Anatol Vieru

Anatol Vieru (Romanian pronunciation: [anaˈtol viˈeru]; 8 June 1926 – 1998) was a music theoretician, influential pedagogue, and a leading Romanian-Jewish^[1] composer of the 20th century. A pupil of Aram Khachaturian, he composed seven symphonies, eight string quartets, numerous concertos, and much chamber music. He also wrote three operas: Iona (1976), Praznicul Calicilor (1981), and Telegrame, Tema si Variatiuni (1983). He was awarded Herder Prize in 1986.^[2]

List of works

Dramatic

• Iona (op, 1, after M. Sorescu and sketches by M.C. Escher), 1972–5, concert perf. Bucharest, 31 Oct 1976;
• Praznicul calicilor [The Feast of the Beggars] (op, after M. Sorbul), 1978–80, Berlin, 1991;
• Telegrame (mini-op, after I.L. Caragiale), 1983;
• Tema cu variatiuni [Theme and Variations] (mini-op, after Caragiale), 1983;
• Ultimele zile, ultimele ore [The Last Days, the Last Hours] (op, 3, after A.S. Pushkin: Motsart i Sal'yeri and M.A. Bulgakov: Poslednie dni [The Last Days]), 1990–95

Film scores

(names of dirs. in parentheses):

• Când primavara e fierbinte [When Spring is Hot] (M. Saucan), 1960;
• Ciucurencu (E. Nussbaum), 1964;
• Procesul alb [The White Trial] (I. Mihu), 1965;
• Brâncusi la Târgu-Jiu [Brâncusi at Târgu-Jiu] (Nussbaum), 1966;
• Soarele negru [Black Sun] (S. Popovici), 1968;
• O suta de lei [100 Lei] (M. Saucan), 1972;
• Felix si Otilia [Felix and Otilia] (Mihu), 1974;
• Marele singuratic [The Great Lonesome] (Mihu), 1976;
• Intoarcera lui Voda Lapusneanu [Lapusneanu's Return] (M. Ursianu), 1979

Orchestral

Symphonies:

• no.1 ‘Oda tacerii’ [Ode to Silence], 1967;
• no.2, 1973;
• no.3 ‘La un cutremur’ [Earthquake Sym.], 1978;
• no.4, 1982;
• no.5 (M. Eminescu), chorus, orch, 1984–5;
• no.6 [Exodus], 1989;
• no.7 ‘Anul soarelui calm’ [The Year of the Silent Sun], 1992–3

Other:

• Suita în stil vechi [Suite in an Olden Style], for strings, 1945;
• Dansuri simfonice, 1952; Concerto for Orchestra, 1954–5;
• Flute Concerto, 1958;
• Simfonia de camera, 1962;
• Cello Concerto, 1962;
• Jocuri (Jeux), piano, orchestra, 1963;
• Violin Concerto, 1964;
• Clepsidra I (Sonnenuhr), 1968–9;
• Muzeu muzical [Museum Music], harpsichord, 12 strings, 1968;
• Screen (Ecran), 1969;
• Clarinet Concerto, 1975;
• Sinfonietta, 1975;
• Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra, 1979;
• Sinfonia concertante, cello and orchestra, 1987;
• Narration II, sax and orchestra, 1985;
• Memorial, 1990;
• Psalm, 1993;
• Piano Concerto ‘Caleidoscop’, 1993;
• Malincolia furiosa, viola and orchestra, 1994;
• Hibernal, panpipes, strings, 1995;
• Flute Concerto no.2, 1996;
• Guitar Concerto, 1996;
• Musik, organ and strings, 1996;
• Elegia II, cello, doublebass and chamber orchestra, 1998

Vocal

Choral:

• Mierla lui Ilie Pintilie [Ilie Pintilie's Blackbrid] (cant.), 1949;
• Miorita [The Ewe Lamb] (oratorio), 1957;
• Cantata anilor lumina [Light Years Cant.] (N. Cassian), 1960;
• Scene nocturne (F. García Lorca), 2 choruses, 1964;
• Vocale [Vowels] (G. Ungaretti), female chorus, 1963;
• Clepsidra II (folk texts), chorus, panpipes, cymbal, orchestra, 1971;
• Fratele cel sarac [The Poor Brother] (I. Neculce), 1993;
• Daniil, 1994;
• In marea apusului [In the Sea of Sunsets], chorus, trumpet, timpani, 1998

Solo:

• Muzica pentru Bacovia si Labis [Music for Bacovia and Labis], 1959–63:

1. The Struggle against Inertia, Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, flute, violin, piano;
2. Nocturnes and Resonances of Bacovia, Soprano, flute, piano;
3. Truces, Mezo-soprano, piano;

• Discul lui Newton [Newton's Disc], 12 solo vv, 1972;
• 4 unghiuri din care am vazut Florenta [4 Angels to See Florence], soprano, piano/harpsichord, 1–2 percussionists, 1973;
• Cântec arhaic de dragoste [Ancient Love Songs] (Bible: Solomon):

1. I. Sage mir an, Mez, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1985
2. II. O that you were a Brother to Me, 8vv, 1987
3. III. Siehe, du bist schön, Mez, a sax, 1985
4. IV. Fa-ma precum o pecete [Set Me as a Seal upon your Heart], 4vv, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, 1989
5. V. Ja nartsis saronskij [I am a Rose of Sharon], chorus, 1987;

• Poveste [Marches], Sprechstimme, percussion, 1993;
• Archipelagos, Baritone, vibraphone, 1994;
• Dechanson (T. Tzara), 4vv, 1995;
• Questions et responses (P. Celan, P. Solomon), 4vv, 1995;
• Iarba ochilor tai [The Grass of your Eyes] (Celan), 4vv, 1997

Chamber and solo instrumental

String quartets:

• no.1, 1955,
• no.2, 1956;
• no.3, soprano and string quartet, 1973;
• no.4, 1980;
• no.5, 1982;
• no.6, 1986;
• no.7, 1987;
• no.8, 1991

Other:

• Clarinet Quintet, 1957;
• Kammersymphonie, 1962;
• Trepte ale tacerii [Steps of Silence], string quartet, percussion, 1966;
• Nautilos, piano, tape, 1969;
• Sita lui Eratostene [The Riddle of Eratosthanes], clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 1969;
• Nasterea unui limbaj [The Birth of a Language], piano 4 hands, 1971;
• Mozaicuri [Mosaics], 3 percussionists, 1972;
• Iosif si fratii sai [Joseph and his Brothers], 11 instruments, tape, 1979;
• Scoica [Shell], 15 strings, 1982;
• Double Duos, a sax/b clarinet, vib/mar, 1983;
• Ma–jo–r Music, flute, clarinet, harp, string quartet, 1984;
• Metasaks, sax, dea (1984);
• Soroc I, 6 studies, percussion, 1984;
• Soroc II, 7 instruments, 1984;
• Sonata, violin, cello, 1984–5;
• Diaphonie, cello, doublebass, 1987;
• Trînta [Wrestling], sax, percussion, 1987;
• Epistolaire, a flute, piano, 1988;
• Multigen, a flute, oboe, a sax, percussion, piano, 1988;
• Giusto, sax, 2 guitars, synth, percussion, 1989;
• Versete [Verses], 1989; Sax Quartet, 1990;
• Sax-Vier, sax quartet, 1991;
• Trio microtonic, bassoon, guitar, doublebass, 1992;
• Feuerwerk, flute, violin, vibraphone, 1994;
• Craciun [Christmas], violin, piano, 1994;
• Canto, oboe, percussion, 1995;
• Couple, clarinet, viola, 1995;
• Duo leggiero, flute, percussion, 1995;
• Rubato, oboe, percussion, 1995;
• Toccatina, 2 guitar, 1995;
• Chanson de geste, guitar, cello, 1996;
• Gruss, violin, cello, piano, organ, 1996;
• Masca [Masks], flute, cello, doublebass, 1996;
• Canon und Fuge, piano 4 hands, 1997;
• Elegia I, sax, organ, 1997;
• Et in Arcadia ego, 3 recorders, 1997;
• Posviascenie [Dedication], trumpet, cello, timpani, 1997;
• Trio, violin, cello, piano, 1997; Centaurus, sax, trombone, percussion, 1998

Solo:

• Din lumea copiilor [From the Realm of Childhood], 8 miniatures, piano, 1958;
• Sonata, cello, 1963, arr. cello, percussion (1977);
• Narration, organ, 1973;
• Piano Sonata, 1976;
• Pelinarium, synthesizer, 1986;
• Dar I [Gift], flute, 1988;
• Dar II, cello, 1989;
• Design-Dasein, flute+a flute+piccolo, 1993;
• Piano Sonata, 1994;
• Ritmuri [Rhythms], piano, 1994;
• Adio, piano, 1996;
• Eppur si muove, flute, 1996;
• Sandu, piano, 1996;
• Schöntok, piano, 1996;
• Capriccio, violin, 1997;
• Voeu, piano, 1997

References