Koppel, Thomas Herman

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Koppel, Thomas Herman

Koppel, Thomas Herman, Danish composer, son of Herman D(avid) Koppel; b. Örebro, Sweden, April 27, 1944. He studied piano and theory with his father at the Royal Danish Cons, of Music in Copenhagen (1963–67). In 1968 he organized in Copenhagen the pop group Savage Rose, and joined the Danish avant-garde in other venturesome activities.

Works

dramatic:Opera: Historien om en moder (The Story of a Mother), after H.C. Andersen (Copenhagen, Oct. 17, 1965); Bérénice (1968). Ballet: Triumph of Death (1971); The Emperor’s New Clothes, music for ice ballet (1985–86). orch.:Visions fugitives for Piano and Orch. (1965); Overture solennelle (1967); Recorder Concerto (1991). chamber: 3 string quartets (1963, 1964, 1966); Impressions lyriques for Percussion (1968); Skipper Klement for 2 Violins, Viola, Guitar, and Double Bass (1984). vocal:Cloches for Voice and 6 Players (1964); Phrases, cantata for 2 Sopranos, 12 Mezzo-sopranos, 4 Solo Instruments, and Orch. (1966; Danish Radio, April 6, 1967); Concert héroïque for 3 Pianos, Orch., Chorus, and Wind Machine (Copenhagen, Jan. 9, 1967); Petit air for Soprano and 4 Instruments (1966); Nocturne from a Long Gray Street for Mezzo-soprano and String Trio (1983); Carmen for Voices, Piano, and Drums (1989); Bella Vita for Voice and Small Orch. (1993).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire