Tansman, Alexandre
Tansman, Alexandre
Tansman, Alexandre, Polish-born French pianist, conductor, and composer; b.Łódź, June 12, 1897; d. Paris, Nov. 15, 1986. He studied at theŁódź Cons. (1902-14), and then pursued training in law and philosophy at the Univ. of Warsaw; also received instruction in counterpoint, form, and composition from Rytel in Warsaw. In 1919 he went to Paris, where he appeared as a soloist in his own works (Feb. 17, 1920). In 1927 he appeared as a soloist with the Boston Sym. Orch., and then played throughout Europe, Canada, and Palestine. He later took up conducting; made a tour of the Far East (1932-33). After the occupation of Paris by the Germans in 1940, he made his way to the U.S.; lived in Hollywood, where he wrote music for films; returned to Paris in 1946. His music is distinguished by a considerable melodic gift and a vivacious rhythm; his harmony is often bitonal; there are some impressionistic traits that reflect his Parisian tastes.
Works
dramatic: Opera: La Nuit kurde (1925-27; Paris Radio, 1927); La toisson d’or, opéra bouffe (1938); Sabbataï Zevi, le faux Messie, lyric fresco (1953; Paris, 1961); Le serment (1954; Brussels, March 11, 1955); L’usignolo di Boboli (1962); Georges Dandin, opéra comique (1974). Ballet: Sextuor (Paris, May 17, 1924); La Grande Ville (1932); Bric-à-Brac (1937); Train de nuit (London, 1950); Les Habits neufs du roi (Venice, 1959); Resurrection (Nice, 1962). ORCH.: Danse de la sorcière (Brussels, May 5, 1924); 7 syms.: No. 1 (1925; Boston, March 18, 1927), No. 2 (1926), No. 3, Symphonie concertante (1931), No. 4 (1939), No. 5 (1942; Baltimore, Feb. 2, 1943), No. 6, In memoriam (1943), and No. 7 (1944; St. Louis, Oct. 24, 1947); 2 sinfoniettas: No. 1 (Paris, March 23, 1925) and No. 2 (1978); Ouverture symphonique (1926; Paris, Feb. 3, 1927); 2 piano concertos: No. 1 (Paris, May 27, 1926, composer soloist) and No. 2 (Boston, Dec. 28, 1927, composer soloist); Suite for 2 Pianos and Orch. (Paris, Nov. 16, 1930); Viola Concerto (1936); Violin Concerto (1937); Fantaisie for Violin and Orch. (1937); Fantaisie for Cello and Orch. (1937); Rapsodie polonaise (St. Louis, Nov. 14, 1941); Études symphoniques (1943); Guitar Concertino (1945); Ricercari (St. Louis, Dec. 22, 1949); Concerto (1954); Capriccio (Louisville, March 6, 1955); Clarinet Concerto (1958); Cello Concerto (1963); Dyptique for Chamber Orch. (1969); Stèle: In memoriam Igor Stravinski (1972); Elégie (à la mémoire de Darius Milhaud) (1976); Les Dix Commandements (1979). CHAMBERS string quartets (1917-56); Violin Sonata (1919); Danse de la sorcière for Woodwind Quintet and Piano (1925; a version of the ballet); Flute Sonata (1925); Cello Sonata (1930); String Sextet (1940); Divertimento for Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpet, Cello, and Piano (1944); Suite baroque (1958); Symphonie de chambre (1960); Musique à six for Clarinet, String Quartet, and Piano (1977); Musique for Clarinet and String Quartet (1983). Piano: 20 pièces faciles polonaises (1924); 5 sonatas; mazurkas, and other Polish dances; Sonatine transatlantique (1930; also for Orch., Paris, Feb. 28, 1931; used by Kurt Jooss for his ballet Impressions of a Big City, Cologne, Nov. 21, 1932); Pour les enfants, 4 albums. VOCAL: Ponctuation française for Voice and Small Orch. (1946); Psaumes 118, 119, and 120 for Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (1961); Apostrophe à Zion, cantata for Chorus and Orch. (1977); 8 Stèles de Victor Segalen for Voice and Chamber Orch. (1979).
Writings
Stravinsky (Paris, 1948; Eng. tr., 1949, as Igor Stravinsky: The Man and His Music).
Bibliography
I. Schwerke, A. T., compositeur polonais (Paris, 1931).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire