958); Echo Andante (Darmstadt, July 18, 1962); Wegenmusik (1963; Darmstadt, April 1, 1964); Guero (Hamburg, Dec. 1, 1970; rev. 1988); Ein Kinderspiel (1980; Toronto, Feb. 17, 1982). vocal:Consolation I for 12 Voices and 4 Percussion (1967; Bremen, May 3, 1968) and II for 16 Voices (1968; Basel, June 15, 1969); Les Consolations for 16 Voices and Orch. (1967-68, 1977-78; Darmstadt, Aug. 10, 1978); Dritte Stimme zu J.S. Bachs zweistimmiger Invention d-moll BWV 775 for 3 Voices (1985). electronic:Szenario (1965).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire