Hans Gál

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(5 August 1890 – 3 October 1987) was an Austrian composer,

pedagogue Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political, and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken ...

, musicologist, and author, who emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1938.

Life

Gál was born to a Jewish family in the small village of

Brunn am Gebirge Brunn am Gebirge ( Central Bavarian: ''Brunn aum Gebiage'') is a town in the district of Mödling in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. As of the end of 2022, the population was recorded at 12,218. History Excavations from the Neolithic period ...

Lower Austria Lower Austria ( , , abbreviated LA or NÖ) is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Major cities are Amstetten, Lower Austria, Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt and Sankt Pölten, which ...

, just outside Vienna, the son of a doctor, Josef Gál. In 1909, his piano teacher

Richard Robert Richard Robert (25 March 1861 – 1 February 1924 in Kaltenleutgeben)
Retrieved 28 August 2013

(who also taught

George Szell George Szell (; June 7, 1897 – July 30, 1970), originally György Széll, György Endre Szél, or Georg Szell, was a Hungarian-born American conductor, composer and pianist. Considered one of the twentieth century's greatest conductors ...

Rudolf Serkin Rudolf Serkin (28 March 1903 – 8 May 1991) was a Bohemian-born Austrian-American pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Beethoven interpreters of the 20th century. Early life, childhood debut, and education Serkin was born in ...

and Clara Haskil) appointed Gál as a teacher when he became director of the New Vienna Conservatory. From 1909 to 1913, Gál studied music history at the

University of Vienna The University of Vienna (, ) is a public university, public research university in Vienna, Austria. Founded by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, Duke Rudolph IV in 1365, it is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and among the largest ...

under music historian Guido Adler, who published Gál's doctoral dissertation on the style of the young Beethoven in his own ''Studien zur Musikwissenschaft''. From 1909 to 1911, Gál studied composition privately with

Eusebius Mandyczewski Eusebius Mandyczewski (, ; 18 August 1857, in Molodiia – 13 August 1929, in Vienna) was a Romanian musicologist, composer, conductor, and teacher. He was an author of numerous musical works and is highly regarded within Austrian, Romanian a ...

, who had been a close friend of

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; ; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period (music), Romantic period. His music is noted for its rhythmic vitality and freer treatment of dissonance, oft ...

, and with whom he later edited ten volumes of the Complete Edition of Brahms's works, published by

Breitkopf & Härtel Breitkopf & Härtel () is a German Music publisher, music publishing house. Founded in 1719 in Leipzig by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf, it is the world's oldest music publisher. Overview The catalogue contains over 1,000 composers, 8,000 works ...

in 1926. Mandyczewski became a "spiritual father" to him. In 1915, Gál was the first recipient of the new Austrian State Prize for Composition for his first symphony, though he later discarded this work and its successors, as well as a large number of works composed up to that time.Hans Gál Archive, York During World War I he served in Serbia, the

Carpathians The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe and Southeast Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Urals at and the Scandinavian Mountains ...

and Italy. He returned from the war with a completed opera, ''Der Arzt der Sobeide'', which was performed in Breslau (modern

Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...

) in 1919 under the conductor Julius Prüwer. After World War I, the political situation in Austria was extremely difficult, exacerbated by runaway inflation. Gál was appointed to the (initially unpaid) post of Lector for music theory at the

(a post once held by

Anton Bruckner Joseph Anton Bruckner (; ; 4 September 182411 October 1896) was an Austrian composer and organist best known for his Symphonies by Anton Bruckner, symphonies and sacred music, which includes List of masses by Anton Bruckner, Masses, Te Deum (Br ...

). Despite the financial difficulties he married Hanna Schick (a relative of the philosopher and psychologist

Wilhelm Jerusalem Wilhelm Jerusalem (; 11 October 1854, Dřenice – 15 July 1923, Vienna) was an Austrian Jewish philosopher and pedagogue. Biography Jerusalem studied classical philosophy at the University of Prague and prepared a doctorate entitled "The Insc ...

). His second opera, '' Die heilige Ente'' (The Sacred Duck), received its première in Düsseldorf in April 1923 under Szell and was performed with continued success in 20 theatres. Together with his third opera, ''Das Lied der Nacht'' (The Song of the Night), it established his wider reputation. In 1928 he won a Columbia Schubert Centenary Prize for his ''Sinfonietta'', later retitled his First Symphony. The next year, with the support of such important musicians as

Wilhelm Furtwängler Gustav Heinrich Ernst Martin Wilhelm Furtwängler ( , ; ; 25 January 188630 November 1954) was a German conductor and composer. He is regarded as one of the greatest Symphony, symphonic and operatic conductors of the 20th century. He was a majo ...

