THE LIVING COMPOSERS PROJECT  

Fabio Nieder

(b. 27 October 1957, Trieste).

Italian composer, now resident in Germany, of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works that have been performed throughout Europe and elsewhere.

Mr. Nieder studied chamber music with Dario de Rosa and Libero Lana, composition with Giulio Viozzi and piano with Roberto Repini at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Tartini in Trieste from 1973–81 and studied privately with Witold Lutosławski in Grožnjan, Croatia in 1977, on a scholarship from Jeunesses Musicales.

Among his honours are Primo Premio in the competition Valentino Bucchi in Rome (1979), the ISCM Prize in Austria (1980), three prizes in the competition of the Internationale Gaudeamus Muziekweek in Amsterdam (1980, 1982, 1984), Primo Premio in the competition 2 Agosto in Bologna (1995), Secondo Premio in the competition Ennio Porrino in Cagliari (1995), Sonderpreis in the competition Compania in Münster, Germany (1996), the Gustav Mahler Kompositionspreis in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee (1998), and Primo Premio in the competition Domenico Guaccero in Bari (1998). His music has been performed in Algeria, Austria, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.

He is also active in other positions. As a pianist, he served as an accompanist to Petre Munteanu and Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf from 1978–81 and later served as an accompanist to Barbara Hannigan, Alfredo Kraus and other singers. In addition, he has worked as a conductor, most often with the Nieuw Ensemble in Amsterdam, and has organised various ensembles for contemporary music in Germany and Italy.

He taught analysis at the Università degli Studi in Trieste and has taught at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam since 2005. He has given lectures in Austria, Estonia, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia.

His primary publisher is Casa Ricordi.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address for consulting scores: Annamaria.Macchi@umusic.com

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS (note that publishers other than Casa Ricordi are mentioned in parentheses after dates of composition)

STAGE:

Kresnik, lo spirito della notte di San Giovanni nei villaggi dei contadini della Slovenia (texts from the folksong from Slovenia Bog daj dober večer, Paul Klee), 2 children's voices, actor–player, 24 mixed voices, piano, 4 percussion, 1986

Saga (scene di danza macabra, in memoriam John of Kastav, texts by Friedrich Hölderlin, Srečko Kosovel, a folksong from the Val Resia), 6 altos, 6 basses, walk-on actor, clarinet, 2 basset horns, 3 bass clarinets, orchestra, live electronics, lights, costumes, 1988–91 (eight of its sections may be performed separately as concert works: Klarinettenbaum; 'Preludio in La minore' di Chopin; Stele prima; Ensemble I; Jybare; Ensemble II; Stele seconda; Clarinette d'air)

Manifestazione di Frate Francesco, piccolino (text by Jakob Böhme), 12 mixed voices (all + tubular bells), walk-on mime, amplified ensemble (clarinet, 2 basset horns, 3 bass clarinets, 2 samplers, 2 percussion), 10 monitors, lights, 1994 (its first section may be performed separately as a concert work: Im Kopf [also version incorporated into Der Manifestation, erster Teil])

Die Maulschelle ein Rätsel (carnevalata scenica in forma di triangolo, text by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), coloratura soprano, bass-baritone, percussion, distant string quartet, fixed media, live electronics, 1998 (section of opera Räthsel von Mozart, a collaboration with Mauro Cardi, Matteo D'Amico, Olga Neuwirth, Betty Olivero; may be performed separately)

Der Manifestation, erster Teil (text by Jakob Böhme), 5 mixed voices (all + tubular bells), 2 samplers, 2 percussion, 1994–99 (incorporates a version of Im Kopf from Manifestazione di Frate Francesco, piccolino)

Traditioneel Bruiloftsdanslied voor J. en Th., voice–dancer, pan flute, Großbass recorder (by Joachim Paetzold), double bass, percussion, 2005

Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes (teatro musicale notturno, libretto by Claudio Magris, the composer), 2001– (nine of its sections may be performed separately as concert works: Der Anfang; Caminata meravigliosa a Saturnio di Vito vom Thümmel [Hommage à S. Kubrick]; Caminata sogno 21 màrtedi agosto 1945; ANNO 1896 [6 agosto 1944]. Sogno: avevo 1, 2, 3, 4, cinque occhi; Die Mitte; Sogno 10 lùnedi gennaio 1892, in una casa molte gente musiche son entrato a casa; De Beeldenvreter [Il Mangia immagini]; Der Bilderfresser; Das Ende)

ORCHESTRAL:

Und Laub voll Trauer, 10 strings, 1977 (Casa Sonzogno)

Tristans Klage, small orchestra, 1982 (Casa Sonzogno)

Wolfangerls erste Komposition, small orchestra (2 flutes [2nd + piccolo], 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, harp, timpani, glockenspiel [+ tubular bells], violas, cellos, double basses), 1990

Cinque Pezzi, off-stage piano, off-stage tam-tam, large orchestra (10 winds, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets [2nd + piccolo trumpet], 4 trombones, tuba, harp, celesta, timpani, glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylorimba, tubular bells, percussion, strings), 1990–92 (version of Fünf Klavierstücke; also version for off-stage piano [+ tam-tam], orchestra [8 winds, 6 brass, harp, celesta, timpani, glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylorimba, percussion, strings], 1995)

Diapente avec Nocturne des végétaux sur la surface du globe, string orchestra, 1995–96 (version of vocal work)

Portrait von Ferruccio Busoni über seine 'Sonatina seconda', 6–12 or more off-stage basses ad libitum, off-stage piano, off-stage organ, orchestra (10 winds, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, 2 harps, electric guitar, harmonium, sampler, percussion, strings), 1997

Caminata sogno 21 màrtedi agosto 1945, piano (with scordatura), accordion, percussion, string orchestra (with scordatura), 2003 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Diatonische Halbton-Kollisionen / Frage ......, 2 electric guitars obbligato, bass guitar obbligato, orchestra (8 winds, 10 brass, harp, piano [+ celesta, keyboard glockenspiel], percussion, strings), 2007

CHAMBER MUSIC:

Pasticcio da un canto popolare, flute, clarinet, bassoon, 1979 (Casa Sonzogno)

Melodie ed Intermezzi popolari, flute (+ piccolo), clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, 1982 (Casa Sonzogno)

Jodeln, flute, bass clarinet/bassoon/double bass, 1983 (Casa Sonzogno)

Serenate in tono folcloristico, flute, clarinet, guitar, mandolin, violin, double bass, percussion, 1983

...Essere stelle chiare (elegia), double bass, 1984

Sosia, flute, clarinet, harp, guitar, mandolin, violin, double bass, marimba, 1984

Inno nazionale lappone (A), piccolo trumpet, trumpet, contrabass tuba, 1986

Inno nazionale lappone (B), alto flute, E-flat clarinet, harp, prepared piano, percussion, 1986

Adern (Elegie), 6 cellos, 1987

'Preludio in La minore' di Chopin, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, French horn, trombone, harp, 2 cellos, 2 double basses, off-stage piano, 3 percussion, 1989 (section of Saga; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Ensemble I, alto flute, oboe, amplified harp, amplified violin, amplified cello, amplified double bass, amplified piano, celesta, xylophone, amplified large scissors, percussion, 1989 (section of Saga; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Ensemble II, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, French horn, piccolo trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, piano, xylorimba, marimba, 1989 (section of Saga; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Due Girotondi, viola, 1989

Sonntagsgruss, violin, cello, 1989

Wolfangerls erste Komposition, 2 flutes (2nd + piccolo), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, viola, cello, double bass, 2 percussion, 1990

Diapente, string quartet, 1990

Duale B, bass flute (+ alto flute), bass clarinet (+ alto clarinet/basset horn), 1990

Duale C, flute, clarinet/sopranino saxophone, 1990

Klarinettenbaum, clarinet, ensemble (2 basset horns, 3 bass clarinets, 2 samplers, 2 percussion), 1990 (section of Saga; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Quarto Ramo di Klarinettenbaum, alto flute, synthesizer, 1990

Piccolo A & B, E-flat clarinet, 1990

Sopranino A & B, sopranino saxophone, 1990

Clarinette d'air, clarinet, percussion, live electronics ad libitum, 1991 (section of Saga; may be performed separately as a concert work [also version for countertenor, 2 harmonicas, clarinet, 3 amplified scissors, 4 tam-tams, glass wind chimes, live electronics])

Duale A, flute, oboe, 1991

Sami (passacaglia [da uno Jodler lappone]), alto saxophone, live electronics ad libitum, 1992

Sami-Hymne, piccolo, clarinet, piano, percussion, distant string quartet, 1993

Terracotta, A-clarinet, 1995

Weihnachtsschmuck für Philipp Walcher... hommage à F. X. Gruber, geb. in Hochburg, Anno Domini 1787, flute, 1995

Wåldgschroa, flute, 1995 (also version for flute, harmonium/electronic organ/synthesizer, glockenspiel, 1996)

Dogma (sei elegie), violin, accordion, 1996

Sechs Elegien, violin, ensemble (violin, viola, cello, double bass, accordion, percussion), 1996–97

Canone per i settanta anni di Pavle Merkù, 2 distant cellos, ensemble (violin, piano, percussion), 1997

Landschaft in Kanonform, violin, ensemble (flute [+ piccolo, bass flute], oboe [+ English horn], clarinet [+ A-clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet], violin, 2 cellos, piano [+ celesta, percussion], percussion), 1997

O Clementissimo (da un madrigale di Petrus Hedus), bass clarinet, 2 harps, 2 cellos, bass drum, percussion, 1998

Paesaggio notturno con stelle, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 1998

Tre Paesaggi, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), oboe, A-clarinet (+ E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet), harp, 2 violins, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1998–99

Objet flexible avec spirales suspendues, tenor saxophone, 2001 (also version for bass clarinet, 2001)

Frage (4.Station), bass flute, bass clarinet, tuba, viola, percussion, 2003

ANNO 1896 (6 agosto 1944). Sogno: avevo 1, 2, 3, 4, cinque occhi, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2004 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work; its five sections may be performed separately: 1, violin, piano; 2, viola, piano; 3, cello, piano; 4, violin, cello, piano; 5, violin, viola, cello, piano)

Sogno 10 lùnedi gennaio 1892, in una casa molte gente musiche son entrato a casa, violin, viola, cello, piano, DJ–percussion, 2005 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Verscheurde Sarabande (nach Satie), clarinet, bass clarinet, harp, double bass, accordion, paper shredder, percussion, 2005

Semitono diatonico, harp, 2005

De Beeldenvreter (Il Mangia immagini), sheng (mouth organ from China), ney (flute from the Middle East), alto flute, duduk (oboe from Armenia), English horn, bass clarinet, bassoon, harp, guitar, mandolin, tar (lute from the Middle East), kemençe (bowed lute from Central Asia), qanun (zither from the Middle East), zheng (zither from China), violin, erhu (violin from China), viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 2006 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Triodion, ob osemdesetletnici Pavleta Merkùja, contrabass clarinet, bass tuba, harp, double bass, piano, percussion, 2007

27 Haidenburger Vogellaute. Isoformen, piccolo, fixed media, 2011–15

Zerrissener Faden/Knäuel, bass flute, bass clarinet, tuba, viola, percussion, 2015

CHORAL:

Canto di soldati, mixed chorus, 1980 (PIZZICATO Verlag Helvetia)

Jybare (text from a folksong from the Val Resia), 6 altos, 6 basses, viola, orchestra (2 alto flutes, English horn, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, amplified harp, celesta, vibraphone, xylorimba, marimba, percussion, strings), 1988 (section of Saga; may be performed separately as a concert work [also version for alto, viola, double bass])

Stele seconda (in memoriam Vittoria Rotheneisler, text by Friedrich Hölderlin), 6 altos, 2 A-clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 double basses, piano, 2 percussion, 1988 (section of Saga; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Stele prima (in memoriam Tončka Kosovel, text by Srečko Kosovel), 6 altos, harp, 2 violins, 2 double basses, piano, vibraphone, tubular bells, 1989 (section of Saga; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Im Kopf, 12 mixed voices (all + tubular bells), 1994 (section of Manifestazione di Frate Francesco, piccolino; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Baumszene, soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 countertenors, tenor, baritone, 2 basses, large orchestra (82/83 players), 2000

Caminata meravigliosa a Saturnio di Vito vom Thümmel (Hommage à S. Kubrick), 6 mixed voices, live electronics, 2001 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Thümmels Haus/Thümmels Huis (in una casa / molte gente / musiche son / entrato a casa), 6 mixed voices, violin, viola, cello, piano, DJ–amplified percussion, 2007

Der Bilderfresser (pianist also speaks), 6 or more sopranos, 6 or more mezzo-sopranos, 6 or more countertenors, 6 or more tenors, 6 or more baritones, 6 or more basses, piano, accordion, 4 percussion, large orchestra in 18 groups (2 alto flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, alto saxophone, 2 bassoons, French horn, piccolo trumpet, 3 trombones, 3 muted trombones, tuba, harp, amplified guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, qanun, celesta, theremin, angklung [set of bamboo tubes from Indonesia], 3 violins [all with scordatura], 4 or more violins [all with metal mutes], 6 or more muted violins, 3 or more muted violas, violas [all with scordatura], cellos [all with scordatura], double basses [all with scordatura]), 2008 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Der Anfang, mixed chorus, 3 percussion, 2011–13 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Die Mitte, mixed chorus, 3 accordions, 2011–13 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Das Ende, mixed chorus, 3 accordions, 3 percussion, fixed media, 2011–13 (section of Thümmel, oder die Verlöschung des Wortes; may be performed separately as a concert work)

VOCAL:

Oh, Paraman sepolta sotto il pino, soprano, violin, percussion, 1981 (Casa Sonzogno)

Zwei sentimentale-ironische Lieder, soprano, orchestra, 1981 (Casa Sonzogno)

Das Glänzen der Natur (text by Friedrich Hölderlin), soprano, orchestra, 1984

Jybare, alto, viola, double bass, 1988 (version of section of Saga)

Clarinette d'air, countertenor, 2 harmonicas, clarinet, 3 amplified scissors, 4 tam-tams, glass wind chimes, live electronics, 1991 (version of section of Saga)

Love songs on a white surface (texts from popular sources), soprano, baritone, harmonica, bass flute, bass clarinet, harp, viola, cello, double bass, celesta, mbira (thumb piano from Africa), 2 percussion, 1993

Kresna. Variazioni sul solstizio d'estate (un canto contadino sloveno), any voice (+ straw whip), alto flute, bass clarinet, prepared piano, tubular bells, live electronics, 1993

Diapente avec Nocturne des végétaux sur la surface du globe (text by Francis Ponge), soprano, female speaker ad libitum, wind machine, 20/21 strings, 1995–96 (also version for string orchestra)

O Erd (ein Fragment nach Friedrich Hölderlin) (text by Friedrich Hölderlin), soprano, piano, 1996

Sulla ruota del giorno (text by Alda Merini), soprano, bass flute, French horn, harp, viola, double bass, percussion, 1998

das ewig liecht (text by Martin Luther), soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, trumpet, trombone, harp, 2 violas, double bass, piano, sampler, 2/3 percussion, 2001 (Universal Edition)

The Waters flow on their Way, female voice, 3 ensembles (2 sheng, dizi [transverse flute from China] [+ xun (clay flute from China)], suona [oboe from China], pipa [lute from China], zheng, erhu; ney, duduk, tar, oud [lute from the Middle East], kemençe, santur [hammered dulcimer from the Middle East], qanun, kamancheh [spike fiddle from the Middle East]; bass flute, piccolo oboe, bass clarinet, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2 percussion), 2002

De Stem, soprano, bass, piano, accordion, percussion, mixed Western–non-Western ensemble, 2003–04

Lieder von der Liebe zur Erde (texts by Friedrich Hölderlin, Rainer Maria Rilke), soprano, piano, 1996–2006

PIANO:

Fünf Klavierstücke, 1974–75 (also version as Cinque Pezzi, off-stage piano, off-stage tam-tam, large orchestra [10 winds, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets (2nd + piccolo trumpet), 4 trombones, tuba, harp, celesta, timpani, glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylorimba, tubular bells, percussion, strings] [also version for off-stage piano (+ tam-tam), orchestra (8 winds, 6 brass, harp, celesta, timpani, glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylorimba, percussion, strings)])

Kresna, 1987 (also longer version as Kresna, un canto contadino sloveno della notte di San Giovanni, prepared piano [+ amplified straw whip], 1990)

RADIO PRODUCTION:

Visioni di un viso diviso (radiofilm, text by Roberto Dedenaro), soprano, boys' chorus, male chorus, clarinet, MIDI-keyboard, 1993

DIDACTIC MUSIC:

Drei Ringelreihen, soprano recorder, 2 alto recorders, tenor recorder, 1991

ARRANGEMENTS:

Fünf Lieder (Hugo Wolf), any voice, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, 1983 (Casa Sonzogno)

Zwölf deutsche Tänze Franz Schuberts (Franz Schubert), small orchestra (2 flutes, 2 French horns, zither, violins, violas, cellos), 1991

Quattro Malenkosti (Marij Kogoj), flute, clarinet, harp, viola, cello, percussion, 1992

Quattro 'Lyriske Stykker' di Edvard Grieg (Edvard Grieg), piccolo (+ bass flute, nightingale call), oboe (+ English horn), bass clarinet, 2 French horns, harp, guitar, mandolin, 3 violins, viola, cello, double bass, celesta (+ harmonium), 2 percussion, 1996

Due Sonate di Domenico Scarlatti (Domenico Scarlatti), 1996 (its two sections may be performed separately: Sonata I in do maggiore, sopranino recorder/soprano recorder, harp, guitar, mandolin, double bass, celesta, 2 percussion; Sonata II in re maggiore, 'Pastorale', Chromonica [chromatic harmonica from Hohner], bass flute, piccolo oboe, harp, 2 violins, cello, double bass, harmonium, accordion, 2 percussion)

La Sérénade interrompue from Préludes, Premier Livre (Claude Debussy), off-stage soprano from Andalusia/off-stage tenor from Andalusia, flute, oboe/English horn, bass clarinet, guitar, lute, violin, viola, cello, double bass, celesta, percussion, 1998

Rumba da Rimini (David Riondino), alto saxophone, viola, double bass, marimba, 3/4 percussion

DISCOGRAPHY

Adern (Elegie). Cello Ensemble Heinrich Schiff (steirischer herbst/Musikprotokoll, 1987)

Love songs on a white surface (excerpt). Charlotte Riedijk, soprano; Mitchell Sandler, baritone; Ed Spanjaard/Nieuw Ensemble (Wittener Tage für Neue Kammermusik 1996, documentation CD, 1996)

Wåldgschroa (original version); Terracotta. Luisa Sello, flute (Rivo Alto, 2000)

O Erd (ein Fragment nach Friedrich Hölderlin). Linda Campanella, soprano; Antidogma Musica (Nuova Era: 7364, 2001)

Der Bilderfresser. Marino Formenti, speaker, piano; Teodoro Anzellotti, accordion; Schlagquartett Köln; Emilio Pomárico/WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln (Winter & Winter: 910 188-2, 2012)

Rumba da Rimini (David Riondino). (CGD: 4509 96185-2)

Duale B. Het Trio (Compositori Associati Torino/Stichting Gaudeamus/Nuova Musica in Italia)