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Richard Dünser (born 1 May 1959) is an Austrian composer of stage works, orchestral music and chamber music, among others.


Life

Born in
Bregenz Bregenz (; gsw, label= Vorarlbergian, Breagaz ) is the capital of Vorarlberg, the westernmost state of Austria. The city lies on the east and southeast shores of Lake Constance, the third-largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, between Switze ...
, Dünser studied composition after his
Matura or its translated terms (''Mature'', ''Matur'', , , , , , ) is a Latin name for the secondary school exit exam or "maturity diploma" in various European countries, including Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech ...
first at the of his hometown and later at the
Vienna Academy of Music en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...
with
Francis Burt Sir Francis Theodore Page Burt (14 June 1918 – 8 September 2004) was an Australian jurist who served as the 11th Chief Justice of Western Australia, from 1977 to 1988, and the 27th Governor of Western Australia, from 1990 to 1993. Burt wa ...
. From 1985 to 1987, he studied composition with
Hans Werner Henze Hans Werner Henze (1 July 1926 – 27 October 2012) was a German composer. His large oeuvre of works is extremely varied in style, having been influenced by serialism, atonality, Stravinsky, Italian music, Arabic music and jazz, as well as t ...
at the
Hochschule für Musik Köln ' (, plural: ') is the generic term in German for institutions of higher education, corresponding to ''universities'' and ''colleges'' in English. The term ''Universität'' (plural: ''Universitäten'') is reserved for institutions with the right to ...
, and in 1987 he was a composition fellow there. He was for a summer composition scholar in
Tanglewood Tanglewood is a music venue in the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. It has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937. Tanglewood is also home to three music schools: the T ...
, U.S. From 1987, he taught composition at the Innsbruck department of the
Mozarteum University Salzburg 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 ...
as well as at the Vorarlberg State Conservatory, and in 1991 he was appointed professor of
music theory Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory". The first is the "rudiments", that are needed to understand music notation (ke ...
at the
University of Music and Performing Arts Graz The University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, also known as Kunstuniversität Graz (KUG) is an Austrian university. Its roots can be traced back to the music school of the '' Akademischer Musikverein'' founded in 1816, making it the oldest u ...
, where he has also led a composition class since 2004. Dünser was
composer in residence Artist-in-residence, or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs which involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs which provide artists with space a ...
of the Wiener Konzertverein (the chamber orchestra of the
Vienna Symphony Orchestra The Vienna Symphony (Vienna Symphony Orchestra, german: Wiener Symphoniker) is an Austrian orchestra based in Vienna. Its primary concert venue is the Vienna Konzerthaus. In Vienna, the orchestra also performs at the Musikverein and at the Thea ...
) and, with Christian Roscheck, co-initiator of the concert series of the same name at the
Wiener Musikverein The ( or ; ), commonly shortened to , is a concert hall in Vienna, Austria, which is located in the Innere Stadt district. The building opened in 1870 and is the home of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. The acoustics of the building's 'Great ...
(Brahmssaal). His most important works, which have been interpreted by international ensembles, conductors and soloists, include the orchestral piece ''Der Wanderer'' (commissioned by the '' Neue Arbeiterzeitung'' in 1986 and premiered by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in 1988), the string quartet "Elegie. An Diotima" (premiere 1987), the violin concerto premiered at the
Bregenz Festival Bregenzer Festspiele (; Bregenz Festival) is a performing arts festival which is held every July and August in Bregenz in Vorarlberg (Austria). It features a large floating stage which is situated on Lake Constance. History The Festival beca ...
in 1993, his version of the Schubert's '' Der Graf von Gleichen'', which was premiered at the Graz
Styriarte Styriarte (also written styriarte) is an annual summer festival of classical music in Graz and Styria, Austria, established in 1985. It is focused on Early music, Baroque music and music of the Classical period. Intended to showcase the work of Ni ...
in 1997 and was heard in a new version at the Bregenz Festival in 2003, and the ensemble piece "...breeding lilacs out of the dead land...", commissioned by the
Klangforum Wien The Klangforum Wien is an Austrian chamber orchestra, based in Vienna at the Konzerthaus, which specialises in contemporary classical music. Founded by composer and conductor Beat Furrer in 1985, it is run on collective principles, having no o ...
and premiered at the Konzerthaus there. (1998). In recent years, his works have included "Threnody" for flute, clarinet and guitar (1999), ''
The Waste Land ''The Waste Land'' is a poem by T. S. Eliot, widely regarded as one of the most important poems of the 20th century and a central work of modernist poetry. Published in 1922, the 434-line poem first appeared in the United Kingdom in the Octob ...
'' for orchestra (2003, Bregenz Festival) and the "Ophelia music for guitar", "Shell Hat and Sandal Slipper", which received its world premiere in London in October 2003 by Alexander Swete and was also performed at the
Vienna Konzerthaus The Konzerthaus is a concert hall located in Vienna, Austria, which opened in 1913. It is situated in the third district just at the edge of the first district in Vienna. Since it was founded it has always tried to emphasise both traditional and ...
a year later. His opera ''Radek'' was premiered at the 2006 Bregenz Festival, a commission in co-production with the Neue Oper Wien. He also composed works for chamber orchestra and chamber ensemble,
song cycles A song cycle (german: Liederkreis or Liederzyklus) is a group, or cycle, of individually complete songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a unit.Susan Youens, ''Grove online'' The songs are either for solo voice or an ensemble, or rarel ...
and chamber music for various instruments.


Richard Dünser about his work


Awards

* 1984: Förderungspreis der Stadt Wien. * 1988: Staatsstipendium für Komposition * 1989: for String Quartet No. 1 * 2000: for Music * 2010: Ernst-Krenek-Preis – Preisträger
on ''Wien Geschichte Wiki'' (retrieved 22 July 2021)


Compositions


Opera

* ''Radek'' – one act
chamber opera Chamber opera is a designation for operas written to be performed with a chamber ensemble rather than a full orchestra. Early 20th-century operas of this type include Paul Hindemith's ''Cardillac'' (1926). Earlier small-scale operas such as Pergoles ...
– text: Thomas Höft,
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ( ...
(2006).mica (Update date: 1 February 2021): List of works Richard Dünser. In Musikdatenbank by mica – music austria. Available online at: https://db.musicaustria.at/node/68744 (retrieved 22 July 2021). * ''Der Graf von Gleichen'' – opera in two acts after the sketches by
Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...
, D 918, (2002–2003). * ''Szene am Teich'' – opera scene – text: Michael Jakob, Reinhold Lenz, Edition Gravis (1986).


Orchestral music

* ''Der Wanderer'' – Hymne für Orchester – text: Friedrich Hölderlin, Edition Gravis (1986–1987). * ''Fantasie in f-moll'' – (Franz Schubert), Bearb. für Orchester, Edition Gravis (1987). * ''Suite für Streichorchester'' – after five harpsichord sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, Edition Gravis (1988). * ''Aubes I.'' – Dialogues for saxophone quartet and string orchestra, Edition Gravis (1995). * ''Aubes II.'' – Dialogues for chamber orchestra, Edition Gravis (1996). * ''Nebensonnen'' – for string orchestra, South Styria Press / Eigenverlag (2002). * ''The Waste Land'' – for orchestra, Edition Gravis (2003).


Solo concertos

* ''Sinfonietta concertante'' – for clarinet and string orchestra, Edition Gravis (1985) premiere with Alois Brandhofer, clarinet. * ''Nacht-Triptychon'' – for chamber ensemble, Edition Gravis (1989–1990). * Violin Concerto, Edition Gravis (1992–1993).


Ensemble music

* ''Hymnus'' – for large wind ensemble, Edition Gravis (1989) * ''...breeding lilacs out of the dead land....'', Edition Gravis (1997–1998)


Chamber music

* ''Drei Variationen nach alten Volksliedern'' – for three guitars, , Vienna (1979/1983) * ''Caravallium'' – for brass quintet, Verlag Doblinger (1984) * ''Zwieklang'' – for violin and piano, Verlag Doblinger (1985) * ''Elegie. An Diotima.'' – String Quartet No. 1, Edition Gravis (1986/1993) * ''Streichquartett Nr. 2'', Edition Gravis (1988) * ''Tage- und Nachtbücher'' – for clarinet, violoncello and piano, Verlag Doblinger * ''Personae'' – Five Pieces for
Saxophone quartet A saxophone quartet is a musical ensemble composed of four saxophones, typically soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. Different saxophone family members are employed to provide a larger range and a variety of tone colours. Other arrangeme ...
, Edition Gravis (1990) * ''Sestina'' – for organ and three percussionists, Edition Gravis (1990) * ''Threnodie'' – for flute, clarinet and guitar, Verlag Doblinger (1999) * ''Quatre Preludes'' – (
Claude Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...
) for flute, clarinet and guitar, Verlag Doblinger (1999) * ''...fresque de rêve...'' – for Septet, Verlag Doblinger (2001)


Solo works

* ''Drei Inventionen für Klavier'', Ed. Helbling Verlagsgesellschaft (1980–1981). * ''The Host of the Air'' – für Horn solo, Verlag Doblinger (1988). * ''Erinnerung–Monument–Nachtgesang'' – Drei Klavierstücke, Edition Gravis (1989). * ''Quatre Tombeaux'' – für Gitarre, Verlag Doblinger (1993–1994). * ''Muschelhut und Sandelschuh'' – Opheliamusik I, Edition Peters (2003/2010). * ''Memories. Dark Twilight'' – für Klavier, Verlag Doblinger (2006).


Vocal works

* ''Die letzten Dinge'' – four
Lied 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 s ...
er for baritone and piano after texts by Thomas Höft, Verlag Doblinger, Vienna (2002) * ''Da unten im Tale – 14 Deutsche Volkslieder'' – (
Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped wit ...
) Bearbeitung, Edition Gravis (2003) * ''Doch atmet kalt mein Abend schon. Vier ernste Gesänge für Mezzosopran und Orchester'', Edition Gravis, Bad Schwalbach * ''Ich var uf der toren vart'' – Süsskind Szenen für Mezzosopran und Kammerensemble, South Styria Press / Eigenverlag (2003) * ''Geh unter schöne Sonne'' (
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 for soprano and piano, South Styria Press


References


Further reading

*


External links

* *
Richard Dünser
im ''music information center austria''
Richard Dünser
bei der ''Musikdokumentationsstelle des Landes Vorarlberg'' * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dunser, Richard 20th-century classical composers 21st-century classical composers Austrian opera composers Austrian composers 1959 births Living people People from Bregenz