List of compositions by Wolfgang Rihm

This is a list of compositions by Wolfgang Rihm. His output numbers more than 500 works.[1]

Rihm's compositions were published by Universal Edition.[2] IRCAM has a list of Rihm's works.[3]

Rihm was extremely prolific, and much of his music has yet to be commercially recorded. His works include thirteen string quartets, the opera Die Eroberung von Mexico (1987–1991, based on texts by Antonin Artaud), over twenty song cycles, the oratorio Deus Passus (1999–2000, commissioned by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart), Jagden und Formen [de] for chamber orchestra (1995–2001),[4] more than thirty concertos, and a series of interrelated orchestral works bearing the general title Vers une symphonie fleuve ("Towards a river symphony").

He sometimes revised or adapted his finished work.[4] For example, in 1992 he completely rewrote Ins Offene ... for orchestra (1990)[5] and used it as the basis for his piano concerto Sphere (1994). Then he recast the piano part of Sphere to create Nachstudie for solo piano (1994). In 2002, he wrote Sphäre nach Studie (a new version of Nachstudie) for harp, two double basses, piano, and percussion, as well as Sphäre um Sphäre (a new version of Sphere) for two pianos and chamber ensemble.[6]

He also experimented with writing musical fragments, for example in his Alexanderlieder (1975–1976, described as a "fragmentary song accompaniment"), cuts and dissolves for orchestra (1976–1977), Bagatelles (1977–1978), Lenz-Fragmente (1980), or more recently Fetzen (Scraps) for string quartet and accordion (1999–2004)[7]

  1. ^ Mattenberger, Urs (10 August 2019). "Komponist Wolfgang Rihm: "Fühle mich wie ein Kriegsveteran"". St. Galler Tagblatt (in German). St. Gallen. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Wolfgang Rihm: the composer's life and work". Universal Edition. 13 March 1952. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ Kaltenecker, Martin (30 July 2024). "Wolfgang Rihm, Brahms". Ressources IRCAM (in Latin). Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Clements, Andrew (3 March 2022). "Rihm: Sphäre nach Studie, Stabat Mater, etc review – a modern great, still springing surprises". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Ins Offene... for orchestra". Universal Edition. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Wolfgang Rihm: Sphären". NEOS Music (in German). 22 May 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  7. ^ Knockaert, Yves. 2010. Wolfgang Rihm, a Chiffre: The 1980s and Beyond, fwd. Richard McGregor. Leuven: Leuven University Press. ISBN 978-94-6166-237-8 (ebk). ISBN 978-94-6270-123-6 (pbk).