Ramovš, Primož

Ramovš, Primož , Slovenian composer; b. Ljubljana, March 20, 1921; d. Jan. 1999. He studied composition with Slavko Osterc at his hometown’s Academy of Music (1935–41), with Vito Frazzi in Siena (1941), and privately with Casella and Petrassi in Rome (1941–43). He was a librarian (1945–52) and chief librarian (1952–87) of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Art; was also a prof. at the Ljubljana Cons. (1948–52; 1955–64). The framework of his style of composition was neo- Classical, distinguished by great contrapuntal skill and ingenious handling of rich, dissonant sonorities; dodecaphony and aleatorality were sometimes employed.

Works

ORCH.: 3 numbered syms. (1940, 1943, 1948); 3 divertimentos (1941, 1942, 1944); Piano Concerto (1946); Concertino for Piano and Strings (1948); Concerto for 2 Pianos and Strings (1949); Suite for 2 Violins, Cello, and String Orch. (1950); Sinfonietta (1951); Musique funèbre (1955); Chorale and Toccata (1955); Adagio for Cello and String Orch. (1958); Concerto piccolo for Bassoon and Strings (1958); Trumpet Concertino (1960); 7 Compositions for Strings (1960); Concerto for Violin, Viola, and Orch. (1961); Koncertantza glasba (Concertante Music) for Percussion and Orch. (1961); Intrada (1962); Profiles (1964); Vzporedja (Parallels) for Piano and Strings (1965); Odmevi (Echoes) for Flute and Orch. (1965); Antiparallels for Piano and Orch. (1966; Zagreb, May 15, 1967); Finale (1966); Portret for Harp, Winds, Strings, and Percussion (1968); Symphony 68 (Ljubljana, Oct. 27, 1968); Nasprotja (Contrasts) for Flute and Orch. (1969); Sym. for Piano and Orch. (1970); Cello Concerto (1974); Double-Bass Concerto (1976); Bassoon Concerto (1978); Triplum (1980); Concerto for 2 Piano and Orch. (1970); Cello Concerto (1974); Concerto profano for Organ and Orch. (1984); Trumpet Concerto (1985); Kolovrat for Strings (1986); Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orch. (1988); Pismo (Letter; 1989); Triple Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Orch. (1990); Per aspera ad astra (1991); Celeia laboribus suis gaudens for Strings (1993); Zvoicčni svet (Sonorous World) for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1993); AS (1994); Živio SGč for Trumpet and Orch. (1994); Simfonija Pietà (1995). CHAMBER : Quartet for 4 Horns (1939); Wind Trio (1942); Trio for Flute, Trumpet, and Bassoon (1952); Kontrasti for Piano Trio (1961); Eneafonia for 9 Instruments (1963); Fluctuations for Chamber Ensemble (1964); Prolog for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1966); Nihanja (Oscillations) for Flute, Harp, Percussion, and Strings (1969); Siglali for Piano and 8 Instruments (1973); Quartet for Flute, Violin, Cello, and Harpsichord (1988); Dilema for Clarinet and Piano (1991); Cum jibilo for Brass Quintet (1992); Discessus for 9 Brass Instruments (1993); Dovolj naj bo (It must be enough) for Cello and Piano (1995); many compositions for solo instruments; piano pieces. VOCAL : Choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire