Urbanner, Erich

Urbanner, Erich, Austrian composer, teacher, and conductor; b. Innsbruck, March 26, 1936. He was a student of Schiske and Jelinek (composition), Grete Hinterhofer (piano), and Swarowsky (conducting) at the Vienna Academy of Music (1955-61). He also attended the composition courses of Fortner, Stockhausen, and Maderna in Darmstadt. In 1961 he became an instructor at the Vienna Academy of Music. From 1968 he was also active as a conductor. In 1969 he was named a prof. of composition and harmony at the Vienna Hochschule für Musik. Among his honors were Vienna’s Förderungspreis (1962), the City of Innsbruck prize (1980), the Würdigungspreis of the Austrian Ministry of Education and Art (1982), the City of Vienna prize (1984), and the Tiroler Landespreis for the arts (1993). Urbanner’s music is strikingly modern without adhering to any particular school.

Works

dramatic: Der Gluckerich, oder Tugend und Tadel der Nützlichkeit,musical burlesque (1963; Vienna, May 26, 1965); Ninive, oder Das leben geth weiter,opera (1987; Innsbruck, Sept. 24, 1988); Johannes Stein, oder Der Rock des Kaisers,mono-drama (1990-91; Vienna, March 31, 1992); Die Tochter des Kerensteiners,musical scenes (1994). ORCH.: Prolog (1957; Innsbruck, May 11, 1958); Intradafor Chamber Orch. (1957; Vienna, June 1958); 2 piano concertos: No. 1 (1958; Innsbruck, June 1959) and No. 2 (1976; Innsbruck, May 11, 1977); Flute Concerto (1959; Innsbruck, June 4,1964); Concertino for Organ and Strings (Innsbruck, May 1961); Symphony in 1 Movement (1963; Vienna, April 5,1964); Dialogefor Piano and Orch. (1965; Vienna, April 2, 1967); Concerto for Oboe and Chamber Orch. (1966; Innsbruck, June 9, 1968); Rondeau (1967; Vienna, Jan. 15, 1971); Thema, 19 Variationen und ein Nachspiel (1968); Kontraste II (1970; Innsbruck, April 27, 1971); Violin Concerto (1971; Innsbruck, Oct. 19, 1972); Concerto “Wolfgang Amadeus”for 3 Trombones, Celesta, and 2 Orchs. (1972; Salzburg, Jan. 20, 1973); Double Bass Concerto (1973; Innsbruck, Nov. 26, 1974); Retrospektiven (1974-75; rev. version, Graz, Oct. 13,1979); Concerto for Alto Saxophone and 12 Players (1978-79; Graz, Nov. 4, 1982); Sinfonietta 79for Chamber Orch. (1979; Innsbruck, April 30, 1980); Sonata brevisfor Chamber Orch. (1980; Vienna, March 7, 1981); Cello Concerto (1981; Innsbruck, May 2, 1982); Sinfonia Concertantefor Chamber Orch. (1982; Vienna, March 12, 1983); Double Concerto for Flute, Clarinet, and Orch. (Salzburg, Aug. 8, 1984). CHAMBER : 4 string quartets: No. 1 (1956; Vienna, March 1958), No. 2 (1957), No. 3 (1972; Vienna, May 8, 1973), and No. 4 (1991-92; Vevey, Jan. 31,1993); 5 Piecesfor Violin and Piano (1961); Étudefor Wind Quintet (1965; Vienna, Feb. 16, 1966); Acht Aphorismenfor Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (Vienna, May 26,1966); 4 Piecesfor Viola (1967); 5 Piecesfor Flute (1967); Improvisation IIIfor Chamber Ensemble (1969; Vienna, Jan. 23, 1970) and IVfor Wind Quintet (1969; Vienna, March 30, 1979); Lyricafor Chamber Ensemble (1971; Vienna, Jan. 13,1974); Solofor Violin (Solbad Hall, April 2,1971); Burleskefor Flute and Organ (1973; Düsseldorf, Sept. 18,1974); Pastoralefor Chamber Ensemble (1975; Innsbruck, March 24,1976); Takesfor Piano Trio (1977; Vienna, May 2, 1978); Quartetto Concertatofor String Quartet and 6 String Duos (Innsbruck, April 5,1978); Nachtstückfor Recorder Ensemble (1978; Ossiach, Aug. 9, 1980); Arioso-Furiosofor Cello and Piano (Vienna, Oct. 21, 1980); Sechs Phan-Tasten und zwei Schlagzeugerfor 7 Instrumentalists (1980; Innsbruck, Feb. 24, 1981); Nonett 1981 (Utrecht, Sept. 7, 1981); Balladefor Guitar (1982; Alpbach, Aug. 28,1983); Emotionenfor Saxophone Quartet (1984; Washington, D.C., Feb. 10,1985); Trio Mobilefor Flute, Viola, and Cello (Brussels, Dec. 8, 1987); ...In Bewegung...,trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1990; Vienna, April 9,1991); Duo for Accordion and Double Bass (1992; Linz, March 16, 1993); quasi una fantasia,6 concertante pieces for 15 Instruments (1993). KEYBOARD : Piano:2 sonatinas (1956, 1957); Variation (1958); 5 Pieces (1959); Adagio (1966); Variation (1981); 13 Charakterstücke (1988-89; Innsbruck, June 20, 1989). Organ: Improvisation I (1961; Innsbruck, Aug. 30, 1974); Zyklus (1992; Vienna, March 5,1993). VOCAL: Missa benedicite gentesfor Chorus and Organ (Innsbruck, May 15,1958); 5 Songs for Mezzo-soprano and Small Ensemble (1961); Das Ahnenbildfor Soprano and Piano (1961); Requiemfor Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1982-83; Innsbruck, Feb. 20, 1985); Acht Ächte Tyroller Liederfor Soprano, Tenor, and Chamber Ensemble (1985; Innsbruck, April 5, 1986).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire