Zimmer, Ján
Zimmer, Ján
Zimmer, Ján, significant Slovak composer and pianist; b. Ruzomberok, May 16, 1926; Bratislava, Jan. 21, 1993. He studied with Suchoñ at the Bratislava Cons, (graduated, 1948), with Farkas at the Budapest Academy of Music (1948-49), and in Salzburg (1949). After working for the Czech Radio in Bratislava (1945-48), he taught at the Bratislava Cons, from 1948 until losing his post in 1952 under the Communist regime. In subsequent years, Zimmer devoted himself to composition and made occasional appearances as a pianist, principally in programs of his own works. His music was marked by a mastery of form, technique, and expression. While he sometimes utilized 12-tone and other modern techniques, he generally forged his own course as a worthy representative of the Slovak tradition.
Works
(all 1st perf. in Bratislava unless otherwise given): DRAMATIC: Oedipus Rex, opera (1963-64); Héraklés, opera-ballet (1972); The Broken Line, opera (1974); film music. ORCH.: 7 piano concertos: No. 1 (1949; March 14, 1950), No. 2 (1952), No. 3 (1958; Jan. 14, 1960), No. 4 (1960; Oct. 11,1962), No. 5 for Piano, Left-hand, and Orch. (1964; June 3, 1965), No. 6 (1972), and No. 7 (1985); Concerto grosso for 2 Pianos, 2 String Orchs., and Percussion (1950-51); The Tratas, 2 suites (1952, 1956; also for Piano); Violin Concerto (1953; May 4, 1957); Rhapsody for Piano and Orch. (1954); Concertino for Piano and Strings (1955; Prague, Feb. 17, 1957); 12 syms.: No. 1 (1955; Dec. 2, 1956), No. 2 (1957-58), No. 3 (1959), No. 4 for Soprano, Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (1959; Feb. 2, 1961), No. 5 (1961; March 3, 1963), No. 6, Improvisata (1964-65), No. 7 (1966; March 4,1967), No. 8 (1971), No. 9 (1973), No. 10 for Chamber Orch. (1976), No. 11 (1981), and No. 12 for Orch. and Tape (1986); Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Percussion (Dec. 5,1957); Stremo, symphonic poem (1959); Small Fantasy for Piano and Orch. (1960); Concerto da camera for Oboe and Strings (1961); Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1967; Nov. 3, 1968); French Suite for Chamber Orch. (1968); Songs Without Words for Strings (1970); Music from Old Bratislava (1975); Concerto Prelude (1981); Chamber Concerto for Organ and Strings (1984); Concerto Poliphonico (1987); 3 Dancing Pieces for Piano and Orch. (1988); Concertino for Viola and Chamber Orch. (1989). CHAMBER: Suite for Violin and Piano (1958); Viola Sonata (1958); 2 Slovak Dances for Violin and Piano (1959); 3 string quartets (I960, 1982,1987); Wind Quintet (1968); Ballade and Burlesque for Viola (1976); Poetical Sonata for Violin and Piano (1976); Variations for 2 Violins and Viola (1977); Flute Sonata (1978); Trio for Flute, Violin, and Piano (1979). KEYBOARD: Piano:7 sonatas (1948, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1978,1979,1987); 4 sonatas for 2 Pianos (1954,1958,1965,1972); Concerto for Piano Without Orchestra (1956); 2 Romantic Pieces (1975); Bagatelles (1983); Introduction and Toccata (1986); 4 Pieces for Piano, 4-Hands (1988). Organ: Prelude and Fugue (1952); Phantasy and Toccata (1958); Concerto (1960); 2 sonatas (1970, 1981); 3 Small Preludes (1977). VOCAL: Magnificat for Chorus and Orch. (1952); Peace for Chorus and Orch.(1954); Death Shall Have No Dominion, oratorio for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1968); Phantasy for Men’s Chorus, Piano, and Orch. (1975); choral pieces; song cycles.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire