Lazarof, Henri

Lazarof, Henri, Bulgarian-born American composer and pedagogue; b. Sofia, April 12, 1932. After initial studies in Sofia, he went to Palestine to pursue his training with Ben-Haim and at the New Cons, of Music in Jerusalem (1949–52). Following advanced studies with Petrassi at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome (1955–57), he completed his training with Berger and Shapiro at Brandeis Univ. (M.F.A., 1959). In 1959 he became a naturalized American citizen, and that same year he became a teacher of French language and literature at the Univ. of Calif, at Los Angeles; subsequently he was prof, of composition there (1962–87). His music is marked by inventive originality in its thematic structure and subtle “sonorism” in instrumentation, with instances of serial procedures.

Works

dramatic:ballet:Events (1973); Canti (1980); Mirrors, Mirrors (1981).orch.: Piano Concerto (1956); Piccola serenata (Boston, June 15, 1959); Viola Concerto (1959-60; Monaco, Feb. 20, 1962); Concerto for Piano and 20 Instruments (1960-61; RAI, Milan, May 28, 1963); Odes (1962-63); Tempi concertati, double concerto for Violin, Viola, and Chamber Orch. (1964); Structures sonores (1966); Mutazione (1967); Cello Concerto (1968; Oslo, Sept. 12, 1969); Omaggio, chamber concerto for 19 Players (1968); Textures for Piano and 5 Ensembles (1970); Konkordia for Strings (1971); Spectrum for Trumpet, Orch., and Tape (1972-73; Salt Lake City, Jan. 17, 1975); Flute Concerto (1973); Ritratto (1973); Chamber Concerto No. 3 (1974); Volo for Viola and 2 String Ensembles (1975); Chamber Sym. (1976); Concerto for Orchestra No. 1 (1977) and No. 2, Icarus (1984; Houston, April 12, 1986); Sym. (1978); Sinfonietta (1981); Poema (1985; Seattle, May 10, 1986); Violin Concerto (1985); Tableaux for Piano and Orch. (1987); Concertante I for 16 Strings and 2 Horns (1988); Clarinet Concerto (1989; N.Y., May 31, 1992).chamber: 3 string quartets (1956; 1961-62; 1980); String Trio (1957); Sonata for Solo Violin (1958); Concertino da camera for Wind Quintet (1959); Inventions for Viola and Piano (1962); Asymptotes for Flute and Vibraphone (1963); Tempi concertati for 9 Instruments (1964); Rhapsody for Violin and Piano (1966); Espaces for 10 Instruments (1966); Cadence I for Cello (1969), II for Viola and Tape (1969), III for Violin and 2 Percussion (1970), V for Flute and Tape (1972), and VI for Tuba and Tape (1973); Continuum for String Trio (1970); Partita for Brass Quintet and Tape (1971); Concertazioni for 7 Instruments and Tape (1973); Duo for Cello and Piano (1973); Adieu for Clarinet and Piano (1974); Fanfare for 6 Trumpets (1980); Wind Trio (1981); Lyric Suite for Violin (1983); Serenade for String Sextet (1985); La Laurenziana, string octet (1987); Concertante II, octet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Double Bass, Percussion, and Piano (1988); Piano Trio (1989).piano:Quantetti for Piano and 3 Pianos on Tape (1964); Cadence IV (1970).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire