Dieter Nowka

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Dieter Nowka (born July 7, 1924 in Madlow near Cottbus ; † July 20, 1998 in Spremberg ) was a German composer , conductor and musicologist of Lower Sorbian origin.

Life

Nowka felt very attached to his Lower Sorbian origins, but to his regret did not speak the Lower Sorbian language . In 1943 and 1944 he studied external music theory and counterpoint at the Berlin-Charlottenburg University of Music with Hermann Grabner . From 1947 to 1952 he worked as a solo tutor in Cottbus and Schwerin and as a conductor in Stendal . In 1952 he began studying again and until 1954 attended the master classes for composition at the German Academy of the Arts in Berlin (East) by Max Butting and Hanns Eisler .

After completing his studies, Nowka worked as a freelance composer in Schwerin. From 1959 he was chairman of the Mecklenburg working group of the Association of Composers and Musicologists of the GDR (VDK) and, after a restructuring, chairman of the Schwerin district working group and member of the central board of the VDK. From 1960 to 1963 he was also chairman of the peace council in the Schwerin district . Nowka was a member of the SED . From 1974 until his retirement in 1990, he taught composition and music theory at the Liszt School of Music in Weimar . Nowka has also emerged as an author of musicological works. Among other things, he was awarded the Fritz Reuter Prize in Schwerin and the GDR Art Prize.

Nowka as a composer

Nowka's compositional style was initially shaped by intensive preoccupation with Sorbian folk music. A rich polyphony and occasional jazz sounds also characterize his early style, which can be described as generally traditional and easy to understand. The socialist realism initially propagated in the GDR certainly plays a certain role here. Later, however, Nowka oriented itself more towards modern trends. This particularly meant a turn to compositional techniques such as twelve-tone technique and aleatoric . In the last years of his life, Nowka concentrated more on musicological work than on new compositions.

Nowka as a musicologist

Nowka was not only active as a composer and conductor, but also as an important musicologist and music theorist. His main musicological work is the history of European composition . Using more than 3000 selected sheet music samples, Nowka presented the characteristics of the different epochs, tone systems and styles of European music from its beginnings to the 20th century. This work is an important contribution to the literature on European music history.

Works

  • Orchestral works
    • 5 symphonies (No. 1 op. 55, 1958, No. 2, 1963, No. 3, 1969, No. 4, 1974, No. 5, 1979)
    • 3 symphonies (including "Sinfonietta sorbica" op. 42)
    • Wendish dances op. 26, 27 and 59 (1954–57)
    • Concert Variations on a Theme by Hanns Eisler (1969)
    • 3 sonatas for orchestra
  • Concerts
    • Piano Concerto No. 1 op.71 for the left hand (1963)
    • Piano Concerto No. 2 (1972)
    • Concerto for oboe and chamber orchestra op.24
    • Concerto for flute, harp and strings op.46
    • Violin Concerto op.77
  • Stage works
    • "Jan Suschka", opera (1957)
    • "The Inheritance", opera (1958)
    • "A Peasant Legend", ballet (1958)
  • Other vocal works
    • "Four songs against the war" for baritone and orchestra (1957)
  • Chamber music
    • 4 string quartets (No. 1 op. 31, 1954, No. 2 op. 51, 1956, No. 3, 1960, No. 4, 1972)
    • 2 ballads for piano trio (1956)
    • Divertimento for wind quintet and piano op.72 (1964)
    • Nocturne. Ballata e Danza for violin, viola and harp op.74 (1964)
    • Trio No. 2 for violin, viola and violoncello op.80
  • Piano music
    • "Sonata burlesca" op. 23 (1953)
    • Sonata No. 2 (1955)
    • smaller pieces

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Klaus J. Schiller, Manfred Thiemann: History of the Sorbs. Volume 4. Domowina-Verlag, Bautzen 1979, p. 264.
  2. ↑ Detlef Kobjela , Werner Meschkank: From the rain magic song to the Wendish pop ballad. A contribution to the music history of Lausitz with a special presentation of the Lower Sorbian music history. Potsdam Contributions to Sorabic Studies, No. 3. University of Potsdam, 2000, p. 51.
  3. ↑ Gabriele Baumgartner, Dieter Hebig (ed.): Biographisches Handbuch der SBZ / GDR, 1945–1990. Volume 2. KG Saur, Munich a. a. 1997, p. 607, entry Nowka, Dieter .
personal data
SURNAME Nowka, Dieter
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German composer, conductor and musicologist
DATE OF BIRTH July 7, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH Madlow near Cottbus
DATE OF DEATH July 20, 1998
Place of death Spremberg