
Alexander Goehr
À venir
À propos de Alexander Goehr
The combination of mystery and transparent musical language compels attention—as did the edgy, controlled performance—even as the core meaning remained a puzzle. This was one of the best kinds of musical experiences, where one wants to hear the music repeated and get closer to the mystery at the center.
- George Grella, New York Classical Review on Verschwindendes Wort (Vanishing Word)
Alexander Goehr, composer and teacher, was born in Berlin on 10 August 1932, son of the conductor Walter Goehr, and was brought to England in 1933. He studied with Richard Hall at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where together with Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies and John Ogdon he formed the New Music Manchester Group, and with Olivier Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod in Paris. In the early 1960’s he worked for the BBC and formed the Music Theatre Ensemble, the first ensemble devoted to what has become an established musical form. From the late 1960’s onwards he taught at the New England Conservatory Boston, Yale, Leeds and in 1975 was appointed to the chair of the University of Cambridge, where he remained an Emeritus Professor. He also taught in China and was twice Composer-in-Residence at Tanglewood.
The year of Goehr's appointment at Cambridge coincided with a turning point in his output, with the composition of a white-note setting of Psalm IV (1976). The simple, bright modal sonority of this piece marked a departure from post-war serialism and a commitment to a more transparent soundworld. Goehr found a way of controlling harmonic pace by fusing his own modal harmonic idiom with the long abandoned practice of figured bass, achieving a highly idiosyncratic fusion of past and present.
The output of the ensuing twenty years testifies to Goehr's desire to use this new idiom to explore ideas and genres that were already constant features of his work, such as the exploration of symphonic form (Sinfonia (1979), Symphony with Chaconne (1985-86), Eve Dreams in Paradise (1987-88)). However, these years' output is also characterised by a number of ambitious vocal scores. A common feature of many of the vocal compositions of these years is the choice of subjects that function as allegories for reflection upon socio-political themes: The Death of Moses (1992); the cantata Babylon the Great is Fallen (1979) and the opera Behold the Sun (1985). There are also non-political works: the cantata Sing, Ariel (1989-90), that recalls Messiaen’s stylized birdsong and sets a kaleidoscope of English poetry, and the opera Arianna (1995), written on a Rinuccini libretto for a lost opera by Monteverdi, is an exploration of the soundworld of Italian Renaissance.
Goehr’s orchestral works include four symphonies, concerti for piano, violin, viola and cello, works for chamber, string and wind orchestra, as well as ensemble. Goehr held a particularly close working relationship with Oliver Knussen, who recorded and gave premiere performances of many works including ... a musical offering (J. S. B. 1985)... (1985), Idées Fixes (1997) and To These Dark Steps/The Fathers Are Watching (2011-12) for tenor, children's choir and ensemble. He has received numerous commissions over the years from the BBC, beginning with Hecuba's Lament (1959-61) premiered at the 1961 BBC Proms with John Carewe conducting. Schlussgesang six pieces for viola and orchestra (1996) was premiered by BBC Symphony Orchestra at the 1997 Aldeburgh Festival with Tabea Zimmermann and When Adam Fell (2011-12) was commissioned to celebrate his 80th birthday and premiered with the BBC SO, both with Oliver Knussen conducting. ...second musical offering (GFH 2001) (2001) was a Proms commission premiered by Leonard Slatkin and BBC SO, and BBC Philharmonic and HK Gruber premiered TurmMusik/Tower Music (2009-10) in a festival of Goehr's music in 2010. Many other world-class orchestras, soloists and conductors have performed his works: The cello concerto Romanza (1968) was written for Jacqueline du Pré and premiere at the 1968 Brighton Festival with Daniel Barenboim and the New Philharmonia Orchestra. Bernard Haitink and the London Philharmonic Orchestra premiered Metamorphosis/Dance (1973-74), Boston Symphony Orchestra premiered Colossos or Panic (1991-92) under Seiji Ozawa and Bamberg Symphony commissioned Two Sarabandes (2014) and premiered the work with Lahav Shani.
Goehr wrote five operas: Arden Must Die, Hamburg 1967; Behold the Sun, Deutsche Oper 1985; Arianna, lost opera by Monteverdi, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 1995; Kantan & Damask Drum, Theater Dortmund September 1999; Promised End, derived from King Lear, London 2010; and a music theatre Triptych (1968-70). Promised End (2008-9), based on Shakespeare's King Lear was premiered in 2010 by English Touring Opera.
After productions of his opera Kantan & Damask Drum (1997-98) in Dortmund and London, Goehr devoted himself almost exclusively to chamber music. Through the chamber music medium he gained an unprecedented rhythmic and harmonic immediacy, while his music remains ever permeable by the music and imagery of other times and places. A series of quintets for different combinations includes Five Objects Darkly (1996), …around Stravinsky (2002) for violin and winds, and Since Brass nor Stone… (2008) for string quartet and percussion, a memorial to Pavel Haas which won a British Composer Award. Marching to Carcassonne (2003) for Peter Serkin and London Sinfonietta, flirts with neoclassicism and Stravinsky. The set of solo piano pieces Symmetries Disorder Reach (2007), a barely disguised baroque suite, was premiered by Huw Watkins and the trio Largo Siciliano (2012) for violin horn and piano was notably performed with pianist Daniel Barenboim. In addition, …between the lines… (2013) was premiered by the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin, Verschwindendes Wort (2014-15) was performed by Ensemble Modern, and the quintet after “The Waking” (2016-17) was commissioned by Wigmore Hall and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and premiered by the Nash Ensemble. Goehr’s fifth quartet, Vision of the Soldier Er (2018), was premiered in 2019. Most recently, The Master Said (2016) was premiered by BBC National Orchestra Wales and co-commissioned with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Talea Ensemble gave Double Chaconne with Gaps (2019-2020) its world premiere with Susanne Blumenthal. In celebration of Goehr's ninetieth birthday, Wigmore Hall hosted a portrait concert of the composer featuring the premiere of Combat of Joseph de la Reina and the Devil (2019-2020) and Cambridge University New Music Group in collaboration with the Britten Sinfonia curated a concert entitled 'Alexander Goehr: A Retrospective'.
Alexander Goehr was an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a former Churchill Fellow, and in 1997 gave the BBC Reith Lecture. In 2019, Goehr was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in recognition of his lifelong contribution to musical culture. He was an Emeritus Professor at Cambridge University, and his manuscript archive is curated by the Berlin Akademie der Künste. In December 2022, he was most recently awarded the Ivor Novello award for Outstanding Works Collection.
The collaborative book Composing a Life by Goehr and composer-musicologist and former pupil Jack Van Zandt was published by Carcanet in October 2023. One of Goehr’s final work, Onedering (2023) for string quartet was premiered by the Villiers Quartet at the Royal Northern College of Music to mark the occasion.
Much of Goehr’s music is available on the NMC label, including the discs ‘Colossos or Panic’ (2012), ‘Since Brass, nor Stone’ (2003), and ‘Piano Concerto – Symphony in One Movement’ (1995), and a portrait disc of his orchestral music has been released by Naxos. Collections of his writings can be found in ‘Finding the Key’ (Faber & Faber 1998), and in ‘Fings ain’t wot they used t’be’ (Berlin Akademie der Künste and Wolke-Archive 2012).
The world premiere of Goehr’s Seven Laments for solo clarinet performed by Ib Hausmann will be part of Langenselbolder Klassik-Festival in October 2024 and Ensemble 10:10 conducted by Geoffrey Paterson will perform Sinfonia (1979) in Liverpool in March 2025.
Sandy (to all who knew him) passed away on 26 August 2024 at home in Cambridgeshire.
Liste d'œuvres
Galerie




Chronologie
BBC Symphony Orchestra premiere "Hecuba's Lament", op.12
Premiere of "2 Choruses", op.14 in London
London Symphony Orchestra premiere "Little Symphony", op.15
"Little Music for Strings", op.16 commissioned by Lucerne Festival and premiered by Lucerne Festival Strings
Wrote "Three Pieces for Piano" op.18 and "Pastorals", op.19
World premiere of "Piano Trio" op.20, at Bath Festival (Yehudi and Hephzibah Menuhin and Maurice Genron)
"Symphony in One Movement", op.29 premiered by the New Philharmonia Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall, London
"Sonata about Jerusalem", op.31 premiered by Israel Chamber Orchestra
Radio-Télévision Belge Chamber Orchestra perform premiere of "Concerto for Eleven", op.32
"Lyric Pieces", op.35 premiered by London Sinfonietta
First performance of "Metamorphosis/Dance", op.36 by London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall, London
"Das Gesetz der Quadrille" (The Law of the Quardille), op.41 premiere at Norwich Triennial Festival
"Sinfonia", op.42 premiered by the English Chamber Orchestra, London
"Behold the Sun" (dramatic scena), op. 44a commissioned and performed by London Sinfonietta at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
BBC Singers premiere "Two Imitations of Baudelaire", op. 47 at St John's Smith Square, London
First performance of "String Quartet No. 4", op.52 by Arditti String Quartet
Wrote "Colossos or Panic", op.55
Quintet "Five objects Darkly", op.62 premiered in Los Angeles
Wrote "Sur terre, en l'air", op. 64
Wrote "...around Stravinsky", op.72
"Adagio" (Autoportät), op.75 premiered by Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim
World premiere of "…between the lines…" by the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin
"Verschwindendes Wort" receives its world premiere by Ensemble Modern at The Juilliard School
Lahav Shani and the Bamberger Symphoniker premiere "Two Sarabands"
after “The Waking” is premiered by the Nash Ensemble at Wigmore Hall
Made Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society
World premiere of "Vision of the Soldier Er" by the Villiers Quartet
Catherine Larsen-Maguire and BBC National Orchestra Wales premiere "The Master Said"
Wins the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Works Collection
World premiere of "Combat of Joseph de la Reina and the Devil" at Wigmore Hall for 90th Birthday Celebration
Talea Ensemble premiere "Double Chaconne with Gaps"
The collaborative book Composing a Life by Goehr and Jack Van Zandt was published.
Premiere of "Onedering" for string quartet by the Villiers Quartet at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Alexander Goehr passed away on 26 August 2024 at home in Cambridgeshire.
Produits
-
(in memoriam Olivier Messiaen)Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: ensemble de musique de chambreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrEdition: Partition d'étudeInstrumentation: 14 musicien in 4 groupesNuméro du produit: ED 12257Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 33,99 €TTC
-
for fourteen playersCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: 14 musicienMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Chamber symphony for eleven playersCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: ensembleMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
for orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: orchestreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
for violin and wind quartetCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: violon et wind quartetMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Cycle of pieces for solo pianoCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionInstrumentation: pianoNuméro du produit: ED 12395Format papierFormat papierEn stock23,50 €TTC, hors expédition
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: PartitionInstrumentation: choeur mixteLangue: AnglaisNuméro du produit: ED 10888Format papierFormat papierEn stock11,00 €TTC, hors expédition
-
for eleven playersCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: 11 musicienMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
for orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrEdition: Partition d'étudeInstrumentation: orchestreNuméro du produit: ED 13508Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 27,99 €TTC
-
for orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: orchestreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Liste des OEuvres PublieésMatériel publicitaireMatériel publicitaireEn stock0,00 €TTC, hors expédition
-
An Opera on the death of the wealthy Arden of Faversham in two acts (seven scenes)Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: LivreEdition: LivretSérie: Arden muss sterben
Instrumentation: solistes, choeur et orchestreLangue: AnglaisNuméro du produit: ED 10908-11LivreLivreEn stock19,00 €TTC, hors expédition -
An opera on the death of the wealthy Arden of Faversham in two acts (seven scenes)Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: LivreEdition: LivretSérie: Arden muss sterben
Instrumentation: solistes, choeur et orchestreLangue: AllemandNuméro du produit: ED 10908-10LivreLivreEn stock7,50 €TTC, hors expédition -
An opera on the death of the wealthy Arden of Faversham in two acts (seven scenes)Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Réduction pour pianoSérie: Arden muss sterben
Instrumentation: solistes, choeur et orchestreLangue: Allemand, AnglaisNuméro du produit: ED 10908Format papierFormat papierEn stock75,00 €TTC, hors expédition -
an opera on the death of the wealthy Arden of Faversham in two acts (seven scenes)Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionLangue: Allemand, AnglaisMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
(lost opera by Claudio Monteverdi)Compositeur: Alexander Goehr | Claudio MonteverdiMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionLangue: Anglais, ItalienMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Lost Opera by Monteverdi in 8 scenes composed againCompositeur: Alexander Goehr | Claudio MonteverdiMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Réduction pour pianoSérie: Arianna
Langue: Anglais, ItalienNuméro du produit: ED 12457Format papierFormat papierEn stock47,50 €TTC, hors expédition -
from scene 3 of "Arianna" with guitar interludesCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: PartitionInstrumentation: ténor et guitareLangue: ItalienNuméro du produit: ED 12608Format papierFormat papierEn stock10,00 €TTC, hors expédition
-
for solo fluteCompositeur: Alexander GoehrSérie: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: alto-flûteNuméro du produit: ED 13308Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 5,99 €TTC -
for mixed chorus and orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: chouus et orchestreLangue: LatinMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Concert aria with refrain for high soprano, vibraphone obligato and chamber orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: soprano, vibraphone et orchestre de chambreLangue: AnglaisMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Opera in three acts, op. 44Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Réduction pour pianoSérie: Behold the Sun
Langue: Allemand, AnglaisNuméro du produit: ED 12220Format papierFormat papierEn stock109,00 €TTC, hors expédition -
opera in three actsCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionLangue: Allemand, AnglaisMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
six pieces for solo violinCompositeur: Alexander GoehrSérie: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: violonNuméro du produit: ED 13050Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 11,99 €TTC -
for alto flute, oboe and stringsCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: flûte traversière alto, hautbois et orchestre à cordesMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrEdition: Partition de choeurSérie: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: choeur mixte (SATB) et orgueNuméro du produit: ED 13289Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 7,99 €TTC -
for four horns and orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: 4 cors et orchestreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionInstrumentation: pianoNuméro du produit: ED 10674Format papierFormat papierEn stock7,50 €TTC, hors expédition
-
for SATB choirCompositeur: Alexander GoehrEdition: Partition de choeurSérie: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: choeur mixteNuméro du produit: ED 13017Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 3,99 €TTC -
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionInstrumentation: orgueNuméro du produit: ED 11472Format papierFormat papierEn stock21,00 €TTC, hors expédition
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: orchestre d'instruments à ventMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Symphonic Fragment after GoyaCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: orchestreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Symphonic Fragment after GoyaCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Partition d'étudeSéries: Music Of Our Time
Colossos or Panic
Instrumentation: orchestreNuméro du produit: ED 12444Format papierFormat papierEn stock32,00 €TTC, hors expédition -
for soprano saxophoneCompositeur: Alexander GoehrSérie: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: saxophone sopranoNuméro du produit: ED 12806Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 8,99 €TTC -
for violin and orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrEdition: Partition d'étudeSérie: Music Of Our Time
Instrumentation: violon et orchestreNuméro du produit: ED 10813Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 30,99 €TTC -
for piano and orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: piano et orchestreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
for violin and orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: violon et orchestreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Partition d'étudeSéries: Music Of Our Time
Concerto
Instrumentation: piano et orchestreNuméro du produit: ED 12308Format papierFormat papierEn stock39,00 €TTC, hors expédition -
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: orchestre de chambreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Partition d'étudeSéries: Music Of Our Time
Concerto for Eleven
Instrumentation: orchestre de chambreNuméro du produit: ED 12081Format papierFormat papierEn stock39,00 €TTC, hors expédition -
from the opera "Arianna"Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: PartitionSérie: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: choeur mixte (ATTB) et pianoNuméro du produit: ED 12609Format papierFormat papierEn stock15,50 €TTC, hors expédition -
followed by a folkplay (Kyogen)Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionLangue: Allemand, AnglaisMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrSérie: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: voix grave et pianoNuméro du produit: ED 13074Type de produitEn stockPrix à partir de 20,99 €TTC -
Lieder nach Franz Kafka - Songs after Franz KafkaCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Partition de directionInstrumentation: voix grave et pianoLangue: AllemandNuméro du produit: ED 12078Format papierFormat papierEn stock23,50 €TTC, hors expédition
-
for orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: orchestreMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
Compositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Partition d'étudeSéries: Music Of Our Time
Deux Études
Instrumentation: orchestreNuméro du produit: ED 11847Format papierFormat papierEn stock52,50 €TTC, hors expédition -
for ensembleCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: ensembleMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution
-
for two violinsCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: PartitionEdition: Partition d'exécutionSérie: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: 2 violonsNuméro du produit: ED 13086-01Format papierFormat papierÉpuisé11,50 €TTC, hors expédition -
for mezzo-soprano, tenor & orchestraCompositeur: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Matériel en location / d'exécutionEdition: Matériel d'exécutionInstrumentation: mezzo soprano, ténor et orchestreLangue: AnglaisMatériel en location / d'exécutionMatériel en location / d'exécution