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Wolfgang Rihm (1952-     )

Wolfgang Rihm, composer First encounters with Wolfgang Rihm’s prodigious output are likely to be confusing. Here is a composer who has clearly absorbed all the lessons that modernism and post-modernism can offer, yet whose music has never subscribed to any specific school or tendency; one who, by asserting the importance of musical freedom, has felt able to utilise traditional gestures and usages when appropriate, yet places them in contexts that are anything but traditional. It’s perhaps because Rihm is so hard to classify – and because the music of the last half century has encouraged us to distrust music that is simply what it is, and not the product of an identifiable orthodoxy – that in Britain he remains one of the most intriguing and mysterious of today’s leading European composers. Rihm was born in Karlsruhe, Germany. He began writing music at the age of 11, studied in his home city with Eugen Werner Velte from 1968 (the year in which his First Symphony was completed) and went in 1972 to work with Stockhausen in Cologne and Klaus Huber in Freiburg. In the meantime, however, he had also come into contact with Wolfgang Fortner and Humphrey Searle, and from 1970 had been a regular student at the Darmstadt Summer School, adding yet more elements to a rich stylistic mix. In the mid 1970s he also made his first forays into music theatre, with the chamber operas Faust und Yorick (1976) and Jakob Lenz (fp. 1979) (based on Georg Büchner’s play). Rihm has written copiously for orchestra and for all manner of instrumental groups – there are 13 string quartets to date as well as countless other chamber works, pieces that he has increasingly grouped together in cycles and series, as if each were part of a gigantic work-inprogress. Another strand running through his development has been the music for the theatre: though to date only Jakob Lenz has yet been staged in Britain, Rihm is one of the most significant music-theatre composers of our time. Tutuguri (1981–82) is an evening-long ballet after Antonin Artaud, which characteristically served as the starting-point for a whole series of orchestral and instrumental works, while the ‘music theatre in five parts’ to a text by Heiner Müller, Die Hamletmaschine (1986), Oedipus (1987), based upon texts by Sophocles, Nietzsche and Müller, The Conquest of Mexico (1991), after Artaud and Octavio Paz, and the textless Seraphim (1994) (another work that has spawned myriad satellite pieces) are most conveniently described as ‘operas’. But the umbrella description hardly does justice to the way in which they all constantly question conventional relationships between words, music and gesture, and the reliance upon linear narrative and form, just as Rihm’s instrumental works, which, for all their stylistic divergency, have since the mid 1990s often echoed the rarefied world of late Nono, continue to elude precise categorisation while proliferating at a sometimes bewildering rate.
Paul Griffiths/BBC

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Rihm Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    Rihm on Rihm
[under construction]


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Rihm Links    ~ ~ ~    Rihm on Rihm     ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Dramatic/Theater
Faust und Yorick, chamber opera (1976) [libretto: Frithjof Haas, after Jean Tardieu]
Jakob Lenz, chamber opera (1977-78) [libretto by Michael Fröhling, after Georg Büchner]
Tutuguri (Poème dansé), ballet (1980-82) [text: Antonin Artaud] [also concert version of 1 part as "Schwarzer und roter Tanz"]
Die Hamletmaschine, 5-part music theatre work (1983-86) [text: Heiner Müller, arr. by the composer]
Œdipus, 2-part music theatre work (1986-87) [text: by composer, after Sophocles, Hölderlin, Nietzsche, Müller]
Die Eroberung von Mexico, music theatre work (1987-91) [text: by composer, after Antonin Artaud]
    - also concert version of one section as "Bruchstück 'Die Vorzeichen'"
Séraphin (Versuch eines Theaters – Instrumente / Stimmen / ...nach Antonin Artaud ohne Text), music thtr piece (1994)
    - chamber version, 1993-96
Das Gehege (Eine nächtliche Szene/A nocturnal scene), soprano and orch (2--4-05) [text: Botho Strauss]
Séraphin III (Jan Fabre: I am a Mistake), music theatre piece (2006-07)
Jagden und Formen, dance piece (2007-08) [choreography: Sasha Waltz] [longer stage version of orchestral work]

