Alexander Goehr
About Alexander Goehr
The combination of mystery and transparent musical language compels attention—as did the edgy, controlled performance—even as the core meaning remained a puzzle. This was one of the best kinds of musical experiences, where one wants to hear the music repeated and get closer to the mystery at the center.
- George Grella, New York Classical Review on Verschwindendes Wort (Vanishing Word)
Alexander Goehr, composer and teacher, was born in Berlin on 10 August 1932, son of the conductor Walter Goehr, and was brought to England in 1933. He studied with Richard Hall at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where together with Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies and John Ogdon he formed the New Music Manchester Group, and with Olivier Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod in Paris. In the early 1960’s he worked for the BBC and formed the Music Theatre Ensemble, the first ensemble devoted to what has become an established musical form. From the late 1960’s onwards he taught at the New England Conservatory Boston, Yale, Leeds and in 1975 was appointed to the chair of the University of Cambridge, where he remains Emeritus Professor. He has also taught in China and has twice been Composer-in-Residence at Tanglewood.
The year of Goehr's appointment at Cambridge coincided with a turning point in his output, with the composition of a white-note setting of Psalm IV (1976). The simple, bright modal sonority of this piece marked a departure from post-war serialism and a commitment to a more transparent soundworld. Goehr found a way of controlling harmonic pace by fusing his own modal harmonic idiom with the long abandoned practice of figured bass, achieving a highly idiosyncratic fusion of past and present.
The output of the ensuing twenty years testifies to Goehr's desire to use this new idiom to explore ideas and genres that were already constant features of his work, such as the exploration of symphonic form (Sinfonia (1979), Symphony with Chaconne (1985-86), Eve Dreams in Paradise (1987-88)). However, these years' output is also characterised by a number of ambitious vocal scores. A common feature of many of the vocal compositions of these years is the choice of subjects that function as allegories for reflection upon socio-political themes: The Death of Moses (1992); the cantata Babylon the Great is Fallen (1979) and the opera Behold the Sun (1985). There are also non-political works: the cantata Sing, Ariel (1989-90), that recalls Messiaen’s stylized birdsong and sets a kaleidoscope of English poetry, and the opera Arianna (1995), written on a Rinuccini libretto for a lost opera by Monteverdi, is an exploration of the soundworld of Italian Renaissance.
Goehr’s orchestral works include four symphonies, concerti for piano, violin, viola and cello, works for chamber, string and wind orchestra, as well as ensemble. Goehr held a particularly close working relationship with Oliver Knussen, who recorded and gave premiere performances of many works including ... a musical offering (J. S. B. 1985)... (1985), Idées Fixes (1997) and To These Dark Steps/The Fathers Are Watching (2011-12) for tenor, children's choir and ensemble. He has received numerous commissions over the years from the BBC, beginning with Hecuba's Lament (1959-61) premiered at the 1961 BBC Proms with John Carewe conducting. Schlussgesang six pieces for viola and orchestra (1996) was premiered by BBC Symphony Orchestra at the 1997 Aldeburgh Festival with Tabea Zimmermann and When Adam Fell (2011-12) was commissioned to celebrate his 80th birthday and premiered with the BBC SO, both with Oliver Knussen conducting. ...second musical offering (GFH 2001) (2001) was a Proms commission premiered by Leonard Slatkin and BBC SO, and BBC Philharmonic and HK Gruber premiered TurmMusik/Tower Music (2009-10) in a festival of Goehr's music in 2010. Many other world-class orchestras, soloists and conductors have performed his works: The cello concerto Romanza (1968) was written for Jacqueline du Pré and premiere at the 1968 Brighton Festival with Daniel Barenboim and the New Philharmonia Orchestra. Bernard Haitink and the London Philharmonic Orchestra premiered Metamorphosis/Dance (1973-74), Boston Symphony Orchestra premiered Colossos or Panic (1991-92) under Seiji Ozawa and Bamberg Symphony commissioned Two Sarabandes (2014) and premiered the work with Lahav Shani.
Goehr has written five operas: Arden Must Die, Hamburg 1967; Behold the Sun, Deutsche Oper 1985; Arianna, lost opera by Monteverdi, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 1995; Kantan & Damask Drum, Theater Dortmund September 1999; Promised End, derived from King Lear, London 2010; and a music theatre Triptych (1968-70). His most recent contribution to the operatic medium was Promised End (2008-9), based on Shakespeare's King Lear and premiered in 2010 by English Touring Opera.
After productions of his opera Kantan & Damask Drum (1997-98) in Dortmund and London, Goehr devoted himself almost exclusively to chamber music. Through the chamber music medium he gained an unprecedented rhythmic and harmonic immediacy, while his music remains ever permeable by the music and imagery of other times and places. A series of quintets for different combinations includes Five Objects Darkly (1996), …around Stravinsky (2002) for violin and winds, and Since Brass nor Stone… (2008) for string quartet and percussion, a memorial to Pavel Haas which won a British Composer Award. Marching to Carcassonne (2003) for Peter Serkin and London Sinfonietta, flirts with neoclassicism and Stravinsky. The set of solo piano pieces Symmetries Disorder Reach (2007), a barely disguised baroque suite, was premiered by Huw Watkins and the trio Largo Siciliano (2012) for violin horn and piano was notably performed with pianist Daniel Barenboim. Most recently, …between the lines… (2013) was premiered by the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin, Verschwindendes Wort (2014-15) was performed by Ensemble Modern, and the quintet after “The Waking” (2016-17) was commissioned by Wigmore Hall and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and premiered by the Nash Ensemble. Goehr’s fifth quartet, Vision of the Soldier Er (2018), was premiered in 2019.
Alexander Goehr is an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a former Churchill Fellow, and in 1997 gave the BBC Reith Lecture. In 2019, Goehr was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in recognition of his lifelong contribution to musical culture. He is an Emeritus Professor at Cambridge University, and his manuscript archive is curated by the Berlin Akademie der Künste.
Much of Goehr’s music is available on the NMC label, including the discs ‘Colossos or Panic’ (2012), ‘Since Brass, nor Stone’ (2003), and ‘Piano Concerto – Symphony in One Movement’ (1995), and a portrait disc of his orchestral music has been released by Naxos. Collections of his writings can be found in ‘Finding the Key’ (Faber & Faber 1998), and in ‘Fings ain’t wot they used t’be’ (Berlin Akademie der Künste and Wolke-Archive 2012).
Worklist
Gallery
Chronology
BBC Symphony Orchestra premiere "Hecuba's Lament", op.12
Premiere of "2 Choruses", op.14 in London
"Little Music for Strings", op.16 commissioned by Lucerne Festival and premiered by Lucerne Festival Strings
Wrote "Three Pieces for Piano" op.18 and "Pastorals", op.19
"Symphony in One Movement", op.29 premiered by the New Philharmonia Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall, London
"Sonata about Jerusalem", op.31 premiered by Israel Chamber Orchestra
Radio-Télévision Belge Chamber Orchestra perform premiere of "Concerto for Eleven", op.32
"Lyric Pieces", op.35 premiered by London Sinfonietta
First performance of "Metamorphosis/Dance", op.36 by London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall, London
"Das Gesetz der Quadrille" (The Law of the Quardille), op.41 premiere at Norwich Triennial Festival
"Sinfonia", op.42 premiered by the English Chamber Orchestra, London
"Behold the Sun" (dramatic scena), op. 44a commissioned and performed by London Sinfonietta at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
BBC Singers premiere "Two Imitations of Baudelaire", op. 47 at St John's Smith Square, London
First performance of "String Quartet No. 4", op.52 by Arditti String Quartet
Wrote "Colossos or Panic", op.55
Quintet "Five objects Darkly", op.62 premiered in Los Angeles
Wrote "Sur terre, en l'air", op. 64
Wrote "...around Stravinsky", op.72
"Adagio" (Autoportät), op.75 premiered by Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim
Products
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(in memoriam Olivier Messiaen)Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: chamber ensemble
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Composer: Alexander GoehrEdition: study scoreInstrumentation: 14 Players in 4 GroupsProduct number: ED 12257Product TypeIn stockAs low as €33.99Incl. Tax
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for fourteen playersComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: 14 players
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Chamber symphony for eleven playersComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble
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for violin and wind quartetComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: violin and wind quartet
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Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: PartiturInstrumentation: mixed choirLanguage: englischProduct number: ED 10888In stock€11.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for eleven playersComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: 11 Players
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for pianoProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €7.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Alexander GoehrEdition: KlavierauszugInstrumentation: mezzo-soprano and piano or orchestraProduct number: ED 10725Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax
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for orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrEdition: study scoreSeries: Adagio (Autoporträt)
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 13508Product TypeIn stockAs low as €27.99Incl. Tax -
for orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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List of Published WorksIn stock€0.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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An Opera on the death of the wealthy Arden of Faversham in two acts (seven scenes)Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: BookEdition: text/librettoSeries: Arden muss sterben
Instrumentation: soloists, choir and orchestraLanguage: englischProduct number: ED 10908-11In stock€19.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
An opera on the death of the wealthy Arden of Faversham in two acts (seven scenes)Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: BookEdition: text/librettoSeries: Arden muss sterben
Instrumentation: soloists, choir and orchestraLanguage: deutschProduct number: ED 10908-10In stock€7.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
An opera on the death of the wealthy Arden of Faversham in two acts (seven scenes)Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: KlavierauszugSeries: Arden muss sterben
Instrumentation: soloists, choir and orchestraLanguage: deutsch, englischProduct number: ED 10908In stock€75.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
an opera on the death of the wealthy Arden of Faversham in two acts (seven scenes)Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialLanguage: deutsch, englisch
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(lost opera by Claudio Monteverdi)Composer: Alexander Goehr | Claudio MonteverdiMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialLanguage: englisch, italienisch
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Lost Opera by Monteverdi in 8 scenes composed againComposer: Alexander Goehr | Claudio MonteverdiMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: KlavierauszugSeries: Arianna
Language: englisch, italienischProduct number: ED 12457In stock€47.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
from scene 3 of "Arianna" with guitar interludesComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: PartiturInstrumentation: tenor and guitarLanguage: italienischProduct number: ED 12608In stock€10.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for solo fluteComposer: Alexander GoehrSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: alto-fluteProduct number: ED 13308Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax -
for mixed chorus and orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: chorus and orchestraLanguage: Latin
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Concert aria with refrain for high soprano, vibraphone obligato and chamber orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: soprano, vibraphone and chamber orchestraLanguage: englisch
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Opera in three acts, op. 44Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: KlavierauszugSeries: Behold the Sun
Language: deutsch, englischProduct number: ED 12220In stock€109.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
opera in three actsComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialLanguage: deutsch, englisch
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six pieces for solo violinProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €11.99Incl. Tax
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for alto flute, oboe and stringsComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: alto flute, oboe and string orchestra
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Composer: Alexander GoehrEdition: choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB) and organProduct number: ED 13289Product TypeIn stockAs low as €7.99Incl. Tax -
for four horns and orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: 4 horns and orchestra
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In stock€7.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for SATB choirComposer: Alexander GoehrEdition: choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: mixed choirProduct number: ED 13017Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
In stock€21.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: wind band
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Symphonic Fragment after GoyaComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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Symphonic Fragment after GoyaComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: study scoreSeries: Colossos or Panic
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 12444In stock€32.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for soprano saxophoneComposer: Alexander GoehrSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: soprano saxophoneProduct number: ED 12806Product TypeIn stockAs low as €8.99Incl. Tax -
for violin and orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrEdition: study scoreInstrumentation: violin and orchestraProduct number: ED 10813Product TypeIn stockAs low as €30.99Incl. Tax
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for piano and orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
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for violin and orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: violin and orchestra
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Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: study scoreSeries: Concerto
Instrumentation: piano and orchestraProduct number: ED 12308In stock€39.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: chamber orchestra
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Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: study scoreSeries: Concerto for Eleven
Instrumentation: chamber orchestraProduct number: ED 12081In stock€39.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
from the opera "Arianna"Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: PartiturSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: mixed choir (ATTB) and pianoProduct number: ED 12609In stock€15.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
followed by a folkplay (Kyogen)Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialLanguage: deutsch, englisch
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Composer: Alexander GoehrSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: low voice and pianoProduct number: ED 13074Product TypeIn stockAs low as €20.99Incl. Tax -
Lieder nach Franz Kafka - Songs after Franz KafkaComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: full scoreInstrumentation: low voice and pianoLanguage: deutschProduct number: ED 12078In stock€23.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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Composer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: study scoreSeries: Deux Études
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 11847In stock€52.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Six PiecesComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: piano reduction with solo partSeries: Schlussgesang
Instrumentation: viola and orchestraProduct number: ED 12620In stock€47.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for mezzo-soprano, tenor & orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: performance materialInstrumentation: mezzo soprano, tenor and orchestraLanguage: englisch
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for mezzo soprano, tenor and orchestraComposer: Alexander GoehrMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: KlavierauszugSeries: Eve Dreams in Paradise
Instrumentation: mezzo-soprano, tenor and orchestraLanguage: englischProduct number: ED 12381In stock€26.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping