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Henri Lazarof (1932-     )

Henri Lazarof, a native of Sofia, Bulgaria, began his musical studies at the age of six. He emigrated to America in 1957 and studied at Brandeis University with composers Arthur Berger and Harold Shapero. In 1958, during his Brandeis residency, his string quartet was awarded first prize in a competition sponsored by the Boston area’s Brookline Public Library, and his Cantata was commissioned by Brandeis for its 1959 arts festival. In 1959 Lazarof relocated to Los Angeles, where he began his association with the University of California (UCLA), teaching French language and literature. In 1966 Lazarof’s international reputation was boosted by his award of the first International Prize of Milan for his Structures Sonores. Lazarof’s catholic views on contemporary music and its appreciation and promotion are summed up in his statement in the brochure for the 1973–74 season of the Contemporary Arts Festival. He observed that the concert series was "dedicated to the presentation of the entire broad range of this historically evolving art without adopting a single ideology, but one of continuity—accepting tradition and altering it in terms of contemporary experimentation, which in turn is to become our legacy for the next generation to alter." Lazarof has become known for his open-minded and ongoing experimentation with evolving contemporary trends and styles. He prides himself in continually searching not only for new means of expression but for fresh instrumental combinations as well. "I believe you should not repeat yourself," he has been quoted as saying. "I try always to write for new instrumental forces - to search out the limits of the performer and one’s own limits as a composer."

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Lazarof Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
String Quartet No. 1 (????, withdrawn?)
Piccola Serenata, orchestra (1959)
Viola Concerto (1959-60)
Concerto for Piano and 20 Instruments (1960-61)  [same piece?: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1961?)]
String Quartet No. 2 (1961-62; pub. 1964)
Odes, orchestra (1962)
Inventions, viola and piano (1962)
Largo, organ (1963)
Quantetti, piano and 3 pre-recorded pianos (1963)
Tempi concertati, solo violin and viola, and 7 instruments (1964) [Tempi Concertate, A Double Concerto]
The First Day, chorus; or chorus and woodwind quintet (1964)
Concertino da camera, woodwind quintet (1965)
Lamenti, organ (1965)
Structures sonores, orchestra (1966)
Espaces (Chamber Concerto), 2 fl; cl, bass cl, 2 vln, 2 vc, 2 pf] (1966)
Rhapsody, violin and piano (1966) [orchestrated 1969]
Mutazione, orchestra (1967)
Octet, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, C trumpet, horn and trombone (pub. 1967)
Omaggio, chamber concerto, 19 instruments (1968)
Ricercar, viola, piano and orchestra (1968)
Cello Concerto (1968)
Rhapsody, violin and orchestra (1969)
Cadence II (Cadence for Milton), viola and tape (1969)
Textures, piano and 5 ensembles (1970)
Cadence III, violin and 2 percussionists (1970)
Continuum, string trio (1970)
Cadence I, cello (1970)
Koncordia, string orchestra (1971)
Canti, chorus (1971)
Partita, brass quintet and tape (1971)
Asymptotes, flute and vibraphone (pub. 1972)
Cadence V, flute and tape (1972)
Three Pieces for Harpsichord (1972)
Spectrum, trumpet, orchestra and tape (1972-73)
Flute Concerto (1973)
Concertazioni, solo trumpet, 6 instruments and tape (1973)
Duo for Violoncello and Piano (1973)
Cadence VI, tuba and tape (1973)
Ritratto, orchestra (1974)
Chamber Concerto No. 3, 12 solo instruments [fl, ob, cl, tpt, hn, trom, pf, hp, perc, vln, va, vc] (1974)
Adieu, clarinet/bass clarinet and piano (1974)
Volo (Tre Canti da Requiem), viola and 2 string ensembles (1975)
Suite for Solo Percussion and 5 Instruments [fl/alto fl/tri, cl/tri, vln/tri, cello/tri, pf/claves] (1975)
Tempi Concertati, piano/harpsichord/celesta, flute, harp, violin, viola and xylophone/vibraphone (pub. 1975)
Chamber Symphony, chamber orchestra (1976)
Concerto for Orchestra (1977) [1978?]
Cadence IV, piano (1977)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra (1978)
String Quartet (1980)
Intonazione e variazione, organ (1980)
Sinfonietta, orchestra (1981)
Intonazione, 2 pianos (1981)
Vox, organ (1981)
Fanfare, 6 C-trumpets (1982)
Trio for Wind Instruments, flute/alto flute, oboe/EH, clarinet/bass cl (pub. 1982)
Chronicles, piano (1982)
Celebration, 4 brass choirs (1984)
Lyric Suite, violin (1984)
Poema, orchestra (1985)
Concerto for Orchestra No. 2, "Icarus" (1986)
Serenade, string sextet (1986)
Violin Concerto (1987)
Concertante 1988, 2 horns and 16 strings (1988)
Concertante II, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (1988)
Octet "La laurenziana", string octet [4 vln, 2 va, 2 vc] (1988)
Varianti, 4 horns (1988)
Momenti, cello (1988)
Piano Trio, violin, cello and piano (1989)
Clarinet Concerto (1990)
Tableaux (after Kandinsky), piano and orchestra (1990)
Divertimento, clarinet, violin, cello and vibraphone (fp. 1990)
Prayers, 10 players [fl/alto fl, ob, cl, bass cl, hn, hp, pf/cel/harm, perc, 2 vc] (1990)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra (1991)
Cello Concerto No. 2 (1991)
Divertimento II, cl, hn, vln, va, vc, pf (1991)
Duo solitaire, violin and cello (1992)
Lucerniana, cl, bass cl, hn, hp, vln, vc, pf/cel, 2 perc (1992)
Divertimento III, solo violin and string quartet (or string quartets, or string orchestra) (1993)
Divertimento III, solo violin and string quartet (or string quartets, or string orchestra) (1993)
Necompe, 8 percussionists (1993)
Choral Symphony No. 3, alto, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1994) [text: Lazarof]
Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano (1994)
Three Pieces, orchestra (1995)
Impromptus, string quartet (1995)
Intrada, horn (1995)
Encounters with Dylan Thomas, soprano and chamber ensemble (1995)
The Summit Concertante, solo trumpet, brass ensemble and percussion (1996)
Offrande, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1996)
Preludes and Interludes to a Drama, fl, ob, 2 cl, bsn, hn, tpt, perc, vln, va, vc (1996)
String Quartet No. 4 (1996)
Concerto, oboe and chamber orchestra (1997)
Fantasia, horn and orchestra (1997)
Viola Rhapsody, viola and orchestra (1997)
Invenzione concertata, brass quintet (1997)
Quintet for Oboe and String Quartet (1997)
String Quintet [2 vln, 2 va, vc] (1997)
Antiphonies, brass [4 tpt, 4 hn, 4 trom, 2 tuba] and 2 percussionist (1997) [1996?]
Chronicles, string trio [violin, viola, cello] (1997)
String Quartet No. 5 (1997)
Varianti, 4 horns (1997)
Six Bagatelles, viola (1997)
In Celebration (Symphony No. 4), chorus and orchestra (1998) [text: van Swieten; Coleridge; Ecclesiastes; Psalm xcviii]
Symphony No. 5, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1998)
Anida, duo concertante, violin and viola (1998)
Sonata for Violin and Piano (1998)
Intermezzi, cello and piano (1998)
Sinfonia Concertante, 4 winds [flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon] and orchestra (1999)
Legends From the Bible, chorus, 4 horns and 2 vibraphones (1999)
Sonatina for Flute and Piano (1999)
Solo for Unaccompanied Alto Flute (1999)
Symphony No. 6 "Winds of Sorrow" (2000)
Symphony No. 7 (2000)
String Quartet No. 6 (2000)
Tempi, brass quintet, winds and percussion (2000)
String Quartet No. 7 (2000-01)
Partita di Madrigali, double concerto for violin, cello and orchestra (2001)
Violin Concerto No. 3, "The Edinger" (2002)
Second Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (2002)
String Quartet No. 8 "Homage to Paul Klee" (2002)
Musica da Camera, flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet (2002)
Sonatina for Two Pianos (2002)
Tempi Concertati, violin and piano (2002-03)
Five Poems, viola and piano (2003)
Duo 2004, percussion and harp (2004)
Harp Trio, "The Litomar", flute, viola and harp (pub. 2004) ["Hommage á Debussy"]
Variations for Piano (pub. 2004)
String Quartet No. 9 (????)
String Quartet No. 10 (????)
Remembrances (String Quartet No. 11) (2008)

Double Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra - ???
Sonatina for Piano (????)  -  ????


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Lazarof Links     ~ top of page ~
Orchestra
Piccola Serenata, orchestra (1959)
Odes, orchestra (1962)
Structures sonores, orchestra (1966)
Mutazione, orchestra (1967)
Koncordia, string orchestra (1971)
Ritratto, orchestra (1974)
Chamber Symphony, chamber orchestra (1976)
Concerto for Orchestra (1977) [1978?]
Symphony No. 1, orchestra (1978)
Sinfonietta, orchestra (1981)
Celebration, 4 brass choirs (1984)
Poema, orchestra (1985)
Concerto for Orchestra No. 2, "Icarus" (1986)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra (1991)
Choral Symphony No. 3, alto, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1994) [text: Lazarof]
Three Pieces, orchestra (1995)
In Celebration (Symphony No. 4), chorus and orchestra (1998) [text: van Swieten; Coleridge; Ecclesiastes; Psalm xcviii]
Symphony No. 5, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1998)
Symphony No. 6 "Winds of Sorrow" (2000)
Symphony No. 7 (2000)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Ensemble
Viola Concerto (1959-60)
Concerto for Piano and 20 Instruments (1960-61)  [same piece?: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1961?)]
Tempi concertati, solo violin and viola, and 7 instruments (1964) [Tempi Concertate, A Double Concerto]
Espaces (Chamber Concerto), 2 fl; cl, bass cl, 2 vln, 2 vc, 2 pf] (1966)
Omaggio, chamber concerto, 19 instruments (1968)
Ricercar, viola, piano and orchestra (1968)
Cello Concerto (1968)
Rhapsody, violin and orchestra (1969)
Textures, piano and 5 ensembles (1970)
Spectrum, trumpet, orchestra and tape (1972-73)
Flute Concerto (1973)
Concertazioni, solo trumpet, 6 instruments and tape (1973)
Chamber Concerto No. 3, 12 solo instruments [fl, ob, cl, tpt, hn, trom, pf, hp, perc, vln, va, vc] (1974)
Volo (Tre Canti da Requiem), viola and 2 string ensembles (1975)
Violin Concerto (1987)
Concertante 1988, 2 horns and 16 strings (1988)
Clarinet Concerto (1990)
Tableaux (after Kandinsky), piano and orchestra (1990)
Cello Concerto No. 2 (1991)
Divertimento III, solo violin and string quartet (or string quartets, or string orchestra) (1993)
The Summit Concertante, solo trumpet, brass ensemble and percussion (1996)
Concerto, oboe and chamber orchestra (1997)
Fantasia, horn and orchestra (1997)
Viola Rhapsody, viola and orchestra (1997)
Sinfonia Concertante, 4 winds [flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon] and orchestra (1999)
Partita di Madrigali, double concerto for violin, cello and orchestra (2001)
Violin Concerto No. 3, "The Edinger" (2002)
Second Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (2002)

Double Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra - ???

Chorus w/Orchestra
Choral Symphony No. 3, alto, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1994) [text: Lazarof]
In Celebration (Symphony No. 4), chorus and orchestra (1998) [text: van Swieten; Coleridge; Ecclesiastes; Psalm xcviii]
Symphony No. 5, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1998)

Choral
The First Day, chorus; or chorus and woodwind quintet (1964)
Canti, chorus (1971)
Legends From the Bible, chorus, 4 horns and 2 vibraphones (1999)

Chamber
String Quartet No. 1 (????, withdrawn?)
String Quartet No. 2 (1961-62; pub. 1964)
Tempi concertati, solo violin and viola, and 7 instruments (1964) [Tempi Concertate, A Double Concerto]
Concertino da camera, woodwind quintet (1965)
Espaces (Chamber Concerto), 2 fl; cl, bass cl, 2 vln, 2 vc, 2 pf] (1966)
Octet, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, C trumpet, horn and trombone (pub. 1967)
Omaggio, chamber concerto, 19 instruments (1968)
Cadence III, violin and 2 percussionists (1970)
Continuum, string trio (1970)
Partita, brass quintet and tape (1971)
Asymptotes, flute and vibraphone (pub. 1972)
Chamber Concerto No. 3, 12 solo instruments [fl, ob, cl, tpt, hn, trom, pf, hp, perc, vln, va, vc] (1974)
Suite for Solo Percussion and 5 Instruments [fl/alto fl/tri, cl/tri, vln/tri, cello/tri, pf/claves] (1975)
Tempi Concertati, piano/harpsichord/celesta, flute, harp, violin, viola and xylophone/vibraphone (pub. 1975)
String Quartet (1980)
Fanfare, 6 C-trumpets (1982)
Trio for Wind Instruments, flute/alto flute, oboe/EH, clarinet/bass cl (pub. 1982)
Serenade, string sextet (1986)
Concertante II, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (1988)
Octet "La laurenziana", string octet [4 vln, 2 va, 2 vc] (1988)
Varianti, 4 horns (1988)
Piano Trio, violin, cello and piano (1989)
Divertimento, clarinet, violin, cello and vibraphone (fp. 1990)
Prayers, 10 players [fl/alto fl, ob, cl, bass cl, hn, hp, pf/cel/harm, perc, 2 vc] (1990)
Divertimento II, cl, hn, vln, va, vc, pf (1991)
Duo solitaire, violin and cello (1992)
Lucerniana, cl, bass cl, hn, hp, vln, vc, pf/cel, 2 perc (1992)
Divertimento III, solo violin and string quartet (or string quartets, or string orchestra) (1993)
Necompe, 8 percussionists (1993)
Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano (1994)
Impromptus, string quartet (1995)
Offrande, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1996)
Preludes and Interludes to a Drama, fl, ob, 2 cl, bsn, hn, tpt, perc, vln, va, vc (1996)
String Quartet No. 4 (1996)
Invenzione concertata, brass quintet (1997)
Quintet for Oboe and String Quartet (1997)
String Quintet [2 vln, 2 va, vc] (1997)
Antiphonies, brass [4 tpt, 4 hn, 4 trom, 2 tuba] and 2 percussionist (1997) [1996?]
Chronicles, string trio [violin, viola, cello] (1997)
String Quartet No. 5 (1997)
Varianti, 4 horns (1997)
Anida, duo concertante, violin and viola (1998)
String Quartet No. 6 (2000)
Tempi, brass quintet, winds and percussion (2000)
String Quartet No. 7 (2000-01)
String Quartet No. 8 "Homage to Paul Klee" (2002)
Musica da Camera, flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet (2002)
Duo 2004, percussion and harp (2004)
Harp Trio, "The Litomar", flute, viola and harp (pub. 2004) ["Hommage á Debussy"]
String Quartet No. 9 (????)
String Quartet No. 10 (????)
Remembrances (String Quartet No. 11) (2008)

Instrument and Piano
Inventions, viola and piano (1962)
Rhapsody, violin and piano (1966) [orchestrated 1969]
Duo for Violoncello and Piano (1973)
Adieu, clarinet/bass clarinet and piano (1974)
Sonata for Violin and Piano (1998)
Intermezzi, cello and piano (1998)
Sonatina for Flute and Piano (1999)
Tempi Concertati, violin and piano (2002-03)
Five Poems, viola and piano (2003)

Solo Instrument
Cadence II (Cadence for Milton), viola and tape (1969)
Cadence I, cello (1970)
Cadence V, flute and tape (1972)
Cadence VI, tuba and tape (1973)
Lyric Suite, violin (1984)
Momenti, cello (1988)
Intrada, horn (1995)
Six Bagatelles, viola (1997)
Solo for Unaccompanied Alto Flute (1999)

Piano, Organ, or Harpsichord
Largo, organ (1963)
Quantetti, piano and 3 pre-recorded pianos (1963)
Lamenti, organ (1965)
Three Pieces for Harpsichord (1972)
    - Canzone
    - Invenzione
    - Notturno
Cadence IV, piano (1977)
Intonazione e variazione, organ (1980)
Intonazione, 2 pianos (1981)
Vox, organ (1981)
Chronicles, piano (1982)
Sonatina for Two Pianos (2002)
Variations for Piano (pub. 2004)

Sonatina for Piano (????)  -  ????

Vocal
Encounters with Dylan Thomas, soprano and chamber ensemble (1995)
- Prelude
- In the beginning
- O make me a mask
- Shall gods be said to thump the clouds
- Poem
- The song of the mischievous dog
- In my craft or sullen art
- Love in the asylum
- Your pain shall be a music
- Elegy

Electronic/Electroacoustic
Quantetti, piano and 3 pre-recorded pianos (1963)
Cadence II (Cadence for Milton), viola and tape (1969)
Partita, brass quintet and tape (1971)
Cadence V, flute and tape (1972)
Cadence VI, tuba and tape (1973)
Concertazioni, solo trumpet, 6 instruments and tape (1973)


LAZAROF  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~

Composer website (at Theodore Presser Publishing)   . . .   contact Henri Lazarof:  here

Lazarof @ Wikipedia
Lazarof @ Answers.com
Lazarof @ Audiophile Audition (via Google Advanced Search)
Lazarof @ Classical Archives
Lazarof @ InstantEncore
Lazarof @ Milken Archive of Jewish Music
Lazarof @ MusicWeb International
Lazarof @ Naxos
Lazarof @ New Music USA [formerly American Music Center]
Lazarof @ New World Records    also    here
Lazarof @ The New York Times
Lazarof @ Theodore Presser
Lazarof @ G. Schirmer

Publisher
Lazarof @ Bote & Bock
Lazarof @ Israeli Music Publications
Lazarof @ Theodore Presser
Lazarof @ G. Schirmer [Associated Music]

Streaming Audio
Lazarof @ Classical Archives
Lazarof @ last.fm
Lazarof @ MySpaceMusic
Lazarof @ Rhapsody.com

Recordings
Lazarof @ Amazon.com
Lazarof @ ArkivMusic
Lazarof @ CD Universe
Lazarof @ ClassicsOnline
Lazarof @ Discogs
Lazarof @ DRAM Online
Lazarof @ itunes
Lazarof @ Laurel Records
Lazarof @ Naxos
Lazarof @ New World Records

Video
Lazarof @ YouTube
Lazarof @ Google Video