Poniridis, Georges
Poniridis, Georges
Poniridis, Georges , distinguished Greek composer; b. Constantinople (of Greek parents), Oct. 8, 1892; d. Athens, March 29, 1982. He studied violin with Ysaye at the Brussels Cons. and composition with d’Indy and Roussel at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, where he remained until the outbreak of World War II; then returned to Athens and served in the Music Division of the Greek Ministry of Education (1954–58). In his music, he made use of authentic Greek motifs, at times endeavoring to emulate the simple monody of ancient Greek chants and the rhythms of classical prosody.
Works
DRAMATIC : Incidental music to ancient Greek plays. ORCH .: 2 syms. (1935, 1942); Triptyque symphonique (Athens, Nov. 22, 1937); 3 Symphonic Preludes (1938); Chamber Sym. for Strings and Percussion (n.d.); Petite symphonie (1956); Piano Concerto (1968); Violin Concerto (1969). CHAMBER : Flute Sonata (1956); String Quartet (1959); Clarinet Sonata (1962); Quartet for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Xylophone (1962); Trio for Xylophone, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1962); Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet (1962); 2 violin sonatas; Viola Sonata (1967); Cello Sonata (1967); 3 piano sonatas. VOCAL : Arrangements of Greek folk songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire