Trojahn, Manfred

German composer and teacher; b. Cremlingen, near Braunschweig, Oct. 22, 1949. He received training in orch. music at the Niedersächsische Musikschule in Braunschweig (1966-70; diploma, 1970) and composition with Diether de la Motte at the Staatlichen Hochschule für Musik in Hamburg. In 1975 he won the Bach Prize in Hamburg. In 1979-80 he was in residence at the Villa Massimo in Rome. He was awarded the Niedersächsisches Künstlerstipendium in 1984. In 1991 he became a teacher of composition at the Robert-Schumann-Hochschule in Düsseldorf. Trojahn utilizes various contemporary modes of expression with a subsuming individuality.

Works

dramatic: Enrico,dramatic comedy (1989-91; Schwetzingen, April 11,1991); Das wüste Land,opera (1994). ORCH.: 4 syms.: No. 1 (1973), No. 2 (Donaueschingen, Oct. 22, 1978), No. 3 (1984; Berlin, April 19, 1985), and No. 4 for Tenor and Orch. (Hamburg, Aug. 16, 1992); Notturni trasognatifor Alto Flute and Chamber Orch. (London, June 13, 1977); Abschied...(Düsseldorf, Oct. 18, 1978); Conductfor Strings and Percussion (1978; Gelsenkirchen, May 14,1979; also for Organ); Erstes See-Bild (1979-80; Berlin, Nov. 9, 1980; 1^stpart of Fünf See-Bilderfor Mezzo-soprano and Orch., 1981-83); Berceuse (Stuttgart, Oct. 4, 1980); Flute Concerto (1981-83; Berlin, Sept. 14, 1983); L’Autunno (1986-90; Berlin, June 23, 1990); Cinq Epigraphes (Berlin, Sept. 12, 1987); Variationen (Cleveland, Sept. 24,1987); Transir (Freiburg im Breisgau, May 24,1988); Notturnofor Winds, Strings, Celesta, and Harp (Hamburg, Sept. 3,1989); Oboe Concerto (1990-91; Munich, June 7, 1991); Quattro pezzi (1992; Kiel, Sept. 1993); Divertissementfor Oboe and Chamber Orch. (1992-93; Munich, May 7, 1993); Cornisches Nachtlied (1994).CHAMBER: Deux pièces brèvesfor String Quartet (Aurillac, France, Aug. 29,1973); 3 string quartets: No. 1 (1976), No. 2 with Clarinet and Mezzo-soprano (1979-80; Frankfurt am Main, Sept. 9, 1981), and No. 3 (Hamburg, Nov. 4, 1983); Fantasiafor Guitar (Stuttgart, Oct. 10, 1979); ...une campaagne noire de soleil, 7ballet scenes for Chamber Ensemble: I: Déflorations (Berlin, Dec. 14,1982), 17: Silences (1982; Cambridge, Mass., April 2, 1983), III: Chimères (Nuremberg, Nov. 19, 1983), IV: Cigales (1992), V: Chants noirs (Cologne, Oct. 10, 1986), VI: Exaltations (1992-92), and VII: Processions (1986; Ludwigshafen, Jan. 12, 1987); Berceusefor 5 Strings (1983; Bavarian Radio, Munich, May 26, 1984); Violin Sonata (Mannheim, Oct. 11, 1983); Cello Sonata (1983; Hamburg, Feb. 11, 1984); Soleares, 2pieces for Piano and String Quartet (1^stpiece, Braunschweig, Oct. 20,1985; 2^ndpiece, 1988; Cologne, Nov. 14,1990); Epitaphefor 4 Flutes (Berlin, Aug. 27, 1986); Fragmente für Antigone,6 pieces for String Quartet (Barcelona, Oct. 11, 1988); Fünf Intermezzifor Guitar and Chamber Ensemble (1988-89); Poème abandonnéfor Saxophone Quartet, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass (1989; Lwow, April 17, 1990). KEYBOARD: Piano: Berceuse (1980; Hannover, Jan. 26,1981); La foliafor 2 Pianos (Berlin, Sept. 16, 1982). Organ: Conductfor 2 Organists (Kassel, Sept. 22, 1977; also for Strings and Percussion). VOCAL: Madrigalfor Chorus (1975); ...stiller Gefährt der Nachtfor Soprano, Flute, Cello, Percussionist, and Celesta (Karlsruhe, June 6,1978); Fünf See-Bilderfor Mezzo-soprano and Orch. (1979-83; 1^stcomplete perf., Hamburg, Feb. 12, 1984); Elegía del tiempo finalfor Tenor and 7 Instruments (1981-82); Quattro Madrigalifor Chorus, 4 Violins, and 4 Cellos (1983; Stuttgart, Feb. 28, 1984); Trakl-Fragmentefor Mezzo-soprano and Piano (1983-84; Hamburg, Feb. 10, 1984); Nachtwandlungfor Mezzo-soprano and 14 Instruments (1983-84; Paris, Feb. 17, 1986); Requiemfor Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (1983-85; Braunschweig, Nov. 10,1985); Die Nachtigallfor 2 Sopranos, Mezzo-soprano, and 3 Clarinets (Hannover, Nov. 17, 1984); Zwei Motettenfor Chorus (1984; Hannover, May 23, 1985); Aubadefor 2 Sopranos (1987; Leningrad, April 18, 1990); Spätrotfor Mezzo-soprano and Piano (1987); Lieder auf der Fluchtfor Baritone, Guitar, and 13 Instruments (1988-89; Frankfurt am Main, Sept. 2,1989); Ave Mariafor Chorus (1991; Braunschweig, May 27, 1992); Grodekfor Baritone and 8 Instruments (Berlin, Sept. 29, 1991).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire