2nd String quartet

2nd String quartet

for my wife Elisabeth

Begun in 1945/46, after revision annotated: “Im Jahr 1948 wurde das II. Streichquartett durch das Freund-Quartett bei den Internationalen Zeitgenössischen Musiktagen in Darmstadt uraufgeführt und im folgenden Herbst neu bearbeitet. Karl Amadeus Hartmann, 2. Januar 1949.” [“In 1948, the 2nd String Quartet was premiered by the Freund Quartet at the “International Contemporary Music Days in Darmstadt and was reworked the following fall. Karl Amadeus Hartmann, January 2, 1949.”]

I Langsam – äußerst lebhaft und sehr energisch [“Slow – extremely lively and very energetic”]
II Andantino
III Presto

Performance duration: 27′

First performance (Revised version): 1949, Milan, Végh-Quartet

  • Year
  • 1945/46
  • Archivalienkategorie
  • Werke

Sonata “27. April 1945”

Sonata “27. April 1945”

for piano solo
Am 27. und 28. April 1945 schleppte sich ein Menschenstrom von Dachauer “Protected prisoners” an uns vorüber – unendlich war der Strom – unendlich war das Elend – unendlich war das Leid [“On April 27 and 28, 1945 a stream of ‘People in protective custody’ dragged themselves past us – infinite was the stream – infinite was the misery – infinite was the suffering -“]

I Bewegt [“Moving”]
II Presto assai (Scherzo)
III Marcia funebre (Lento)
IV 1st version: Allegro resoluto – 2nd version: Allegro furioso (Stürmisch, leidenschaftlich) [“Stormy, passionate”]

Performance duration: 16′.

First performance: June 13, 1982, musica viva, Herbert Henck (piano)

  • Year
  • 1945
  • Archivalienkategorie
  • Werke

Klagegesang

Klagegesang

for large orchestra
für Robert Havemann, Berlin
auch Sie, lieber Freund, haben für die Freiheit gekämpft und mußten dafür leiden. 1944 [“for Robert Havemann, Berlin
You too, dear friend, have fought and suffered for freedom. 1944”]

1st and 5th movement used as a model for the Symphony No. 3 (1st movement), since 1990 as an independent work in its original version

I Adagio
II Andante pastorale
III Allegro assai
IV Non troppo lento
V Fugato

Performance duration: 25′

First performance: May 11, 1990, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Conductor: Lorin Maazel)

  • Year
  • 1944/45
  • Archivalienkategorie
  • Werke

Symphonische Hymnen

Symphonische Hymnen

for large orchestra
2nd part of the symphonic triptych “Sinfoniae Dramaticae” (1941–1943)

I Fantasie (Introduktion, Thema und Variationen) [“Fantasy (Introduction, theme and variation)]
II Adagio
III Toccata

Performance duration: 30′

First performance: October 9, 1975, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Conductor: Rafael Kubelik)

  • Year
  • 1941/42
  • Archivalienkategorie
  • Werke

Symphonische Ouvertüre

for large orchestra
1st part of the symphonic tryptichon “Sinfoniae Dramaticae” (1941-1943)
Meinem verehrten und lieben Professor Antonio Mingotti herzlichst zugeeignet [“Cordially dedicated to my honored and dear Professor Antonio Mingotti”]. ii.IV.62

Revision: originally with the addition “China kämpft” [“China fights”] dedicated in memory of Den Shi-chua and Sergei Tretyakov – revised in 1962.

Performance duration: 15′

First performance (first version): July 26, 1947, Darmstädter Ferienkurse (Conductor: Hermann Scherchen)
First performance (new version): November 28, 1975, Philharmonic Orchestra of the City of Nuremberg (Conductor: Hans Gierster)

  • Year
  • 1942/43
  • Archivalienkategorie
  • Werke

Sinfonia tragica

Sinfonia tragica

for orchestra
meine Sinfonia tragica widme ich Herrn Pau Collaer, Brüssel, dem großen Musiker und wunderbaren Menschen [“I dedicate my Sinfonia tragica to Mr Pau Collaer, Brussels, the great musician and wonderful person”]

Adagio as model for the Symphony No. 3, 2nd movement (1948/49, see there) – original version rediscovered and published in 1973

I Introduktion (Mit bewegtem Ausdruck) [“Introduction (With moving expression)”]
II Adagio – Tumultuoso, Allegro

Performance duration: 25′

First performance: May 20, 1989, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Conductor: Udo Zimmermann)

  • Year
  • 1940
  • Archivalienkategorie
  • Werke

Symphonie Mimée (based on Antigone)

Macbeth

Macbeth

Music for Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”

8 movements

Composed as proof of employment using the Jewish song “Eliyahu hanavi

First performance: Munich Residence Theatre

  • Year
  • 1940/42
  • Archivalienkategorie
  • Werke

Concerto funebre

für solo violin and string orchestra
meinem lieben Sohn Richard [“to my dear son Richard”]

ursprünglich “Musik der Trauer” genannt, 1959 revidiert (Neufassung) [“originally called ‘Music of mourning’, revised in 1959 (new version)”]

I Introduktion (Largo) [“Introduction”]
II Adagio
III Allegro di molto
IV Choral (Langsamer Marsch) [“Choral (Slow march)”]

Performance duration: 20′

First performance (original version): 1940, St. Gallen (Conductor: Ernst Klug)
First performance (new version): November, 12 1959, Staatstheater-Kapelle Braunschweig (Conductor: Heinz Zeebe, Violin: Wolfgang Marschner)

  • Year
  • 1939/59
  • Archivalienkategorie
  • Werke