Fritz Busch Fritz Busch (13 March 1890 – 14 September 1951) was a German conductor. Busch was born in Siegen to a musical family and studied at the Cologne Conservatory. After army service in the First World War, he was appointed to senior posts in two G ...

and

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; ; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer and conductor best known for his Tone poems (Strauss), tone poems and List of operas by Richard Strauss, operas. Considered a leading composer of the late Roman ...

, he was appointed to the directorship of the Mainz Conservatory. The next three years were among the happiest and most productive of his life.

World War II and later life

The rise of the

Nazis Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

in Germany brought Gál's career in

Mainz Mainz (; #Names and etymology, see below) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and with around 223,000 inhabitants, it is List of cities in Germany by population, Germany's 35th-largest city. It lies in ...

to an abrupt end on account of his Jewish ancestry. When the Nazis took over Mainz in March 1933, he was instantly dismissed from his post and performance and publication of his works in Germany were prohibited. His fourth opera, ''Die beiden Klaas'' (Rich Claus, Poor Claus), which was to have received a double première in Dresden and Hamburg, was cancelled and the piece was not performed until an English translation was presented by York Opera in 1990. He and his family returned to Vienna, but the shadow of the German Reich was already evident there, and he found no permanent position. Immediately after the

Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, ), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a "German Question, Greater Germany") arose after t ...

in 1938, Gál fled to London, with the intention of emigrating to the United States. But he remained in Britain, where he met the musician and scholar

Donald Tovey Sir Donald Francis Tovey (17 July 187510 July 1940) was a British musical analyst, musicologist, writer on music, composer, conductor and pianist. He had been best known for his '' Essays in Musical Analysis'' and his editions of works by Bac ...

, who invited him to come to Edinburgh, where Tovey taught at the university. There were no permanent openings for professors, but Tovey found him some work in late 1938, and when the war broke out in 1939, the Gáls moved to Edinburgh permanently. In 1940, he was interned as an

enemy alien In customary international law, an enemy alien is any alien native, citizen, denizen or subject of any foreign nation or government with which a domestic nation or government is in conflict and who is liable to be apprehended, restrained, secur ...

in Huyton Camp near Liverpool and Central Camp in

Douglas, Isle of Man Douglas (, ) is the Capital (political), capital city and largest settlement of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,677 (2021) and an area of . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, Isle of Man, River Douglas, and on a sweepi ...

, from May to September. After his release, he returned to Edinburgh, where he remained for the rest of his life. He had continued to compose throughout this time, publishing his Second Symphony in 1942. He became a lecturer in musical education at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

in 1945, where he taught until his retirement in 1960. In Edinburgh, he was a respected member of the local musical scene, and one of the founders of the

Edinburgh International Festival The Edinburgh International Festival is an annual arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, spread over the final three weeks in August. Notable figures from the international world of music (especially european classical music, classical music) and ...

in 1947. He conducted the premiere of his ''Serenade'' the previous year at the debut concert of the Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra, one of the oldest amateur orchestras in Edinburgh, founded by Theodora di Marco and her sister Norma. His later honours include the Grand Austrian State Prize for Music (1957), appointment as an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(1964) and the

Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art The Austrian Decoration for Science and Art () is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria and forms part of the Austrian national honours system. History The "Austrian Decoration for Science and Art" was established by the National Co ...

, 1st class (1971). He died at Edinburgh in October 1987, at the age of 97.

Music

Gál's style is rooted in the Austro-German musical tradition, but from the early 1920s he had developed his own musical language, to which he remained true throughout his long career. He never followed prevailing fashions, nor abandoned his belief in the importance of tonality. Though his style cannot be derived from any single influence, one can nevertheless identify particular affinities, especially with the 18th century Viennese composers whose clarity, plasticity and playful humour are basic constituents. His works combine romantic intensity with emotional restraint, and the chromatic harmonies and extended tonality of the pre-serial early moderns with a

Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...

-like love of melody, integrated with a polyphonic texture that derives from his lifelong engagement with the works of J. S. Bach. His output was considerable: over 150 published works in virtually all genres, including, in addition to his four operas, four symphonies, four string quartets, two large-scale cantatas with orchestra, other orchestral works, chamber music, sets of 24 preludes and 24 fugues for piano, and vocal works of various kinds.

Postwar neglect

Gál's music continued to appear regularly in concert in the years immediately following World War II thanks the advocacy of colleagues like Rudolf Schwarz and Otto Schmidtgen. As the years passed, and Gál's advocates ceased working, his music fell into near-complete neglect. This process was accelerated by a shift in the BBC's programming policy: from the 1960s onward, the national broadcaster explicitly favoured music from the

avant-garde In the arts and literature, the term ''avant-garde'' ( meaning or ) identifies an experimental genre or work of art, and the artist who created it, which usually is aesthetically innovative, whilst initially being ideologically unacceptable ...

twelve-tone The twelve-tone technique—also known as dodecaphony, twelve-tone serialism, and (in British usage) twelve-note composition—is a method of musical composition. The technique is a means of ensuring that all 12 notes of the chromatic scale ...

schools.

21st-century revival

The beginning of the 21st century has seen a revival of interest in Gál's music. The Gál discography now includes the four symphonies (

Kenneth Woods Kenneth Allen Woods (born 1968) is an American conductor, composer and cellist, resident in the UK. Early career Woods studied conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His subsequent conducting mentors have includ ...

and the Orchestra of the Swan), the complete piano music ( Leon McCawley), the complete string trios (Ensemble Epomeo), concertos and concertinos for violin, cello and piano (soloists Annette-Barbara Vogel, Matthew Sharp and Sarah Beth Briggs with conductor Kenneth Woods and the

English Symphony Orchestra The English Symphony Orchestra and the English String Orchestra (collectively abbreviated as ESO) are two iterations of a British professional orchestra based in the city of Worcester, Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England. History ...

and

Royal Northern Sinfonia Royal Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, founded in Newcastle upon Tyne and currently based in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history the orchestra gave most of its concerts at the Newcastle City Hall. It also gave mont ...

), the Cello Concerto ( Antônio Meneses) and the complete string quartets (Edinburgh Quartet), as well as a number of chamber works. Recent releases include the first of Gál's operas, '' Das Lied der Nacht''. Gál was

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...

's Composer of the Week in May 2014. Since 2016, the Exilarte Center at the

University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (, abbreviated MDW) is an Austrian university established in 1817 located in Vienna. With a student body of over three thousand, it is the largest institution of its kind in Austria, and one of t ...

has preserved the composer's musical estate as well as comprehensive private and professional correspondence with publishers, radio stations, colleagues, and friends.

Books

*''Anleitung zum Partiturlesen''. Vienna: Philharmonischer Verlag, 1923. English edition: ''Directions for Score Reading''. London, 1924. *''The Golden Age of Vienna''. London: Parish, 1948. *''Johannes Brahms. Werk und Persönlichkeit''. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer, 2nd edn. 1980. English edition: ''Brahms: his Work and Personality''. New York: Knopf, 1963 / London: Severn House, 1975. *''Richard Wagner. Versuch einer Würdigung''. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer, 1963. English edition: ''Richard Wagner''. London: Gollancz / New York: Stein & Day, 1976. *''The Musician's World. Great Musicians in their Letters''. London: Thames & Hudson, 1965. *''Franz Schubert oder die Melodie''. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer, 1970. English edition: ''Franz Schubert and the Essence of Melody''. London: Gollancz, 1974. *''Drei Meister – drei Welten. Brahms, Wagner, Verdi''. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer, 1975. *''Brahms: Briefe''. Ed. by Hans Gál. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer, 1979. *''Schumann Orchestral Music''. London: BBC, 1979. *''Giuseppe Verdi und die Oper''. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer, 1982. *''Musik hinter Stacheldraht'', edited by Eva Fox-Gál. Bern: Peter Lang, 2003. English edition: ''Music behind Barbed Wire: A Diary of Summer 1940''. London: Toccata Press, 2014.

Selected works

Operas

*Op. 4 ''Der Arzt der Sobeide'' (Sobeide's Doctor) (1917–18) *Op. 15 '' Die heilige Ente'' (The Sacred Duck) (1920–1) *Op. 23 '' Das Lied der Nacht'' (The Song of the Night) (1924–5) *Op. 42 ''Die beiden Klaas'' (Rich Claus, Poor Claus) (1932–3)

Orchestral works

*Op. 3b ''Serbische Weisen'' (Serbian Dances) (1937) *Op. 20 ''Ouvertüre zu einem Puppenspiel'' (Overture to a puppet play) (1923) *Op. 30 Symphony No. 1 in D major (1927) *Op. 36 ''Ballet Suite Scaramuccio'' (1929) *Op. 38 ''Der Zauberspiegel'' (The Magic Mirror). Suite for orchestra (1930) *Op. 42b ''Burleske'' (Burlesque). From ''Die beiden Klaas'': intro. to Act 3. (1933) *Op. 45 ''A Pickwickian Overture'' (1939–44) *Op. 46 Serenade for string orchestra (1937) *Op. 48 ''Lilliburlero. Improvisations on a martial melody'' (1945) *Op. 53 Symphony No. 2 in F major (1942–3) *Op. 54 ''Kaledonische Suite'' (Caledonian Suite). Scottish tunes for small orchestra (1949) *Op. 62 Symphony No. 3 in A major (1951–2) *Op. 66 ''Biedermeiertänze'' (Biedermeier Dances) four pieces in 3/4 time for large mandolin orchestra (1954) *Op. 69 ''Mäander'' (Meanders) suite for orchestra (1954–5) *Op. 73 ''Music for String Orchestra'' (1957) *Op. 79 ''Idyllikon'' four movements for small orchestra (1958–9) *Op. 81 Sinfonietta No. 1 for mandolin orchestra, guitar & bass (1961) *Op. 86 Sinfonietta No. 2 for mandolin orchestra (1966) *Op. 100 ''Triptych'' three movements for orchestra (1970) *Op. 105 Symphony No. 4, sinfonia concertante for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and orchestra (1974) *''Promenadenmusik'' for military band (1926) *''Capriccio'' for mandolin orchestra (1973) *''

Hugo Wolf Hugo Philipp Jacob Wolf (; ; 13 March 1860 – 22 February 1903) was an Austrian composer, particularly noted for his art songs, or Lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Romantic music, so ...

Corregidor Corregidor (, , ) is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines, and is considered part of Cavite City and thus the province of Cavite. It is located west of Manila, the nation's capi ...

'', Suite for orchestra, arranged by Hans Gál

Concertos

*Op. 39 Concerto for Violin and small orchestra (1932) *Op. 43 Concertino for Piano and string orchestra (1934) *Op. 52 Concertino for Violin and string orchestra (1939) *Op. 55 Concertino for Organ and string orchestra (1948) *Op. 57 Concerto for Piano and orchestra (1948) *Op. 67 Concerto for Cello and orchestra (1944–49) *Op. 82 Concertino for Treble Recorder/Flute and string quartet *Op. 87 Concertino for Cello and string orchestra (1966) *Op. 102a/b Suite for Alto Saxophone/Viola and Piano or Orchestra (1949–50) *Op. 105 Symphony No. 4 ''Sinfonia concertante'' for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and orchestra (1974)

Works for solo instrument with or without keyboard

*Op. 6 Suite for Cello and Piano (1919) *Op. 17 Sonata in B-flat minor for Violin and Piano (1920) *Op. 56 Suite for Violin and Piano (1942) *Op. 56a Partita for Mandolin and Piano (1935) *Op. 71 Three Sonatinas for Violin and Piano (1956–7) *Op. 84 Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1964) *Op. 85 Sonata for Oboe and Piano (1965) *Op. 89 Sonata for Cello and Piano (1953) *Op. 101 Sonata in A major for Viola and Piano (1941) *Op. 102a/b Suite for Viola/Alto Saxophone and Piano or Orchestra (1949–50) *Op. 103 Three Intermezzi for Treble Recorder/Flute and Harpsichord/Piano (1974) *Op. 109a Sonata for Solo Cello (1982) *Op. 109b Suite for Solo Cello (1982) *Sonata in D for Violin and Piano (1933) *Two Scottish Rhapsodies for Cello and Piano (1960)

Chamber music for strings

*Op. 10 Five intermezzi for string quartet (1914) *Op. 16 String Quartet I in F minor (1916) *Op. 35 String Quartet II in A minor (1929) *Op. 41 Serenade for Violin, Viola and Cello (1932) *Op. 60b ''Improvisation, Variations and Finale on a theme by Mozart'' for string quartet (1934) *Op. 90(2) Divertimento for Violin and Cello (1967) *Op. 90(3) Divertimento for Violin and Viola (1969) *Op. 95 String Quartet III (1969) *Op. 99 String Quartet IV (1970) *Op. 104 Trio in F-sharp minor for violin, viola d'amore (viola) and cello (1971)

Other chamber music

*Op. 9 ''Variationen über eine Wiener Heurigenmelodie'' (Variations on a Viennese Heurigen melody) for Violin, Cello and Piano (1914) *Op. 13 Piano Quartet (B-flat major) (1914) *Op. 18 Piano Trio (E major). For Violin, Cello and Piano (1923) *Op. 22 Divertimento for Flute, Oboe, two Clarinets, Trumpet, two Horns and Bassoon (1924) *Op. 49a ''Little Suite'' for 2 violins and cello (piano ad lib.) (1947–8) *Op. 49b Trio for violin (flute, oboe), cello and piano (1949) *Op. 59a Sonatina for 2 mandolins (1952) *Op. 59b Suite for 3 mandolins (1952) *Op. 60 ''Improvisation, Variations and Finale on a theme by Mozart'' for mandolin, violin, viola and liuto (1934) *Op. 68a Suite for recorder and violin (1964–5) *Op. 68b Six two-part inventions for descant and treble recorder (1957) *Op. 68c Divertimento for 2 treble recorders and guitar (1957) *Op. 78 Quartettino for recorder quartet (2 descant, treble (or tenor), tenor (or bass)) (1960) *Op. 80 Divertimento for mandolin with harp or piano (1957) *Op. 80b Divertimento for flute, viola and harp. (1967) *Op. 82 Concertino for treble recorder (flute) and string quartet (1961) *Op. 88 ''Trio-Serenade'' for treble recorder/flute, violin and cello (1966) *Op. 90(1) Divertimento for bassoon and cello (1958) *Op. 92 ''Huyton Suite'' for flute and 2 violins (1940) *Op. 93 Serenade for clarinet, violin and cello (1935) *Op. 94 Trio for oboe, violin and viola (1941) *Op. 96 Sonata for two violins and piano (1941) *Op. 97 Trio for violin, clarinet and piano (1950) *Op. 98 Divertimento for three recorders (1970) *Op. 107 Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1977) *Quartet in A for violin, viola, violoncello and piano (left hand) for Paul Wittgenstein (1926)

Vocal works – solo voice

*Op. 21 ''Zwei geistliche Gesänge'' (Two sacred songs) for soprano, organ and viola da gamba or cello (1923) *Op. 33 ''Five songs'' for middle voice and piano (or harp nos. 4 & 5) (1917–21) *Op. 44 ''Nachtmusik'' (Night Music) for soprano solo, male voices (TTBB), flute, cello and piano ( Grimmelshausen) (1933)

Vocal works – mixed voices

*Op. 19 ''Motette'' (Motet) for mixed choir (SSAATTBB) a cappella (1914) *Op. 26 ''Requiem for Mignon'' for baritone, 2 choirs (SA, SATB), organ and orchestra (1922) *Op. 27 ''Epigrams'' 5 madrigals for mixed choir (8 parts) a cappella (1926) *Op. 37 ''Drei Gesänge'' (Three songs) for mixed choir a cappella (1929–30) *Op. 50 ''De Profundis'' cantata to German barock poems, for four soloists (SATB), mixed choir and orchestra (1936–7) *Op. 51 ''Four Madrigals to Elizabethan poems'' for mixed choir (SATB) a cappella (Nos.1, 2, 3 also for female choir a cappella Op. 51a) (1939) *Op. 61 ''Four part-songs'' for mixed choir a cappella (1953) *Op. 70 ''Lebenskreise'' (Life Cycles). Symphonic cantata to poems by Hölderlin and

Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

, for 4 soloists, mixed choir and orchestra (1955) *''Four British folk-songs'' arr. for mixed choir (SATB) a cappella (English/German)

Vocal works – female choir

*Op. 1 ''Von ewiger Freude'' (Of Eternal Joy) cantata for four female voices and double female choir, with organ and two harps (1912) *Op. 2 ''Vom Bäumlein, das andere Blätter hat gewollt'' (The Tree that Wanted Different Leaves) (

Friedrich Rückert Johann Michael Friedrich Rückert (16 May 1788 – 31 January 1866) was a German poet, translation, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Biography Johann Michael Friedrich Rückert was born 16 May 1788 in Schweinfurt and was the e ...

) for alto solo, six-part female choir and small orchestra (1916) *Op. 5 ''Phantasien'' (Fantasies): three songs to poems by

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Thakur (; anglicised as Rabindranath Tagore ; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengalis, Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter of the Bengal Renai ...

for alto solo, female choir, clarinet, horn, harp (piano) and string quartet (string orchestra) (1919) *Op. 12 ''Three Songs'' for 3- and 4-part women's choir with Piano (1910–13) *Op. 25 ''Herbstlieder'' (Autumn Songs) five songs for 4-part women's choir (SSAA) a cappella (1918–25) *Op. 31 ''Three Songs to poems by R.M.Rilke'' for three female voices or 3-part women's choir with piano (1928) *Op. 47 ''Summer Idylls'' (Stille Lieder) four songs for women's choir a cappella (1935) *Op. 75 ''Jugendlieder'' (Songs of Youth) five songs for female voices a cappella (1959) *Op. 76 ''A Clarion Call'' for double female choir a cappella (1959) *Op. 77 ''Of a Summer Day'' lyrical suite for 3-part female choir with (mezzo)soprano solo and string orchestra (1951)

Vocal works – male choir

*Op. 11 ''Three Songs'' for 3- and 4-part Male-Voice Choir with piano (or small orchestra) (1910–11) *Op. 34 ''Drei Porträtstudien'' (Three Portrait Studies). (

Wilhelm Busch Heinrich Christian Wilhelm Busch (14 April 1832 – 9 January 1908) was a German humorist, poet, illustrator, and painter. He published wildly innovative illustrated tales that remain influential to this day. Busch drew on the tropes of f ...

). For 4-part male voice choir with piano (1929) *Op. 40 ''Three Idylls'' (Wilhelm Busch). For 4-part male-voice choir (TTBB) with piano (1934) *Op. 44 ''Nachtmusik'' (Night Music). (Grimmelshausen). For soprano solo, male voices (TTBB), flute, cello and piano (1933) *Op. 63 ''Two songs'' for 4-part male-voice choir a cappella (1954) *Op. 72 ''Satirikon'' four aphorisms for 4 male voices (TTBB) a cappella (1937–58) *Op. 91 ''Spätlese'' six songs for male-voice choir (TTBB) a cappella (1966/67) *''Drei deutsche Volkslieder'' (Three German folksongs) arr. for male-voice choir (TTBB) a cappella

Keyboard works

*Op. 3 ''Serbische Weisen'' (Serbian Dances) for piano duet (4 hands) (1916) *Op. 7 Drei Skizzen (Three sketches) for piano (1910–11) *Op. 24 Suite for piano (1922) *Op. 28 Sonata for piano (1927) *Op. 29 Toccata for organ (1928) *Op. 43 Concertino for piano and string orchestra (1934) *Op. 55 Concertino for organ and string orchestra (1948) *Op. 57 Concerto for piano and orchestra (1948) *Op. 58 Two Sonatinas for piano (1951, 1949) *Op. 64 Three Small Pieces for piano (1933) *Op. 65 Three Preludes for piano (1944) *Op. 74 ''Drei Marionetten'' (''Three Marionettes'') *Op. 83 Twenty-four Preludes for piano (1960) *Op. 108 Twenty-four Fugues for piano (1979–80) *''A Pastoral Tune'' for piano (6 hands) (1953–54) *''Kleine Suite (Little Suite)'' for harpsichord or piano (1962) *''Phantasia, Arioso and Capriccio'' for organ *Prelude and Fugue in A-flat for organ *Three Impromptus for two pianos (1940)

Works for recorder

*Op. 68a ''Suite for recorder and violin (1954–5) *Op. 68b Six two-part inventions for descant and treble recorder (1957) *Op. 68c Divertimento for 2 treble recorders and guitar (1957) *Op. 78 Quartettino for recorder quartet: 2 descant, treble (or tenor), tenor (or bass) (1960) *Op. 82 Concertino for treble recorder/flute and string quartet (string orchestra or piano) (1961) *Op. 88 ''Trio-Serenade'' for treble recorder/flute, violin and cello (1966) *Op. 98 Divertimento for 3 recorders (descant, treble and tenor) (1970) *Op. 103 Three Intermezzi for treble recorder/flute and harpsichord or piano (1974) *Op. 110a Four Bagatelles for treble recorder solo (1983) *''Intrata Giocosa'' for descant, treble and tenor recorders, two violins and cello (double bass ad lib) (1958

Works for mandolin

*Op. 56a Partita for mandolin and piano (1935) *Op. 59a Sonatina for 2 mandolins (1952) *Op. 59b Suite for 3 mandolins (1952) *Op. 60 ''Improvisation, Variations and Finale on a theme by Mozart'' For mandolin, violin, viola and liuto (1934) *Op. 66 ''Biedermeiertänze'' (Biedermeier Dances). Four pieces in 3/4 time for large mandolin orchestra (1954) *Op. 80 Divertimento for mandolin and harp (1967) *Op. 81 Sinfonietta No. 1 for mandolin orchestra, guitar & bass (1961) *Op. 86 Sinfonietta No. 2 (E minor) for mandolin orchestra. (1966) *Capriccio for mandolin orchestra (1973) *''Lyrical Suite'' for soprano solo, flute and string quartet (flute, mandolin and string trio) to Browning's '' Pippa Passes'' (1934)

Recordings

Since the early 2000s, Gál's music has started to be recorded on a significant scale. Recordings made during this period include a set of the four symphonies on the Avie label, under conductors

and Thomas Zehetmair, as well as recordings of concertos and chamber music.

Selected recordings

* ''24 Preludes for Piano'' op. 83, Aladár Rácz. Pan Classics PC510141, 2001 * ''Chamber Music for Clarinet'' (Clarinet Quintet op. 107, Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano, op. 97, Serenade for Clarinet, Violin and Cello, op. 93). Shelley Levy, Ensemble Burletta, Toccata TOCC0377, 2016 * ''Chamber Music, Volume Three'' (Piano Quartet in B-flat major, op. 13, Three Sonatinas for violin and piano, op. 71, Sonatina in F major). Cressida Nash, Katalin Kertész, Nichola Blakey, Sarah Beth Briggs, Toccata TOCC0433, 2018 * ''Complete Piano Duos'' Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow (Three marionettes op. 74, Serbische Weisen op. 3, Concertino op. 43, Three Impromptus, A Pastoral Tune). Divine Art DDA25098, 2012 * ''Complete String Quartets'' (Quartet No. 1 in F minor op. 16, Quartet No. 4 op. 99, Quartet no. 2 op 35, Quartet no. 3 op. 95, 5 Intermezzi op. 10, Improvisation, Variations and Finale on a theme by Mozart op. 60b). Edinburgh Quartet, Meridian Records CDE 84530/1, 2005/2007 * ''Complete Works for Solo Piano''; Leon McCawley (Three Sketches op. 7, Suite op. 24, Sonata op. 28, Two Sonatinas op. 58, Three Small Pieces op. 64, Three Preludes op. 65, Twenty-four Preludes op. 83, Twenty-four Fugues op. 108). Avie AV2064, 2005 * ''Concertinos'', for piano and strings (op. 43); for violin and strings (op. 52); for cello and strings (op. 87); Serenade for Strings (op. 46). Nina Karmon (violin), Justus Grimm (cello), Oliver Triendl (piano), Sinfonietta Riga/Normunds Šnē. Hännsler Classic HC23049, 2024 *Hans Gál & Edward Elgar: ''Cello Concertos'' (Gál: Cello Concerto, op. 67; Elgar: Cello Concerto) Antônio Meneses, cello; Northern Sinfonia, Claudio Cruz; Avie AV2237, 2012 *Hans Gál & Franz Schubert: ''Kindred Spirits'' (Gál: Symphony No. 1, op. 30; Schubert: Symphony No. 6 in C) Northern Sinfonia / Thomas Zehetmair; Avie AV2224, 2011 *Hans Gál & Franz Schubert: ''Kindred Spirits'' (Gál: Symphony No. 2, op. 53; Schubert: Symphony No. 9 (''The Great'')) Northern Sinfonia / Thomas Zehetmair; Avie AV2225, 2011 *Hans Gál & Hans Krása: ''Complete String Trios Ensemble Epomeo'' (Gál: Serenade op. 41 for violin, viola and cello; Gál:Trio in F-sharp minor op. 104 for violin, viola and cello; Krása: Tanec (Dance) for violin, viola and cello; Krása: Passacaglia and Fuga for violin, viola and cello), Avie AV2259, 2012 *Hans Gál & Robert Schumann (Gál: Symphony No. 1, op. 30; Schumann: Symphony No. 3) Orchestra of the Swan,

; Avie AV2233, 2014 *Hans Gál & Robert Schumann (Gál: Symphony No. 2, op. 53; Schumann: Symphony No. 3 ''Rhenish'') Orchestra of the Swan, Kenneth Woods; Avie AV2232, 2013 *Hans Gál & Robert Schumann (Gál: Symphony No. 3, op. 62; Schumann: Symphony No. 3 ''Rhenish'') Orchestra of the Swan, Kenneth Woods; Avie AV2230, 2011 *Hans Gál & Robert Schumann (Gál: Symphony No. 4, op. 105 (Sinfonia concertante); Schumann: Symphony No. 2, op. 61) Orchestra of the Swan, Kenneth Woods; Avie AV2231, 2012 *Hans Gál & Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Gál Concerto for Piano and Orchestra op. 57; Mozart Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat, K. 482) Sarah Beth Briggs (piano) Royal Northern Sinfonia, Kenneth Woods; Avie AV2358, 2016 * Hans Gal, and

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was th ...

: ''Works for Violin and Orchestra''. (includes Gal's Concertino for violin and string orchestra, op. 52). Erez Ofer (violin)

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra The Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (''Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin'') is a German symphony orchestra based in Berlin. In Berlin, the orchestra gives concerts at the Konzerthaus Berlin and at the Berliner Philharmonie. The orchestra has a ...

Frank Beermann Frank Beermann (born 13 March 1965) is a German conductor. He was Generalmusikdirektor (GMD) at the Chemnitz Opera for several years, and has worked freelance at international opera houses from 2012. He has conducted premieres and recordings of ra ...

. Hanssler Classics HC19020, 2019. *''Modern Times'' (Songs by

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

, Hans Gál,

Berthold Goldschmidt Berthold Goldschmidt (18 January 190317 October 1996) was a German Jewish composer who spent most of his life in England. The suppression of his work by Nazi Germany, as well as the disdain with which many modernist critics elsewhere dismissed hi ...

Hanns Eisler Hanns Eisler (6 July 1898 – 6 September 1962) was a German-Austrian composer. He is best known for composing the national anthem of East Germany, for his long artistic association with Bertolt Brecht, and for the scores he wrote for films. The ...

, Erich Korngold,

Alexander von Zemlinsky Alexander Zemlinsky or Alexander von Zemlinsky (14 October 1871 – 15 March 1942) was an Austrian composer, conductor, and teacher. Biography Early life Zemlinsky was born in Vienna to a highly diverse family. Zemlinsky's grandfather, Anton ...

and Wilhelm Grosz) includes Gál Five Songs (op. 33); Christian Immler (baritone), Helmut Deutsch (piano); C-Avi-Music 8553229, 2011 * ''Music for Cello'' (Sonata for Solo Cello op. 109a; Suite for Solo Cello op. 109b; Sonata for Cello and Piano op. 89) Alfia Nakipbekova (cello), Jakob Fichert (piano); Toccata Classics TOCC0043, 2012 * ''Music for Viola'' (Suite Concertante for Viola and Orchestra, op. 102a, Divertimento for Violin and Viola, op. 90, No. 3, Sonata for Viola and Piano, op. 101, Trio for Oboe, Violin and Viola, Op. 94, Hanna Pakkala, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Toccata TOCC0535, 2019 * ''Music for Voices'', Volumes 1 and 2. (includes ''Motette'', op. 19, ''Epigramme'', op. 27, ''Drei Lieder'', op. 31, ''Drei Porträtstudien'', op. 34, ''Four Madrigals'', op. 51, ''Songs of Youth'', op. 75, ''Satirikon'', op. 77, ''Spätlese'', op. 91. Toccata TOCC0509 (2020) and TOCC0644 (2023). *''Orgelwerke/Organ Works'' (Concertino for organ op. 55, Toccata op. 29, 2 Sacred Songs op. 21, Prelude & Fugue, Phantasia Arioso & Capriccioso) István Mátyás (organ), Adrineh Simonian (soprano), David Pennetzdorfer (cello), Orchester Wiener Akadenie/Martin Haselböck; Membran NCA 60162, 2007 * ''Piano Trios'' (Piano Trio in E Major, op. 18; Variations on a Heurigen Melody, op.9; Piano Trio in G Major, op. 49b) Doris Adam (piano), Karin Adam (violin), Christoph Stradner (cello); Camerata (Japan) CMCD-28149, 2008 * ''The Right Tempo'' (Three Intermezzos for Flute and Piano, op. 103; Sonata for Two Violins and Piano, op. 96, Three Sketches for Piano, op. 7, Huyton Suite for Flute and Two Violins, op. 92) Ulrike Anton (flute), Russell Ryan (piano), Cornelia Löscher (violin), Wolfhart Schuster (violin); Gramola (Vienna) 98896, 2010 *''Through the Centuries'' (includes Gál's Divertimento for Violin and Viola op. 90 no. 3) Annette-Barbara Vogel (violin), Daniel Sweaney (viola) Blue Green Recording BGR269, 2013 * ''Violin Concerto, Violin Concertino, Triptych for Orchestra'' (Gál: Concerto for violin & small orchestra, op. 39; Gál: Triptych: Three movements for orchestra, op. 100; Gál: Concertino for violin and string orchestra, op. 52) Annette-Barbara Vogel (violin), Northern Sinfonia/Kenneth Woods; Avie AV2146, 2010 * ''Violin Concerto & Violin Sonatas'' (Concerto for violin and small orchestra, op. 39, Sonata for Violin and Piano, op. 17, Sonata for Violin and Piano in D (1933)) Thomas Albertus Irnberger (violin), Evgeni Sinaiski (piano); Israel Chamber Orchestra, Roberto Paternostro; Gramola (Vienna) 98921, 2011 * ''Works for Violin and Piano'' (Sonata in B-flat minor, op. 17 (1920); Suite in G major op. 56 (1942); Sonata in D, op. posth. (1933)) Annette-Barbara Vogel (violin), Juhani Lagerspetz (piano); Avie AV2182, 2010

References

External links

* *
Personal tribute
by Margaret Moncrieff Kelly, musicweb-international.com * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gal, Hans 1890 births 1987 deaths People from Mödling District Musicians from Lower Austria Jewish emigrants from Austria after the Anschluss to the United Kingdom Austrian Romantic composers Austrian opera composers Austrian male opera composers 20th-century Austrian classical composers Jewish classical composers Officers of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class Recipients of the Austrian State Prize Recipients of the Grand Austrian State Prize People interned in the Isle of Man during World War II Academic staff of the University of Vienna Academics of the University of Edinburgh 20th-century Austrian male musicians Brahms scholars Austrian emigrants to England World War II civilian prisoners held by the United Kingdom