August 18th, 1936.... (death of a gypsy boy) Monumentum pro Thomas Alva Edison Erectum A.D.MIIM op.34/1 Adagio inMemory of Nino lo Bello, op. 32 Studies for Strings 0p.27 Gemini, op. 24 8 Bagatelles on the Name György Ligeti La Fontaine du Sang, op. 22b Minotaurus study for solo violin Rinne-tensho Metamorphosis of a labyrinth op. 22a Jam Session for Fritz, op. 14#6 Fantasy for 4 Violas, op. 5 Halbthurn Cappriccioso for Robert, op. 14 # 2 Funeral Music for Olof Palme for Solo Violin and Accompanying Chamber Ensemble, op. 13a Movimientos para Don José Haydn, Op. 8 Structures for different groups of an ensemble consisting of 15 instrumentalists April (A piece for Violin and Piano) Vanished Dreams, 6 Sketches for Stringquartet, op. 22c |
Halbthurn Cappriccioso for Robert, op. 14 # 2As do all of the "Homages" of René Staar, the "Halbthurn Cappriccioso" takes for its source the musicalized letters of a name - in this case Robert Schollum. The intervals of the tone row b-e-s-c-h form the main theme of the piece. (Staar would dedicate it to Robert Schollum (1913 - 1987) whom he knew very well as a friend, and whose works he often played. The first performance of this work took place in the presence of the composer in the Halbthurner Castle Concerts. Schollum was a great champion of Austrian contemporary music; he ran his own series of programs at the Austrian Radio, programmed many concert series throughout the entire country including the Halbthurner Castle Concerts which supported young interpreters of 20th century music and their public). From this series of tones and intervals playful and lyrical snippets form a Rondo, which, in spite of its composition in 1986, is much freer than the "Staendchen" composed for Ernst Krenek’s birthday a year before. Like that work, this one is also a birthday present, this time for Robert Schollum. The work lasts c. 6 min. Translation: Michael Ingham |