Wolfgang Steffen

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Wolfgang Steffen (born April 28, 1923 in Neuhaldensleben ; † December 4, 1993 in Berlin ) was a German composer of serious music .

life and work

Wolfgang Steffen grew up in a middle-class family, his father was the director of a secondary school, his mother Frieda Steffen a trained pianist. Wolfgang Steffen dealt with music from an early age and began studying music at the Conservatory in Hamburg-Blankenese with Theodor Kaufmann after completing his school years and military service in World War II . As early as 1946, Wolfgang Steffen moved back to Berlin and studied composition under Heinz Tiessen and conducting, as well as music and theater studies.

After his studies, Wolfgang Steffen led various choirs and orchestras in Berlin and later received a professorship for music theory at the Berlin University of the Arts . He also worked for many years in various GEMA committees and was also an international advisor for the German Composers' Association .

Wolfgang Steffen's compositional work mainly includes chamber and orchestral music as well as choral music. Many of the compositions are commissioned works, so the sound segments op.41 were created on the basis of an order from the RIAS , the orchestral work Goslar for the 1000th anniversary of the city of Goslar and the Gertrud Kolmar cantata op.65 for the 750th anniversary of the city of Berlin . For his compositional work, Wolfgang Steffen received the advancement award (1972) and main award (1979) of the Johann-Wenzel-Stamitz-Preis and in 1978 the Paula-Spivakova-Scholarship. In 1981 the composer received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on the ribbon . Wolfgang Steffen's estate is kept in the archive of the Academy of the Arts .

Compositions

Orchestral music

  • Serenade in the old style op. 4 for flute and string orchestra
  • Sinfonietta for string orchestra op.5
  • Dance impressions II op. 7a for piano, percussion and plucked orchestra
  • Meditations de la nuit op.12 for piano and orchestra
  • From the life book of a dancer op. 13a for orchestra
  • Concerto for piano and orchestra op. 16 [1. and 2nd version]
  • Concerto for violin and orchestra op.32
  • Concert pour Clavecin et orchester op.34
  • Polychromy op.38a for piano and orchestra
  • Sound segments for cymbal, harp, harpsichord and orchestra op.41
  • Sinfonia da Camera op.46 for orchestra
  • Concerto for 6 flutes (1 player) and orchestra op.49
  • Concertino for piano and orchestra op. 60a
  • Symphonic poem for orchestra op. 73 Goslar
  • Berlin fanfare for wind orchestra
  • Cheerful dialogue for orchestra

Chamber music

  • Piano Fantasy in h op. 1
  • Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon op.2
  • Three piano pieces, op.6
  • Theme with eight variations, Op. 3 [String Quartet No. 1]
  • Duo-Serenade in the old style op.4a for flute and piano
  • Sonata for piano op.21
  • Trio for clarinet, violoncello and piano op.23
  • Row proportions op.25 for piano
  • Diagram op. 29 for violoncello and organ
  • Polychromie op.38 for piano and 10 instruments
  • Triplum op. 39 for flute, piano and percussion
  • Trilogy op. 43 for accordion, flute and percussion
  • Music for Piano and Seven Players op.44
  • Chamber concert op.48
  • Meditation op. 52 for violin
  • Duo for violoncello and accordion op.54
  • Reflexe op. 56 for clarinet
  • String trio op.57
  • Organ Fantasy op.58
  • Pro Rascher Saxophone Quartet in memoriam op.59
  • Concertino for piano and nine instruments op.60
  • Piece op. 71 for guitar
  • Klangdialog op. 72 for mandolin and guitar
  • Chimes op. 75 for percussion ensemble

Choral and vocal works

  • Three songs op.8
  • Hymn op.11
  • Three orchestral songs op.17
  • To the blessing of work op.18
  • The Lord is a Rock op.28a
  • Greek cantata op. 30a for youth choir and chamber ensemble
  • Gertrud Kolmar Trilogy op. 35 for soprano and small ensemble
  • Oratorio for choir, children's choir, 2 speakers, organ and orchestra op. 45 message
  • Tagnachtlied op.50 for mixed choir a cappella
  • Moments op. 62 for 1-7 part mixed choir a cappella
  • Two choirs op.68
  • Pictures by Aigina op.69
  • Burnt Norton cycle op.70
  • Berliner Frühling op. 76 for tenor and piano

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Philipp, Beate (2008): Wolfgang Steffen. In: Contemporary composers. Ravensburg: Munzinger archive.
  2. ↑ Biography ( memento of September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) on the Ries & Erler publisher's website .
  3. ^ Philipp, Beate (2008): Wolfgang Steffen. In: Contemporary composers. Ravensburg: Munzinger archive.
personal data
SURNAME Steffen, Wolfgang
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German composer of serious music
DATE OF BIRTH April 28, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH Neuhaldensleben
DATE OF DEATH 4th December 1993
Place of death Berlin