Schibier, Armin
Schibier, Armin
Schibier, Armin, Swiss composer; b. Breuzlingen, Nov. 20, 1920; d. Zürich, Sept. 7, 1986. He went to Zürich and studied with Frey and Müller, and then with Burkhard (1942–45). After further training in England (1946), he attended the summer courses in new music in Darmstadt (1949–53) and profited from studies with Fortner, Krenek, Leibowitz, and Adorno. He taught music at the Zürich Real- und Literargymnasium from 1944. His music represented an eclectic synthesis of various 20th-century compositional techniques.
Works
DRAMATIC : Der spanische Rosenstock, opera (1947–50; Bern, April 9, 1950); Der Teufel im Winterpalais, opera (1950–53); Das Bergwerk von Falun, opera (1953); Die späte Sühne, chamber opera (1953–54); Die Fusse im Feuer, opera (Zürich, April 25, 1955); Blackwood & Co., musical burlesque (1955–58; Zürich, June 3, 1962); La Folie de Tristan, music theater (1980); Antonie und die Trompete, chamber musical (1981); Amadeus und der graue Bote, chamber opera (1982–85); Königinnen von Frankreich, musical chambercomedy (1982–85); Schlafwagen Pegasus, chamber opera (1982−85); Sansibar oder Die Rettung, music theater (1984–86). Ba11et : Der Raub des Feuers (1954); Die Gefangene, chamber ballet (1957); Ein Lebenslauf, chamber ballet (1958); Selene und Endymion (1959–60); Die Legende von der drei Liebespfändern (1975–76); La Naissance d’Eros (1985). Radio Pieces : Das kleine Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzchen, melodrama (1955; rev. 1965); Orpheus: Die Unwiederbringlichkeit des Verlorenen (1967–68); The Point of Return (1971–72); …später als du denkst (1973); …der da geht… (1974); Epitaph auf einen Mächtigen (1974–75). ORCH .: Concertino for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1943); Fantasy for Viola and Small Orch. (1945); Fantasy for Oboe, Harp, and Small Orch. (1946); 4 syms.: No. 1 (1946), No. 2 (1952–53), No. 3 (Winterthur, Nov. 13, 1957), and No. 4, Sechs Orchesterstücke (1968); Symphonic Variations (1950); Concertante fantasie for Cello and Orch. (1951); Horn Concerto (1956); Trombone Concerto (1957); Concerto breve for Cello and Strings (1958–59); Violin Concerto (1959–60); 2 percussion concertos (1959–60; 1962–63); Trumpet Concerto (1960–61); Metamorphoses ebrietatis (1962–63); Piano Concerto (1962–68); Bassoon Concerto (1966–67); Concerto 77 for Orch., Big Band, Jazz-Rock Group, and Tape (1976–77); Konzertante Fantasie, alto saxophone concerto (1978); Dialogues concertants, harp concerto (1985). CHAMBER : Sonata for Solo Flute (1944); 5 string quartets (1945; 1951; 1958; 1961–62; 1975); Konzertantes Duo for Violin and Piano (1949–51); Kaleidoskop for Wind Quintet (1954); Ballade for Viola and Piano (1957); Epitaph, Furioso und Epilog for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1958); Recitativi e Danze for 2 Violins, Viola, and 2 Cellos (1962–64); Fantaisie concertante for Harp (1964); Pantomimes solitaires for Violin and Piano (1964); Anspielungen for Clarinet and Piano (1972); Quatuor sonore pour un quatuor de corps, saxophone quartet (1980); piano pieces; organ music. vocal: : 5 oratorios: Media in vita for 4 Soloists, Mixed Chorus, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (1958–59), Der Tod Enkidus for Choruses and Orch. (1970–72), Der Tod des Einsiedlers for Soloists, Chorus, and Chamber Ensemble (1975), Messe für die gegenwärtige Zeit for 2 Soloists, Youth Chorus, 2 Pianos, and Jazz-rock Group (1979–80), and De Misterio for Speaking Voice, Man’s Voice, and Orch. (1982); Huttens letzte Tage for Voice and Orch. (1966–67); Iter Montanum for Voice, Piano, and String Orch. (1983–84).
Bibliography
K. Wörner, A. S.: Werk und Persönlichkeit (Amriswil, 1953); H.-R. Metzger, A. S., 1920−1986 (2 vols., Zürich, 1990–91).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire