Wimberger, Gerhard

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Wimberger, Gerhard

Wimberger, Gerhard, Austrian composer, conductor, and pedagogue; b. Vienna, Aug. 30, 1923. He was educated at the Salzburg Mozarteum (1940-41; 1945-47), where he received training in composition from Bresgen and J. N. David and in conducting from Krauss and Paumgartner. From 1948 to 1951 he conducted at the Salzburg Landestheater. In 1953 he joined the faculty of the Salzburg Mozarteum, where he taught conducting until 1968 and composition from 1968 until his retirement in 1991. In 1990 he served as president of the AKM (Staatlich genehmigte Gesellschaft der Autoren, Komponisten, und Musikverleger) of Austria. In 1967 he was awarded the Austrian State Prize for composition. He won the Würdigungspreis for music in 1977, the same year that he was made a corresponding member of the Akademie der Schönen Künste in Munich. In his works, Wimberger makes use of various styles and techniques, including jazz and other popular genres. His dramatic works reveal a penchant for the use of wit and irony.

Works

dramatic: König für einem Tag, ballet (1951); Schaubudengeschichte, opera (1952-53; Mannheim, Nov. 25, 1954); Der Handschuh, chamber ballet (1955); La Battaglia oder Der rote Federbusch, comic opera (1959-60; Schwetzingen, May 12, 1960); Hero und Leander, dance drama (1962-63); Dame Kobold, musical comedy (1963-64; Frankfurt am Main, Sept. 24, 1964); Das Opfer Helena, chamber musical (1967); Lebensregeln, catechism with music (1970-72; Munich, Aug. 27, 1972); Para-dou, opera (1985); Fürst von SalzburgWolf Dietrich, scenic chronicle (Salzburg, June 11, 1987); other works for the theater, radio, and television. ORCH.: Musica brevis (1950); Chamber Concerto for 4 Winds, Percussion, and Strings (1952); Divertimento for Strings (1954); 2 piano concertos: No. 1 for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1955) and No. 2 (1980-81; Munich, June 4, 1984); Augustin- Variationen (1956); Figuren und Phantasien (1956); Partita giocosa for Small Orch. (1960); Étude dramatique (1961); Risonanze for 3 Orch. Groups (1965-66; Berlin, Jan. 31, 1968); Chronique (1968-69); Multiplay for 23 Players (1972-73; Salzburg, April 9, 1974); Motus (1976; Wuppertal, May 5,1978); Programm (1977-78; Bonn, May 10, 1978); Ausstrahlungen WA. Mozart’scher Themen (1978; Munich, Nov. 25, 1979); Concertino (1981; Lugano, March 25, 1982); Nachtmusik Trauermusik Finalmusik (1988); Vagabondage for Big Band (1988; Salzburg, Oct. 19, 1989); Synthesizer Concerto (1989); Tanzkonzert for Chamber Orch. (1992; Vienna, Feb. 11, 1993); Ahnungen (1994). CHAMBER: Trio for Flute, Violin, and Piano (1951); 4 Stücke for Flute and Piano (1952); Stories for Winds and Percussion (1962); Short Stories for 11 Winds (1974-75; Frankfurt am Main, Feb. 6,1977); Plays for 12 Cellos, Winds, and Percussion (1975; Salzburg, Aug. 27, 1976); Concerto a dodici (Viaggi) for 12 Instruments (1977; Vienna, Feb. 20, 1978); String Quartet (1978; Salzburg, Aug. 23, 1980); Rufe for 12 Brass Instruments (1979); Phantasie for 6 Players (1982; Salzburg, Aug. 4, 1983); 3 synthesizer sonatas (1990); Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn (1990); Szenerie for Violin and Piano (1993; Hannover, Dec. 9, 1994); Burletta for Violin and Piano (1993). KEYBOARD: Piano: Sonata for 2 Pianos (1950); 5 Studien (1952); Konturen (1977); Disegni (1991; Vienna, April 29, 1992). Organ: Signum (1969; Salzburg, Jan. 10, 1970). VOCAL: Kantate vom Sport (1952); Drei lyrische Chanons nach Gedichten von Jacques Prévert for Voice and Chamber Orch. (1957); Heiratspostkantate for Chorus, Harpsichord, and Double Bass (1957); 4 Sätze nach deutschen Volksliedern for Soprano, Chorus, and Jazz Combo (1966); Ars amatoria, cantata for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, Combo, and Chamber Orch. (1967); 4 Songs for Voice and 16 Instruments (1969; Gelsenkirchen, Feb. 26, 1975); Singsang for Voice and Beat Combo (1970); Memento Vivere for Mezzosoprano, Baritone, 3 Speakers, Chorus, Orch., and Tape (1973-74; Salzburg, Aug. 7, 1975); Mein Leben mein Tod for Baritone, Instruments, and Tape (1976; Salzburg, March 30, 1977); Sonetti in vita e in morte di Madonna Laura for Chorus (1979; Vienna, May 10, 1983); Sechs Liebeslieder for Baritone and Harpsichord (1980); Wir hören zu atmen nicht auf, song cycle for Woman’s Voice and Piano (1988); Tagebuch 1942—Jochen Klepper for Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1990-91); Die Eitelkeit im Leben des Managers for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, and Orch. (Guter-sloh, July 1, 1991); Im Namen der Liebe, song cycle for Man’s Voice and Piano (Salzburg, Nov. 16, 1992). ELECTRONIC: Versuch I: Klänge (1975) and II: Natur Musik (1975).

Bibliography

H. Goertz, G. W. (Vienna, 1991).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire