Muench, Gerhart

Muench, G erhart, German-born Mexican pianist, teacher, and composer; b. Dresden, March 23, 1907; d. Tacambaro, Nov. 9, 1988. He studied piano with his father, a prof, at the Dresden Cons. He gave a public piano recital in Dresden at the age of 9. His auspicious career was halted by the Nazi takeover in Germany; Muench was drafted into the German army, but was discharged in 1944 as physically unfit. He went to the U.S. in 1947. In 1953 he settled in Mexico City and taught at the Univ. Nacional. In his piano recitals he introduced the new music of Stockhausen, Boulez, Pousseur, and others to Mexican audiences.

Works

chamber opera:Tumulus Veneris (1950). orch.:Concerto da camera for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1926); Capriccio variato for Piano and Orch. (1941); Vocationes for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1951); Bassoon Concerto (1956); Muerte sin fin (1957); Concerto for Piano and Strings (1957); Violin Concerto (1959); Labyrinthus Orphei (1965); Itinera duo for Piano and Orch. (1965); Oxymora (1967); Auditur (1968); Epitomae tacambarensiae (1974); Telesma (1974); Vida sin Fin for Piano and Orch. (1976); Sortilégios (1979); Noctis Texturae (1983); Pay-sages de Rêve (1984). chamber: Cello Sonata (1938); Tesauras Orphei for Oboe, Clarinet, Viola, Double Bass, and Harp (1951); Tessellata tacambarensia, cycle of 9 chamber pieces for various instrumental groups or soloists (1964–76); Out of Chaos for Cello and Piano (1975); Signa Flexanima for Piano Trio (1975); Tetrálogo for String Quartet (1977); Mini-Dialogos for Violin and Cello (1977); Proenza for Piano Trio (1977); Yuriko for Violin and Piano (1977); Pentalgo for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, and Cello (1985). piano:Evoluta for 2 Pianos (1961); Pièce de résistance (1962); Pasos Perdidos (1971); Fugato (1985). vocal:Asociaciones for Soprano and Instruments (1969); Exaltacion de la Luz for Soprano, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (1981); Se nos ha ido la Tarde for Chorus and Orch. (1983); 5 masses; choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire