Helmut Zapf

Helmut Zapf (born 4 March 1956) is a German composer.

Life

Born in Rauschengesees [de], Thüringen,^[1] Zapf studied church music from 1974 until 1979 at the Kirchenmusikschulen Eisenach (Thüringen) and the Evangelische Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Halle.^[2] During this time Zapf took part in the Summer Courses for Neue Musik in Gera (Thuringia).

After graduating, he worked as Kantor at the city church in Eisenberg (Thuringia) from 1979 to 1982.^[3] Until the beginning of his Meisterschülerstudium [de] with Georg Katzer at the Akademie der Künste der DDR in Berlin (1982–1986),^[4] he wrote his first self-taught compositions, among others Singender Mann for solo flute, Brechungen I und II for flute and string trio, Klangetüde II for orchestra, Recitativ for oboe and string quartet.

Since completing his masterclass, Zapf has lived and worked as self employed composer in Zepernick [de] (Panketal) near Berlin.^[2]

He has been a member of the Academy of Arts, Berlin since 2015.

Work

Source:^[5]

Orchestral

1985/86: Wechselnd
1986: Concertino
1988: Venezianische Erinnerungen
1989: Piece
1992: Dreiklang III
1992: Dreiklang V
2008: Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär
2009: Aufwind
2010: Lasst uns Hütten bauen
2015: Klangbäume
2016: Eomeonie (Mutter/mother)
2017: im Wind ertrunken (großer Epilog zu "windwärts")
2017: windwärts

Chamber music

2003: Trionfale II for trumpet in C, horn in F, trombone, tuba and 2 accordions
2003: Albedo IX for baglama, flute, clarinet, horn and piano
2004: Empty and silent for soprano, violin and guitar
2004: When winter comes for violin and guitar
2004: Odem for C-flute (Picc. Bssfl.), oboe (Engl. horn), clarinet in B (Bsskl.), tuba
2004: Odem II for accordion and piano
2005: Ein Mund voll Wind for mezzo-soprano, alto recorder, vibraphone (and timpani) and piano text after Wolfgang Hilbig, Geste
2005: Klangetüde III for violin, 4 baglamas and piano
2005: Rechenschaft for alto and oboe, text Wolfgang Hilbig
2006: Rechenschaft version for soprano and soprano saxophone
2006: Fragmente for clarinet in B and string trio
2007: Sand for chamber ensemble (fl.cl.sax.vl.va.vc.pn)
2008: Rechenschaft version for soprano and violoncello

Chamber music with electronics

2006: Skeleton for clarinet in B-flat, accordion, double bass and live electronics.
2006: Brecht ab den Sang der Maschinen. Brecht auf! for chamber ensemble (fl.ob.piano.hr.vl.vc.cb.pn.perc.soprano) and CD-playback
2006: Das goldene Kalb for chamber ensemble (fl.ob.kl.tp.trb.vl.va.2vc.kb.2perc.pn.soprano) and CD-performance

Percussion music

2006: Starres Gold – Weiße Stille for percussion quartet
2006: Randspiel for percussion solo and CD-player

Organ music

2004: Ombre per Organo II (... so sind unsere Fröhlichkeiten ...) for organ and CD-playback
2004: Klangbeschreibungen II for organ solo

Choral music

2004: Die sorgenvollen Gesichter 4–8 voices, mixed choir and solos (S.A.T.B.), text: W.Hilbig
2007: Migration 4–8 voices mixed choir, alto saxophone and electronics, text: Old Testament

Music for stage

2006: Das Goldene Kalb, ballet for chamber ensemble (fl.ob.kl.trp.tb.akk.hf.pn.perc.perc.vl.va.vc.vc.cb.), Sopr. & Electronics – Libretto Dr. Ulrike Liedtke – premiere
2007: Neues Schlosstheater der Musikakademie Rheinsberg – ensemble mosaik berlin – direction: Arno Waschk

Radio play music

1988: Katja Oelmann: Steig der Stadt aufs Dach – Direction: Barbara Plensat [de] (Hörspiel – Rundfunk der DDR)

Awards

1986: Hanns Eisler Prize by Radio DDR II^[2]
1989: Hans Stieber Prize^[2]
1990: Prize of critics of the Music Criticism Commission of the Verband der Komponisten und Musikwissenschaftler der DDR [de] for the GDR Music Days (for organum for percussion, harp and organ)^[6]
1990: Diplom of the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis [de]^[2]
1993: Promotion prize of the Academy of Arts, Berlin and Brandenburg^[3]
1995: Guest of Honour of the Villa Massimo Rome
1999: Scholarship holder of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation^[3]
2000: Work scholarship of the State of Lower Saxony at the Künstlerhof Schreyahn [de]^[3]
2005: Working scholarship of the Akademie der Künste Berlin at the Villa Serpentara near Rome^[4]

References

^ Talento, Romeo (4 March 1956). "Helmut Zapf – The Living Composers Project". The Living Composers Project. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Hansen, Evelyn (1992). "Zapf, Helmut". Komponisten der Gegenwart (in German). Munich: edition text+kritik.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Zapf". Akademie der Künste, Berlin (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Helmut Zapf". Villa Massimo (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2021.
^ "Works". Helmut Zapf. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
^ Preis der Kritik. In Neue Zeit, 6 March 1990, Jg. 46, edition p. 55, p. 4.

External links

Official website
Literature by and about Helmut Zapf in the German National Library catalogue
Helmut Zapf discography at Discogs
"Helmut Zapf". Schott Music (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2021.

[Talento_1956-1] Talento, Romeo (4 March 1956). "Helmut Zapf – The Living Composers Project". The Living Composers Project. Retrieved 17 January 2021.

[Hansen-2] Hansen, Evelyn (1992). "Zapf, Helmut". Komponisten der Gegenwart (in German). Munich: edition text+kritik.

[Akademie_der_Künste,_Berlin-3] "Zapf". Akademie der Künste, Berlin (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2021.

[Villa_Massimo-4] "Helmut Zapf". Villa Massimo (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2021.

[Helmut_Zapf-5] "Works". Helmut Zapf. Retrieved 17 January 2021.

[6] Preis der Kritik. In Neue Zeit, 6 March 1990, Jg. 46, edition p. 55, p. 4.

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