Orchestra
Adagio (Variationen), string orchestra, 1969
1. Symphonie, orchestra, op. 3 (1969)
Trakt, orchestra, op. 11 (1971)
Segmente, orchestra, op.12 (????)
Magma, orchestra 1973
Dis-Kontur, orchestra, 1974, revised 1984
Sub-Kontur, orchestra, 1974–75
2. Symphonie (erster und letzter Satz), orchestra, 1975
Cuts and Dissolves (Orchesterskizzen), small orchestra, 1976
Nachtordnung (Sieben Bruchstücke), 15 strings, 1976
Erste Abgesangsszene, orchestra, 1979 (section of Fünf Abgesangsszenen; may be performed separately)
Fünfte Abgesangsszene, orchestra, 1979 (section of Fünf Abgesangsszenen; may be performed separately
    - also version for mezzo-soprano, baritone, orchestra
Ländler, 13 strings, 1979 (version of piano work; also vers by A. Grün for 4 or more guitars, or mandolins, or mandolas, db, 1998
Nature-Morte – Still Alive (Skizze), 13 strings, 1979–80
Tutuguri I (Musik nach Antonin Artaud), orchestra, 1981
Tutuguri III (Musik nach Antonin Artaud), orchestra, 1981
Tutuguri II (Musik nach Antonin Artaud), orchestra, 1981–82
Tutuguri IV (Musik nach Antonin Artaud) (text by Antonin Artaud), speaker ad libitum, orchestra, 1981–82
Nach-Schrift (Eine Chiffre), small orchestra, 1982, revised 2004
Schwarzer und roter Tanz, orchestra (1980-82; arr. 1982-83) [concert version of section of "Tutuguri" (Poème dansé)]
Chiffre II (Silence to be beaten), small orchestra, 1983
Schattenstück (Tongemälde) (after Per Kirkeby), orchestra, 1982–84
Chiffre V, small orchestra, 1984
Vorgefühle, orchestra, 1984
Spur (Orchesterskizze), orchestra, 1984–85
Chiffre VII, small orchestra, 1985
Abkehr, orchestra, 1985
Aufzeichnung, 1985–86 (each of its two sections may be performed separately)
    - Dämmerung, orchestra, 1985
    - Umriss, orchestra, 1985–86)
Unbenannt I, orchestra, 1986
Klangbeschreibung I, 3 orchestral groups, 1982–87
Klangbeschreibung III, orchestra, 1984–87
Compresenze (Umrisse und Eingriffe), orchestra, 1985–87
Unbenannt II, orchestra, 1987
Danse (Ein Orchesterstenogramm), orchestra, 1987
Splitter (Orchesterskizzen zu 'Œdipus'), orchestra, 1987
Drei Walzer, 1979–88 (each of its three sections may be performed separately
    - Sehnsuchtswalzer, orchestra, 1979–81
    - Brahmsliebewalzer, orchestra, 1985–88
    - Drängender Walzer, orchestra, 1986–87
Blick (Ein Klangbild), distant ensemble (trumpet, snare drum), orchestra, 1987–88
Bruchstück 'Die Vorzeichen', orchestra, 1988–89 [concert version of section of "Die Eroberung von Mexico"]
Schwebende Begegnung, 4 distant trombones, orchestra, 1989
Dunkles Spiel, small orchestra, 1988–90
Unbenannt III, orchestra, 1989–90
Ungemaltes Bild (after unfinished paintings by Emil Nolde), 2 violins (around hall), 3 percussion (around hall), orchestra, 1989–90
Umfassung (Musik in memoriam Luigi Nono [Vierter Versuch]), 2 orchestral groups, 1990
Ins Offene..., orchestra, 1990–92
Et nunc II, distant ensemble (2 trumpets, 2 percussion), orchestra, 1992–93
Form / Zwei Formen, small orchestra, 1993–94
Vers une symphonie fleuve, distant ensemble (2 trumpets, 2 percussion), orchestra, 1992–95
Vers une symphonie fleuve II, distant ensemble (2 trumpets, 2 percussion), orchestra, 1992–95
Vers une symphonie fleuve III, distant ensemble (2 trumpets, 2 percussion), orchestra, 1992–95
IN-SCHRIFT, orchestra, 1995
Ernster Gesang, orchestra (1996) [may be performed w/"Lied as Ernster Gesang mit Lied"]
Vers une symphonie fleuve IV, orchestra, 1992–97, revised 1998–2000
Verborgene Formen, small orchestra, 1995–97
Spiegel und Fluss (Nachspiel und Vorspiel), orchestra, 1999
Im Anfang, orchestra, 1998–2000
Jagden und Formen, small orchestra, 1995–2001 (also longer stage version with dance troupe, 2007–08)
Gejagte Form, small orchestra, 1995–2002
Das Lesen der Schrift (Vier Stücke), orchestra, 2001–02
Verwandlung, orchestra, 2002
Two Other Movements, orchestra, 2004
Verwandlung II, orchestra, 2005
Verwandlung III, orchestra, 2007–08
Verwandlung IV, orchestra, 2008

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Sektor IV aus Morphonie, string quartet and orchestra (1972)
Morphonie, string quartet and large orchestra, 1972
Lichtzwang (Musik in memoriam Paul Celan), violin, orchestra, 1975–76
La musique creuse le ciel, 2 pianos, orchestra, 1977–79
Erster Doppelgesang, viola, cello, small orchestra, 1980
Zeichen I – Doubles (Eine Musik), bass fl (+ picc), contrabass cl (+ Eb cl), 2 orchestral groups, 1981
Gebild, piccolo trumpet, 2 percussion, 22 or more strings, 1982, revised 1997
Bratschenkonzert, viola, orchestra, 1979–83
Zweiter Doppelgesang, clarinet, cello, orchestra, 1981–83
Monodram, cello, orchestra, 1982–83
La lugubre gondola/Das Eismeer (Musik in memoriam Luigi Nono [Fünfter Versuch]), piano, off-stage pf, 2 orch groups(1990–92)
    [after painting by Caspar David Friedrich]
Gesungene Zeit, violin, small orchestra, 1991–92
Dritte Musik (in memoriam Kurt Kocherscheidt), violin, orchestra, 1993
Sphere (Kontrafaktur mit Klavier-Gegenkörper), piano, distant ensemble (2 trumpets, 2 percussion), orchestra, 1992–94
Musik für Oboe und Orchester, oboe, small orchestra, 1993–95, revised 2002
Styx und Lethe, cello, orchestra, 1997–98
Marsyas (Rhapsodie), trumpet, percussion, orchestra, 1998–99
Sotto voce (Notturno), piano, orchestra, 1999
Musik für Klarinette und Orchester (Über die Linie II), clarinet, orchestra, 1999
CONCERTO (Dithyrambe), string quartet, orchestra, 2000
Die Stücke des Sängers, harp and small orchestra (2000–01; rev. 2008)
Zweiter Bratschenkonzert (Über die Linie IV), viola, orchestra, 2000–02
Canzona per sonare (Über die Linie V), alto trombone, 2 orchestral groups, 2002
Unbenannt IV, organ and orchestra (2002-03; rev. 2004)
Dritter Doppelgesang, clarinet, viola, orchestra, 2004
Konzert in einem Satz, cello, orchestra, 2005–06
Psalmus, bassoon, orchestra, 2007
Sotto voce II (Capriccio), piano, orchestra, 2007
COLL'ARCO (Vierte Musik), violin, orchestra, 2007–08

Chorus w/Orchestra

Choral
Crucifixus (text from Latin liturgy), 4 mixed voices, 1968; 3. Symphonie (texts by Friedrich Nietzsche, Arthur Rimbaud), soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, large orchestra (4 flutes [all + piccolo], 4 oboes, 4 clarinets, 2 bass clarinets, 4 bassoons, 2 contrabassoons, 6 French horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 2 tubas, 2 harps, mandolin ad libitum, piano, celesta, timpani, 5 percussion, 60 or more strings), 1976–77; Umhergetrieben, aufgewirbelt (Nietzsche-Fragmente) (text by Friedrich Nietzsche), mezzo-soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, flutes (1 player), 1981; Mit geschlossenem Mund (vocalise), 8 mixed voices, 1982; Dies (Oratorium) (texts from the Graduale Romanum, the Vulgate, Leonardo da Vinci), soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, 2 male speakers, children's chorus, mixed chorus, mixed speaking chorus, distant ensemble (3 trumpets, 3 trombones), large orchestra (16 winds, 20 brass, organ, 2 timpani, 8 percussion, strings), 1984; Andere Schatten (Musikalische Szene) (text by Jean Paul), coloratura soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, male speaker, 24 mixed voices, small orchestra (9 winds, 2 French horns, trumpet, trombone, harp, piano, 3 percussion, 2 violins, viola, 2 celli, double bass), 1985; Raumauge (Schlussmonolog des Prometheus) (text by Aeschylus [translated by Peter Handke]), mixed chorus, 5 percussion, 1986, revised 1993–94; Nachtwach (text from the Book of Matthew [English translation]), mixed chorus, 8 mixed voices, 4 trombones (with conductor [+ low woodblock]), 1987–88; Départ (text by Arthur Rimbaud), mixed chorus, 20 or more mixed speaking voices, piccolo, A-clarinet, E-flat clarinet, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 harps, 2 celli, 2 double basses, 2 pianos (1st + electronic organ, 2nd + celesta), organ, 6 percussion, 1988; Geheimer Block (vocalise), soprano, alto, tenor, bass, 80 or more mixed voices, orchestra (4 piccolos, 4 A-clarinets, 6 French horns, 4 trumpets, 6 trombones, 2 harps, organ, 7 percussion, 2 violins, 6 violas, 6 celli, 6 double basses), 1989; Quo me rapis (text by Horace), 8 mixed voices, 1990; Bildlos / Weglos, 7 sopranos, 3 ensembles (piccolo, 2 violins, 2 percussion; flute, bass clarinet, 2 French horns, contrabass tuba, harp, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion; A-clarinet, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 6 celli, 6 double basses, timpani, 2 percussion), 1990–91, revised 1992; Communio I (Lux æterna) (text from Latin liturgy), boy soprano, alto, mixed chorus, 4 distant percussion, ensemble (3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, harp, 2 violins, 7 double basses, timpani), 1995 (section of Requiem der Versöhnung, a collaboration with Luciano Berio, Friedrich Cerha, Paul-Heinz Dittrich, Marek Kopelent, John Harbison, Arne Nordheim, Bernard Rands, Marc-André Dalbavie, Judith Weir, Krzysztof Penderecki, Alfred Schnittke-Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Jōji Yuasa, György Kurtág); MAXIMUM EST UNUM (texts by Nikolaus von Kues, Meister Eckhart), 4 sopranos, alto, 2 mixed choruses, organ, small orchestra (4 flutes, English horn [+ oboe d'amore], A-clarinet, contrabassoon, French horn, 3 trumpets, 4 trombones, harp, timpani, percussion, 4 violas, 4 celli, 2 double basses), 1996; DEUS PASSUS (Passions-Stücke nach Lukas) (texts from the Book of Luke [translated by Martin Luther], the communion antiphon Potum meum, responses 1–2 for Good Friday, improperium 1 for Good Friday, the hymn Crux fidelis, the hymn Hic acetum, the hymn Flecte ramos, the poem Stabat mater dolorosa, Book of Isaiah [translated by Martin Luther], Paul Celan), soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra (2 flutes [both + alto flute], 2 oboes, English horn, heckelphone, bassoon, contrabassoon, 4 trombones, harp, organ, 2 percussion, 24 strings), 1999–2000; Astralis (Über die Linie III) (text by Novalis), mixed chorus, cello, 2/4 percussion, 2001; Insula felix, soprano, tenor, mixed chorus, small orchestra/orchestra (2 flutes [2nd + piccolo], oboe, English horn, bassoon, French horn, 3 suspended cymbals [1 player], 22 or more strings), 2003; Memoria (Drei Requiem-Bruchstücke) (text by Nelly Sachs), boy soprano, alto, mixed chorus, orchestra (2 flutes, oboe, A-clarinet, contrabassoon, 2 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, contrabass tuba, harp, timpani, 4 percussion, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 celli, 7 double basses), 1994–2004; Sieben Passions-Texte (text from the Bible), 6 mixed voices, 2001–06; Vigilia, 6 mixed voices, A-clarinet, French horn, 2 trombones, bass tuba, viola, cello, double bass, organ, percussion, 2006; QUID EST DEUS? (Cantata Hermetica) (texts from Latin sources), mixed chorus, orchestra (4 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 English horns, 2 bassoons, 2 contrabassoons, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, harp, piano, 2 percussion, 8 violas, 6 celli, 4 double basses), 2007; SKOTEINÓS (Heraklit-Fragmente) (text by Heraclitus), tenor (+ high bongo), baritone (+ crotale), bass (+ high woodblock), 3 trombones, 2008

Chamber
CHAMBER MUSIC: Kalt (Oktett), oboe, English horn, trombone, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1989–91; Am Horizont (Stille Szene), violin, cello, accordion, 1991; Zwischen den Zeilen, string quartet, 1991 (section of Schleedoyer II, a collaboration with Nigel Osborne, Henri Pousseur, Rolf Liebermann); Étude pour Séraphin, 2 trombones, 2 contrabass trombones, 4 contrabass tubas, 6 percussion, 1991–92; Antlitz (Zeichnung) (after Kurt Kocherscheidt), violin, piano, 1992–93 (also version as Von weit, cello, piano, 1993); 9. Streichquartett (Quartettsatz), string quartet, 1992–93; Phantom und Eskapade (Stückphantasien), violin, piano, 1993–94; In nuce, viola, cello, double bass, 1994; Pol – Kolchis – Nucleus, 1991–96 (each of its three sections may be performed separately: Pol, bass clarinet, harp, viola, cello, 5-string double bass, percussion, 1995 [also version for A-clarinet, bass clarinet, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, harp, viola, cello, 5-string double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 1996]; Kolchis [after a sculpture by Kurt Kocherscheidt], harp, cello, 5-string double bass, piano, high woodblock [+ large tam-tam], 1991 [also version as Blick auf 'Kolchis', 2002]; Nucleus, A-clarinet, bass clarinet, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, harp, viola, cello, 5-string double bass, piano, marimba, percussion, 1996); Séraphin-Sphäre, flute (+ piccolo, bass flute), oboe (+ English horn), contrabass clarinet, trumpet, trombone, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, 1993–96, revised 2006; 10. Streichquartett, string quartet, 1993–97; Gedrängte Form, flute, English horn, bass clarinet, trumpet, trombone, harp, guitar, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 1995–98; Fetzen, string quartet, 1999; Über die Linie, cello, 1999; In Frage, English horn, bass clarinet, harp, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1999–2000; Vier Male (Stücke), A-clarinet, 2000; 12. Streichquartett, string quartet, 2000–01; BONUS (Geburtstagsquintett), English horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, harp, 2001; Sphäre nach Studie, piano, ensemble (harp, 2 double basses, 2 percussion), 1994–2002; Interscriptum (Duo), piano, string quartet, 2000–02; Fetzen II, string quartet, 2002; Fetzen III, accordion, string quartet, 2002; Gesangsstück (Eine Triophantasie), clarinet, violin, piano, 2002; Vier Studien zu einem Klarinettenquintett, clarinet, string quartet, 2002; Sphäre um Sphäre, flute, oboe, A-clarinet, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2 pianos, percussion, 1992–2003; Male über Male, clarinet, 2 violas, cello, 2 double basses, 2003; Drei Vorspiele zu einer Insel, flute, violin, percussion, 2003; Quintett für Bläser, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 2003; Fetzen VII, accordion, string quartet, 2000–04; Fetzen IV, viola, accordion, 2004; Fetzen V, accordion, string quartet, 2004; Fetzen VI, accordion, string quartet, 2004; Fetzen VIII, accordion, string quartet, 2004; Kleiner Walzer, clarinet, cello, piano 4 hands, 2004; Über die Linie VI, alto flute, violin, cello, 2004; En plein air, flute, clarinet, harp, string quartet, 2004–05; Grave (in memoriam Thomas Kakuska), string quartet, 2005; Will Sound, flute (+ piccolo), oboe, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, accordion, 3 percussion, 2005–06; Gegenstück (Trio), contrabass saxophone, piano, percussion, 2006; Grund-Riss (Studie), contrabass clarinet, contrabass saxophone, contrabass trombone, 2006; Über die Linie VII, violin, 2006; Schrift-um-Schrift, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, 1993–2007; Auf- und Wiederhören (Ein verabschiedender Walzer für Manfred Reichert), flute, oboe, A-clarinet, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano 4 hands (+ harmonium 4 hands), percussion, 2007; 11. Streichquartett, string quartet, 1998–2007 (one section may be performed separately: Quartettstudie, 2003–04); Male über Male II, clarinet, ensemble (2 harps, 2 violas, cello, 2 double basses, piano, percussion), 2000–08

Solo Instrument

Piano or Organ
Contemplatio, organ (1967)
Drei Fantasien, organ (1967)
Fantasie, organ (1968)
Klavierstück Nr. 1, Op. 8a, piano (1970)
Klavierstück Nr. 4, piano (1974)
Klavierstück Nr. 5, "Tombeau", piano (1975)
Klavierstück Nr. 6, "Bagatellen", piano (1977-78) [after drawing "Klavierküste 3" by Kurt Kocherscheidt]
Ländler, piano (1979) [also version for 13 strings; or 4 or more guitars/mandolins/mandolas and double bass, 1998]
Klavierstück Nr. 7, piano (1980)
Bann, Nachtschwärmerei, organ (1980)
Maske, 2 pianos, (1985)
Brahmsliebewalzer, piano (1985)
Mehrere kurze Walzer, piano 4-hands (1979-88)
Nachstudie, piano (1992-94)
Zwiesprache, piano (1999)
    - Alfred Schlee in memoriam
    - Paul Sacher in memoriam
    - Heinrich Klotz in memoriam
    - Hans Heinrich Eggebrecht in memoriam
    - Hermann Wiesler in memoriam
Zwei Linien, piano (1999)
Auf einem anderen Blatt, piano (2000)
Über Schrift, 2 pianos (1992-2003)
Zwei kleine Schwingungen, piano (2004-05)

Vocal
Zwei Lieder auf Texte von Oskar Loerke (Dunkler Engel, Einsamer), soprano, 2 violas, 2 celli, double bass, 1968
Gesänge (texts: Trakl, Hölderlin, Loerke, Stramm, S. George, Büchler, Heym, Rilke), female voice, piano, Op. 1, 1968–70
Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum (text: Psalm 42), soprano, bass cl, bsn, trom, vc, db, pf, org, 1/2 percussion, Op. 7, 1970
Vier Gedichte aus 'Atemwende' (text by Paul Celan), female voice, piano, 1973
Hervorgedunkelt (Fünf Gedichte) (text by Paul Celan), mezzo-soprano, flute, harp, cello, organ, vibraphone, 2 percussion, 1974
Konzertarie (Telepsychogramm) (text: from telegram by Ludwig II to Richard Wagner), mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1975
O Notte (text by Michelangelo Buonarroti), baritone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, harp, 2 violas, 2 celli, double bass, 1975
Alexanderlieder (text by Ernst Herbeck), mezzo-soprano, baritone, piano, 1975–76
Hölderlin-Fragmente, soprano, piano, 1976–77 (also version for baritone, orch, 1977)
Neue Alexanderlieder (Fünf Gedichte) (text by Ernst Herbeck), baritone, piano, 1979
Fünf Abgesangsszenen, 1979–80 (each of its five sections may be performed separately)
    - Erste Abgesangsszene
    - Zweite Abgesangsszene [texts by Friedrich Nietzsche, Novalis], mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1979
    - Dritte Abgesangsszene [text by Peter Huchel], baritone, orchestra, 1979–80
    - Vierte Abgesangsszene [text by Friedrich Nietzsche], mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1979–80
    - Fünfte Abgesangsszene [text by Friedrich Nietzsche] [also version for mezzo-soprano, baritone, orchestra, 1983]
Lenz-Fragmente (Fünf Gedichte) (text by Jakob M.R. Lenz), tenor, piano, 1980 (also shorter version for female voice, orch, 1980
Wölfli-Liederbuch (text by Adolf Wölfli), baritone, piano, 2 bass drums ad lib, 1980–81
    - also version as Wölfli-Lieder, baritone, orchestra, 1981–82
Umsungen (text: Nietzsche), baritone, A-cl, bsn, horn, str qt, db, 1983–84 (may be performed w/Zwischenblick: 'Selbsthenker!')
Was aber – (text by Pindar [translated by Friedrich Hölderlin]), soprano, mezzo-soprano, distant organ, orchestra, 1986
Lowry-Lieder (text by Wolf Wondratschek), mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1982–87
Klangbeschreibung II (Innere Grenze) (text by Friedrich Nietzsche), coloratura soprano, 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, horn,
     2 trumpets, trombone, bass trombone, 6 percussion, 1986–87
Mein Tod. Requiem in memoriam Jane S. (text by Wolf Wondratschek), soprano, orchestra, 1988–89
Frau / Stimme (text by Heiner Müller), 2 sopranos (one in orchestra), orchestra, 1989
Das Rot (Sechs Gedichte) (text by Karoline von Günderrode), soprano/tenor, piano, 1990
Abschiedsstücke (text by Wolf Wondratschek), soprano, large chamber ensemble, 1993
Vier Gedichte von Peter Härtling, soprano, piano, 1993
O meine Seele war ein Wald (Lied) (text by Else Lasker-Schüler), mezzo-soprano, alto, harp, viola, cello, double bass, 1994
Lied (text by Georg Büchner), baritone, orchestra, 1997 (may be performed w/Ernster Gesang as Ernster Gesang mit Lied)
Apokryph (Gesang) (text by Georg Büchner), baritone, piano, 1997
Drei Gedichte von Monique Thoné, soprano, piano, 1997
Responsorium (text by Homer), female speaker, brass ensemble, harp, double bass, 5 percussion, 1997
Deutsches Stück mit Hamlet, mezzo-soprano, baritone, orchestra, 1997–98
    (texts: Hölderlin, Goethe, Müller, Heine, Benn, Mühsam, Herwegh, Freiligrath]
Nebendraussen (Gedichte nach Hermann Lenz) (song-cycle, text by Hermann Lenz), tenor/baritone, piano, 1998
Trigon, female voice, large chamber ensemble, 1993–99
Drei späte Gedichte von Heiner Müller, alto, orchestra, 1998–99
In doppelter Tiefe (text by Marinus van der Lubbe), mezzo-soprano, alto, orchestra, 1999
Ende der Handschrift (Elf späte Gedichte) (text by Heiner Müller), female voice/tenor, piano, 1999
...fleuve V (omnia tempus habent), mezzo-soprano, baritone, distant ensemble (2 trumpets, 3 percussion), orchestra, 1997–2000
Frage, coloratura soprano, English horn, A-clarinet (+ bass clarinet), harp, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1999–2000
Stilles Stück (text by Hermann Lenz), baritone, 2 string quartets, 2000 (may be performed together with Stilles Stück II)
Rilke: Vier Gedichte (text by Rainer Maria Rilke), tenor, piano, 2000 (also version for tenor, orchestra, 2004)
Lavant-Gesänge (Fünf Gedichte) (text by Christine Lavant), alto, piano, 2000–01
Sechs Gedichte von Friedrich Nietzsche, baritone, piano, 2001
Aria/Ariadne (Szenarie) (text by Friedrich Nietzsche), soprano, oboe, 2 horns, harp, 6 vln, 2 va, 2 vc, db, 2001
Brentano-Phantasie (Sieben Gedichte) (text by Clemens Brentano), soprano/tenor, piano, 2002
Europa nach dem letzten Regen (Elf Gedichte) (text by Durs Grünbein), soprano, alto, tenor, orchestra, 2003
Stilles Stück II (text by Paul Fleming), lyric tenor/lyric baritone, horn, 2 str qts, db, 2003 (may be performed /w Stilles Stück
Bildnis: Anakreon (Gedichte und Fragmente) (text by Eduard Mörike), tenor, A-clarinet, harp, cello, piano, 2004
Drei Hölderlin-Gedichte (text by Friedrich Hölderlin), soprano/tenor, piano, 2004
Eins und doppelt (Fünf Lieder aus dem Zwielicht) (texts by von Arnim, Goethe, Fontane), baritone, piano, 2004
Solo e pensoso (Zwei Sonette von Petrarca) (text by Petrarch), tenor/baritone, harp, viola, 2004
Eine Stimme 1–3 (vocalise), soprano, flute, clarinet, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 6 percussion, 2004–05
Fremdes Licht (text by Clemens Brentano), coloratura soprano, clarinet, violin, small orchestra, 2005
Penthesilea Monolog (text by Heinrich von Kleist), dramatic soprano, orchestra, 2005
Zwei Sprüche (text by Friedrich von Schiller), baritone, piano, 2005
Akt und Tag (Zwei Studien), soprano, string quartet, 2006 (each of its sections may be performed separately)
    - Akt [vocalise]
    - Tag [text by William Blake]
Heine zu 'Seraphine' (Sieben Gedichte von Heinrich Heine), mezzo-soprano, piano, 2006
Das Namenlose (text by Robert Musil), coloratura soprano, clarinet, piano, 2006
Zu singen (aus 'Mnemosyne') (text by Friedrich Hölderlin), soprano, clarinet, 2006
Goethe-Lieder (text by Goethe), tenor/baritone, piano, 2004–07
Diptychon (text by Friedrich Hölderlin), coloratura soprano, orchestra, 2006–07
An Bálint (text by the composer), male speaker, violin, cello, piano, 2007
Vier späte Gedichte von Friedrich Rückert (text by Friedrich Rückert), baritone, piano, 2008

Incidental/Film

Electronic


RIHM  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    Rihm on Rihm      ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Wolfgang Rihm: The Musical Omnivore (Tom Service, The Guardian)
Wolfgang Rihm at 60 (Classical Iconoclast)

Composer's website (at Universal Edition)   . . .   contact Wolfgang Rihm:  here

Rihm @ Wikipedia
Rihm @ Answers.com
Rihm @ Berliner Festspiele
Rihm @ BBC
Rihm @ Classical Archives
Rihm @ Classical Composers Database
Rihm @ Classical Net
Rihm @ The Classical Source (via Google Advanced Search)
Rihm @ ClassicsToday
Rihm @ composition:today
Rihm @ European American Music
Rihm @ Facebook
Rihm @ The Flying Inkpot (via Google Advanced Search)
Rihm @ GEMA
Rihm @ Hochschule für Musik
Rihm @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Rihm @ InstantEncore
Rihm @ IRCAM (in French)
Rihm @ The Living Composer Project
Rihm @ London Sinfonietta
Rihm @ Modern Classical
Rihm @ Albrecht Moritz
Rihm @ MusicBrainz
Rihm @ MusicWeb International
Rihm @ Musical Criticism.com
Rihm @ MyMusicBase
Rihm @ Naxos
Rihm @ The New York Times
Rihm @ The Omniscient Mussel
Rihm @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Rihm @ SMCQ/Société de musique contemporaine du Québec
Rihm @ Universal Edition

Publisher
Rihm @ G. Schirmer
Rihm @ Universal Edition

Streaming Audio
Rihm @ Classical Archives
Rihm @ Internet Archive
Rihm @ last.fm
Rihm @ MySpaceMusic
Rihm @ PRX (Public Radio Exchange)
Rihm @ Rhapsody.com
Rihm @ SoundCloud

Recordings
Rihm @ Amazon.com
Rihm @ ArkivMusic
Rihm @ CD Universe
Rihm @ ClassicsOnline
Rihm @ Discogs
Rihm @ itunes

Video
Rihm @ YouTube
Rihm @ Google Video
Rihm @ Vimeo

Rihm on Rihm: On Gesungene Zeit (VIDEO)









. . . and check out more    Composers Speak on the Web    at Pytheas

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