Egon Kornauth (14 May 1891 – 28 October 1959) was an Austrian

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and music teacher.

Life

Kornauth was born in

Olmütz Olomouc (, , ; german: Olmütz; pl, Ołomuniec ; la, Olomucium or ''Iuliomontium'') is a city in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, i ...

Moravia Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. The me ...

. A

cellist The cello ( ; plural ''celli'' or ''cellos'') or violoncello ( ; ) is a bowed (sometimes plucked and occasionally hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C2, G2, D3 ...

and

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

from his youth, he went in 1909 to Vienna, where he studied with

Robert Fuchs Robert Fuchs (15 February 1847 – 19 February 1927) was an Austrian composer and music teacher. As Professor of music theory at the Vienna Conservatory, Fuchs taught many notable composers, while he was himself a highly regarded composer in hi ...

Guido Adler Guido Adler (1 November 1855, Ivančice (Eibenschütz), Moravia – 15 February 1941, Vienna) was a Bohemian-Austrian musicologist and writer. Biography Early life and education Adler was born at Eibenschütz in Moravia in 1855. He moved ...

Franz Schreker Franz Schreker (originally ''Schrecker''; 23 March 1878 – 21 March 1934) was an Austrian composer, conductor, teacher and administrator. Primarily a composer of operas, Schreker developed a style characterized by aesthetic plurality (a mixture ...

(with whom he quarrelled) and Franz Schmidt.Gruber (n.d.) After teaching music theory at

Vienna University The University of Vienna (german: Universität Wien) is a public university, public research university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the Geogra ...

from 1919, Kornauth embarked on an international career as pianist, accompanist and conductor that took him to

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

(1926-9) and to South America (1934-5). In 1940 he resumed a teaching career in war-time Vienna and

Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...

. He joined the Nazi-sponsored

Reichsmusikkammer The Reich Chamber of Music (German: ''Reichsmusikkammer'') was a Nazi Party, Nazi institution. It promoted "good German music" which was composed by Aryan race, Aryans and seen as consistent with Nazi ideals, while suppressing other, Degenerate musi ...

, but continued to support his teacher Adler, who was held under house arrest as a Jew, until the latter's death in 1941. In post-war Austria, Kornauth became director of the Salzburg

Mozarteum Mozarteum University Salzburg (German: ''Universität Mozarteum Salzburg'') is one of three affiliated but separate (it is actually a state university) entities under the “Mozarteum” moniker in Salzburg municipality; the International Moz ...

(1946-7), and was elected to the Austrian Arts Senate in 1954. He died in Vienna in 1959. Kornauth composed extensively and won a number of prizes including the Austrian State Prize (1913) (for his

Viola The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...

Sonata Sonata (; Italian: , pl. ''sonate''; from Latin and Italian: ''sonare'' rchaic Italian; replaced in the modern language by ''suonare'' "to sound"), in music, literally means a piece ''played'' as opposed to a cantata (Latin and Italian ''cant ...

op.3), the

Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...

Foundation prize (1919), and the Austrian '' Würdigungspreis'' (1951). His style was however conventional; when the English composer

Humphrey Searle Humphrey Searle (26 August 1915 – 12 May 1982) was an English composer and writer on music. His music combines aspects of late Romanticism and modernist serialism, particularly reminiscent of his primary influences, Franz Liszt, Arnold Schoen ...

visited Vienna in the 1930s he was displeased to find that the only modern music played by the main orchestras was that of Schmidt "or lesser composers like ... Kornauth." Kornauth himself recognised in his 1958 autobiography that " epigonism was inherent in my personality." Most of Kornauth's output consists of

lieder In Western classical music tradition, (, plural ; , plural , ) is a term for setting poetry to classical music to create a piece of polyphonic music. The term is used for any kind of song in contemporary German, but among English and French sp ...

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...

and piano pieces, but there are also five orchestral suites amongst other larger scale pieces. A recording of some of Kornauth's piano works by Jonathan Powell was released by

Toccata Classics Toccata Classics is an independent British classic music label founded in 2005. The founder of Toccata Classics is Martin Anderson, a music journalist. The label was founded primarily to promote unrecorded works by lesser-known composers, inc ...

in 2013.Toccata Classics, TOCC 0159.

Selected works

;Orchestral * Orchestral Suite No. 1 (Sinfonische Suite Nr. 1) ''Aus der Jugendzeit'', Op. 7 (1913; revised 1928) * ''Elegie auf den Tod eines Freundes'' (Elegy on the Death of a Friend) (1916); published 1932 * ''Sinfonische Ouvertüre'' (Symphonic Overture), Op. 13 * Orchestral Suite No. 2, Op. 20 (published 1925) * ''Musik'' for string orchestra, Op. 25a (1920); after the String Sextet * Orchestral Suite No. 3 (Sinfonische Suite Nr. 2), Op. 35 (1931; revised 1937); also for Piano Quintet, Op. 35a * Orchestral Suite No. 5 ''Romantische Suite'', Op. 40 (1936) * Orchestral Suite No. 4 (Sinfonische Suite Nr. 4), Op. 42 (1938) * '' Irish Tune from County Derry'' for string orchestra (or string quintet) ;Concertante * ''Notturno'' (Andante) for viola and chamber orchestra, Op. 3b (1912); movement II from the Viola Sonata * ''Ballade'' for cello and orchestra, Op. 17 (1917) * ''Konzertstück'' (Concert Piece) for violin and chamber orchestra (or piano), Op. 19 (1917) ;Chamber music * Sonata in C minor for viola and piano, Op. 3 (1912); also for clarinet and piano (1914); movement II, ''Notturno'', also for viola and chamber orchestra * Sonata for clarinet and piano, Op. 5 * ''2 Vortragsstücke: Scherzo und Andante'' (2 Concert Pieces) for violin and piano, Op. 5b (published 1932) * Sonata in E minor for violin and piano, Op. 9 (1914) * ''Burleske'' in E minor for flute and piano (or orchestra), Op. 11 (1916) * ''Kleine Abendmusik'' for 2 violins, viola and cello, Op. 14 (1915) * Sonata (Sonatina) in D major for violin and piano, Op. 15 (1916) * Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 18 (1917) * String Sextet in A minor for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos, Op. 25 (1918–1919); also for string orchestra * String Quartet in G minor, Op. 26 (1920) * Piano Trio in B minor, Op. 27 (1921) * Sonata for cello and piano, Op. 28 (published 1924) * String Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello, Op. 30 (1923) * ''Kammermusik'' (Chamber Music), Nonet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass, Op. 31 (1924); for wind quintet and string quartet, Op. 31a (1924); Dectet for wind and string quintets, Op. 31b * ''Klarinettenquintett'' (Clarinet Quintet) in F minor for clarinet, 2 violins, viola and cello, Op. 33 (1930) * Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 35a (1931); after the Orchestral Suite No. 3 * ''Kleine Hausmusik'' (Little Chamber Music; Petite composition facile) for 2 violins, viola and cello, Op. 41a (1939); also for piano, Op. 41b * ''Trio-Suite'' for violin, cello (or viola) and piano, Op. 45 (1948) :# Rhapsodie :# Valse triste :# Canon I :# Canon II :# Canzonetta * ''Valse triste'' for viola and piano (1948); from Trio-Suite, Op. 45 * Sonatina for violin (or flute, or viola) and piano, Op. 46 (1952) * ''3 Stücke'' (3 Pieces) for cello (or viola) and piano, Op. 47 (1954) :# Elegie :# Romanze :# Dumka * ''Irish Tune from County Derry'' for string quintet (or string orchestra) ;Piano * ''5 Klavierstücke'' (5 Piano Pieces), Op. 2 (1912) * Sonata in A major, Op. 4 (1912) * ''Fantasie'' (Phantasie), Op. 10 (1915) * ''3 Klavierstücke'' (3 Piano Pieces), Op. 23 (1920); also for piano 4-hands, Op. 23a :# Präludium :# Improvisation :# Walzer * ''Kleine Suite'' (Little Suite), Op. 29 (1923) :# Präludium :# Intermezzo :# Barcarole :# Ländler :# Notturno :# Walzer :# Finale * ''4 Klavierstücke'' (4 Piano Pieces), Op. 32 (1926); also for piano 4-hands, Op. 32a :# In Memoriam :# Capriccio :# Notturno :# Rondo-Burleske * ''Präludium und Passacaglia'' (Prelude and Passacaglia), Op. 43 (1939) * ''5 Klavierstücke'' (5 Piano Pieces), Op. 44 (1940) :# Präludium :# Intermezzo :# Capriccio :# Mährische Ballade :# Walzer * ''3 Canons'' (published 1951) ;Vocal * ''6 Lieder'' (6 Songs) for voice and piano, Op. 1 (1911); Nos. 1, 4 and 6 also for voice and chamber orchestra :# Ganz im Geheimen; words by Franz von Königsbrun-Schaup :# Landsknechtlied; words by Heinrich von Reder :# Leid; words by

Maria Stona Maria Stona; Marie Scholz; born Stonawski (1859–1944) was a Silesian GermanHenryk Wawreczka: ''Těšín/Český Těšín na starých pohlednicích a fotografiích''. Wart 1999, p. 132. writer and poet. Her daughter was the sculptor Helen Zelez ...

:# Frühlingsruhe; words by

Ludwig Uhland Johann Ludwig Uhland (26 April 1787 – 13 November 1862) was a German poet, philologist and literary historian. Biography He was born in Tübingen, Württemberg, and studied jurisprudence at the university there, but also took an interest i ...

:# Mein und Dein; words by J. G. Fischer :# In der Kirschenblüth'; words by J. G. Fischer * ''Erntelied von anno 1914'' for medium voice and piano (1914); words by Richard Smekal *''4 Gesänge'' (4 Songs) for high voice and piano, Op. 8 (1914); also for voice and chamber orchestra :# Zu spät; words by

Friedrich Theodor Vischer Friedrich Theodor Vischer (; 30 June 180714 September 1887) was a German novelist, poet, playwright, and writer on the philosophy of art. Today, he is mainly remembered as the author of the novel '' Auch Einer'', in which he developed the concept ...

:# Traumleben; words by

Julius Hart The brothers Heinrich and Julius Hart were German writers and literary critics who collaborated closely. They were among the pioneers of naturalism in German literature. Heinrich was born 30 December 1855, in Wesel and died 11 June 1906, in Tec ...

:# O gib mir nicht den Mund!; words by Ernst Goll :# Der stille Tag; words by

Robert Hohlbaum Robert Hohlbaum (28 August 1886 – 4 February 1955) was an Austrian-German librarian, writer, and playwright. He was born as a son of an industrialist Alois Hohlbaum in what is now Krnov in the Czech Republic, then part of the Austro-Hungarian ...

* ''8 Gesänge nach Richard Smekal'' (8 Songs after Richard Smekal) for high or medium voice and piano, Op. 12 (1916); words by Richard Smekal; Nos. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 also for voice and chamber orchestra :# Nächtliche Fahrt :# Schnitterspruch :# Versunkenheit :# Brief am Abend :# Ringelreihen im Frühling :# Liebeselegie :# Abendlied in der großen Stadt :# Maiwanderung * ''6 Lieder'' (6 Songs) for medium voice and piano, Op. 21 (1918); also for voice and chamber orchestra :# Schließe mir die Augen beide; words by

Theodor Storm Hans Theodor Woldsen Storm (; 14 September 18174 July 1888), commonly known as Theodor Storm, was a German writer. He is considered to be one of the most important figures of German realism. Life Storm was born in the small town of Husum, on th ...

:# Lied in die Ferne; words by Richard Smekal :# Du; words by

Ricarda Huch Ricarda Huch (; 18 July 1864 – 17 November 1947) was a pioneering German intellectual. Trained as an historian, and the author of many works of European history, she also wrote novels, poems, and a play. Asteroid 879 Ricarda is named in her hono ...

:# Aus den Frühen Gedichten von Rainer Maria Rilke I: Bange Erwartung; words by

Rainer Maria Rilke René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926), shortened to Rainer Maria Rilke (), was an Austrian poet and novelist. He has been acclaimed as an idiosyncratic and expressive poet, and is widely recogni ...

:# Aus den Frühen Gedichten von Rainer Maria Rilke II: Nachtwind; words by Rainer Maria Rilke :# Abendlied; words by Albrecht Schaeffer * ''6 Lieder nach Hermann Hesse'' (6 Songs after Hermann Hesse) for medium voice and piano, Op. 22 (1918); words by

Hermann Hesse Hermann Karl Hesse (; 2 July 1877 – 9 August 1962) was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include ''Demian'', ''Steppenwolf (novel), Steppenwolf'', ''Siddhartha (novel), Siddhartha'', and ''The Glass Bead Game'', ...

; Nos. 1~5 also for voice and chamber orchestra; No. 5 also with string orchestra :# Im Grase hingestreckt :# Böse Zeit :# Oktober :# Im Nebel :# Drüben :# Die leise Wolke * ''Welt der Zyklamen'' for voice and piano, Op. 24 No. 3 * ''4 Lieder nach Brentano'' (4 Songs after Brentano) for high voice and piano, Op. 34 (1931); words by

Clemens Brentano Clemens Wenzeslaus Brentano (also Klemens; pseudonym: Clemens Maria Brentano ; ; 9 September 1778 – 28 July 1842) was a German poet and novelist, and a major figure of German Romanticism. He was the uncle, via his brother Christian, of Franz a ...

; No. 1 also for high voice, solo flute and string orchestra; Nos. 2 and 3 also for voice and chamber orchestra :# Abendständchen :# Der Spinnerin Lied :# Wiegenlied :# Säusle, liebe Myrthe * ''Schwanenlied'' for high voice and piano, Op. 34b; words by

* ''8 Lieder nach Eichendorff'' (8 Songs after Eichendorff) for low voice and piano, Op. 36 (1932); words by

Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff (10 March 178826 November 1857) was a German poet, novelist, playwright, literary critic, translator, and anthologist. Eichendorff was one of the major writers and critics of Romanticism.Cf. J. A. Cuddon: '' ...

; No. 1 also for voice and chamber orchestra :# Der Einsiedler :# Nachts I :# Erinnerung :# Der Abend :# Nachts II :# Sterbeglocken :# Herbstweh :# Abschied * ''6 Lieder nach Eichendorff'' (6 Songs after Eichendorff) for high voice and piano, Op. 37 (1932); words by

:# Lockung :# Treue :# Nachklänge I :# Waldeinsamkeit :# Die Nachtigallen :# Herbst * ''8 Lieder nach Eichendorff'' (8 Songs after Eichendorff) for medium-high voice and piano, Op. 38 (1933); words by

; Nos. 4 and 8 also for voice and chamber orchestra :# Im Alter :# Die Nacht :# Am Strom :# Winternacht :# Nachtwanderer :# Seliges Vergeßen :# Nachklänge II :# Valet ;Choral * ''Gesang der späten Linden'' for female chorus and chamber orchestra (or piano quintet), Op. 16 (revised 1933); words by Richard Smekal * ''Der Abend'' for female chorus, flute, clarinet and string quartet, Op. 34a (1931); words by

* Choruses Op. 39 (1933); words by

Friedrich Hölderlin Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin (, ; ; 20 March 1770 – 7 June 1843) was a German poet and philosopher. Described by Norbert von Hellingrath as "the most German of Germans", Hölderlin was a key figure of German Romanticism. Part ...

:# ''Lied der Freundschaft'' for male chorus a cappella :# ''Lied der Liebe'' for mixed chorus a cappella

References

;Citations ;Sources * Gruber, Gerold W. (n.d.)
"Kornauth, Egon"
in

Oxford Music Online ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and theo ...

, accessed 4 April 2014. * Powell, Jonathan (2013). "Egon Kornauth Piano Works , Volume One." Essay in booklet accompanying CD of the same title, Toccata Classics, TOCC 0159.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kornauth, Egon 1891 births 1959 deaths Musicians from Olomouc Austrian classical composers Austrian pianists Austrian music educators Male conductors (music) 20th-century classical composers 20th-century Austrian conductors (music) 20th-century Austrian male musicians Austrian male classical composers 20th-century pianists Male pianists Moravian-German people Austrian people of Moravian-German descent