Friemann, Witold

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Friemann, Witold

Friemann, Witold, Polish composer and teacher;b. Konin, Aug. 20, 1889; d. Laski, near Warsaw, March 22, 1977. He was a student of Noskowski (composition) and Michalowski (piano) at the Warsaw Cons, (graduated, 1910), and of Reger in Leipzig. After teaching at the Lwow Cons. (1921–29) and the Katowice Military School of Music (1929–33), he was head of the music division of the Polish Radio (1934–39); he later taught at a school for the blind in Laski.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera : Giewont (1934); Polski misterium narodowe (1946); Kain (1952); Bazyliszek (1958). ORCH.: 3 syms.: No. 1, Slavonic (1948), No. 2, Mazovian (1950), and No. 3 (1953); also concertos:5 for Piano (1911, 1951, 1952, 1956,1960), 3 for Trombone (1969,1969,1970), 2 for Viola (1952, 1968), 2 for Clarinet (1954, 1964), and 1 for Cello (1950), Violin (1953–54), 2 Pianos (I960), Oboe (1961), Flute (1963), Bassoon (1965–67), Horn (1966–68), Trumpet (1967), and 2 Bassoons (1968). OTHER: Much chamber music and vocal pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire