Rolf Riehm (born 15 June 1937) is a German
composer who wrote stage and orchestral works as well as music for ensembles and solo instruments. He began as an
oboist and music teacher and was later a professor of music theory at the
Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main for several years.
On 27 November 2018, the
Ensemble Modern held a Porträt Rolf Riehm as a Werkstattkonzert (workshop concert) in the series Happy New Ears at the Oper Frankfurt. The composer was interviewed by
Klaus Zehelein, and music was performed by soprano
Sarah Maria Sun and members of the
Ensemble Modern, including Lenz in Moskau and Adieu, sirènes.[8]
Works
Riehm's compositions deal with philosophical reflection, history, myths, fairy tales, memories, and arguments in the natural sciences. They have combined elements both sublime and trivial and include socio-political findings as well as personal ingredients.[4] His opera Sirenen, subtitled Bilder des Begehrens und des Vernichtens (
Sirens, images of desire and destruction), includes text elements not only from Homer's Odyssey but also by
Karoline von Günderrode,
Giovanni Pascoli and Isabelle Erhardt, illuminating various aspects of the myth.[9]
His works have been published by
Ricordi, including:[2][3]
Restoring the Death of Orpheus (2000) Akkordeonkonzert
Fremdling, rede – Ballade Furor Odysseus (2002) for mezzo-soprano, speaker and orchestra
Die schrecklich-gewaltigen Kinder (2003) for coloratura soprano and large ensemble[16]
Ihr, meine und eines ruchlosen Vaters (2006) for soprano, speaker (via feed) and orchestra
Au bord d'une source (2006) for tenor recorder, orchestra and feeds[17]
Wer sind diese Kinder (2009) for piano, large orchestra and playback[18]
Die Tode des Orpheus (2017) for countertenor and orchestra[19]
Music for ensemble
Uncertain Melody (1989) for eight instruments
Double Distant Counterpoint (J. S. Bach, Kunst der Fuge, Contrapunctus XI) (1994) for large ensemble and keyboard
Sarca – il fiume Sarca (1995) for 7 wind instruments and double bass
Schlaf, schlaf, John Donne, schlaf tief und quäl dich nicht (1997) for violin, bass clarinet, accordion, keyboard
Hawking (1998) for piano, bass drum and six instruments
aprikosenbäume gibt es, aprikosenbäume gibt es (2004) for double bass clarinet, violin, trumpet, violoncello, trombone and playbacks (dedicated to
Wolfgang Stryi)
Der Faden ist gerissen (2005) for seven instrumentalists
in der luft waren vögel, im wasser waren fische (2006) for piano and eight instruments
Lenz in Moskau (2011) for trombone, guitar, cello, piano, two percussionists and feeds[17]
Pasolini in Ostia (2012) for soprano, piano, cello and percussion
Der Asra (2014) for soprano and piano
Basar Aleppo oder Die Straße nach Tyros (2015) Sound scenes for
tenor saxophone, marimba, piano and playback[20]
Adieu, sirènes (2015) for mezzo-soprano, 2 cellos, 2 trumpets[21]
Chamber music
Ein Sommerabend am Lindleinsee (1976) for violin, cello, piano and playbacks
Tempo strozzato (1978) for string quartet
"Ich denk viel." / Mr. President / pizz / 13 (1987) for viola, cello and
double bass
Gracieusement (1990) for viola, cello and double bass
FIORETTI Within My Bosom (2000) for clarinet, cello and piano
Werke aus den Jahren 1977–1993 – Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden and Saarbrücken, conductors:
Michael Gielen and
Marcello Viotti, the guitarists Wilhelm Bruck and Theodor Ross as well as the Saarbrücken String Quartet. Talking Music TalkM 1006[28]
aprikosenbäume gibt es, aprikosenbäume gibt es (Theo Nabicht, ensemble ascolta) and two other works: ahi bocca, ahi lingua (Hilliard Ensemble) and schlaf, schlaf, John donne, schlaf tief und quäl dich nicht (ensemble recherche), Cybele records SACD 860.701[25]
Rolf Riehm Orchesterwerke: Die Tränen des Gletschers, Nuages immortels oder Focusing on Solos (Medea in Avignon) and Berceuse, SWR Sinfonie Orchester, Michael Gielen, Hans Zender, telos music records TLS 128[14]
Rolf Riehm: Lenz in Moskau, Im Nachtigallental, Ton für Ton (weiße Straßen Babylons), Au bord d’une source, Ensemble Ascolta, Erik Borgir, Theo Nabicht, Jeremias Schwarzer,
hr-Sinfonieorchester, Sian Edwards, WERGO 73142[17]
Shifting, Guy Braunstein, violin, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, conductor
Dennis Russell Davies, Archipel Remix, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, conductor
Peter Rundel, WERGO 7357 2[15]
Bibliography
Rolf Riehm: Texte. Published by Marion Saxer (Edition Neue Zeitschrift für Musik). Schott, Mainz 2014,
ISBN978-3-7957-0868-9.
Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich (editor): In anderen Räumen – Der Komponist Rolf Riehm (Edition Neue Zeitschrift für Musik). Schott, Mainz 2015,
ISBN978-3-7957-0896-2.
Rolf Riehm (born 15 June 1937) is a German
composer who wrote stage and orchestral works as well as music for ensembles and solo instruments. He began as an
oboist and music teacher and was later a professor of music theory at the
Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main for several years.
On 27 November 2018, the
Ensemble Modern held a Porträt Rolf Riehm as a Werkstattkonzert (workshop concert) in the series Happy New Ears at the Oper Frankfurt. The composer was interviewed by
Klaus Zehelein, and music was performed by soprano
Sarah Maria Sun and members of the
Ensemble Modern, including Lenz in Moskau and Adieu, sirènes.[8]
Works
Riehm's compositions deal with philosophical reflection, history, myths, fairy tales, memories, and arguments in the natural sciences. They have combined elements both sublime and trivial and include socio-political findings as well as personal ingredients.[4] His opera Sirenen, subtitled Bilder des Begehrens und des Vernichtens (
Sirens, images of desire and destruction), includes text elements not only from Homer's Odyssey but also by
Karoline von Günderrode,
Giovanni Pascoli and Isabelle Erhardt, illuminating various aspects of the myth.[9]
His works have been published by
Ricordi, including:[2][3]
Restoring the Death of Orpheus (2000) Akkordeonkonzert
Fremdling, rede – Ballade Furor Odysseus (2002) for mezzo-soprano, speaker and orchestra
Die schrecklich-gewaltigen Kinder (2003) for coloratura soprano and large ensemble[16]
Ihr, meine und eines ruchlosen Vaters (2006) for soprano, speaker (via feed) and orchestra
Au bord d'une source (2006) for tenor recorder, orchestra and feeds[17]
Wer sind diese Kinder (2009) for piano, large orchestra and playback[18]
Die Tode des Orpheus (2017) for countertenor and orchestra[19]
Music for ensemble
Uncertain Melody (1989) for eight instruments
Double Distant Counterpoint (J. S. Bach, Kunst der Fuge, Contrapunctus XI) (1994) for large ensemble and keyboard
Sarca – il fiume Sarca (1995) for 7 wind instruments and double bass
Schlaf, schlaf, John Donne, schlaf tief und quäl dich nicht (1997) for violin, bass clarinet, accordion, keyboard
Hawking (1998) for piano, bass drum and six instruments
aprikosenbäume gibt es, aprikosenbäume gibt es (2004) for double bass clarinet, violin, trumpet, violoncello, trombone and playbacks (dedicated to
Wolfgang Stryi)
Der Faden ist gerissen (2005) for seven instrumentalists
in der luft waren vögel, im wasser waren fische (2006) for piano and eight instruments
Lenz in Moskau (2011) for trombone, guitar, cello, piano, two percussionists and feeds[17]
Pasolini in Ostia (2012) for soprano, piano, cello and percussion
Der Asra (2014) for soprano and piano
Basar Aleppo oder Die Straße nach Tyros (2015) Sound scenes for
tenor saxophone, marimba, piano and playback[20]
Adieu, sirènes (2015) for mezzo-soprano, 2 cellos, 2 trumpets[21]
Chamber music
Ein Sommerabend am Lindleinsee (1976) for violin, cello, piano and playbacks
Tempo strozzato (1978) for string quartet
"Ich denk viel." / Mr. President / pizz / 13 (1987) for viola, cello and
double bass
Gracieusement (1990) for viola, cello and double bass
FIORETTI Within My Bosom (2000) for clarinet, cello and piano
Werke aus den Jahren 1977–1993 – Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden and Saarbrücken, conductors:
Michael Gielen and
Marcello Viotti, the guitarists Wilhelm Bruck and Theodor Ross as well as the Saarbrücken String Quartet. Talking Music TalkM 1006[28]
aprikosenbäume gibt es, aprikosenbäume gibt es (Theo Nabicht, ensemble ascolta) and two other works: ahi bocca, ahi lingua (Hilliard Ensemble) and schlaf, schlaf, John donne, schlaf tief und quäl dich nicht (ensemble recherche), Cybele records SACD 860.701[25]
Rolf Riehm Orchesterwerke: Die Tränen des Gletschers, Nuages immortels oder Focusing on Solos (Medea in Avignon) and Berceuse, SWR Sinfonie Orchester, Michael Gielen, Hans Zender, telos music records TLS 128[14]
Rolf Riehm: Lenz in Moskau, Im Nachtigallental, Ton für Ton (weiße Straßen Babylons), Au bord d’une source, Ensemble Ascolta, Erik Borgir, Theo Nabicht, Jeremias Schwarzer,
hr-Sinfonieorchester, Sian Edwards, WERGO 73142[17]
Shifting, Guy Braunstein, violin, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, conductor
Dennis Russell Davies, Archipel Remix, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, conductor
Peter Rundel, WERGO 7357 2[15]
Bibliography
Rolf Riehm: Texte. Published by Marion Saxer (Edition Neue Zeitschrift für Musik). Schott, Mainz 2014,
ISBN978-3-7957-0868-9.
Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich (editor): In anderen Räumen – Der Komponist Rolf Riehm (Edition Neue Zeitschrift für Musik). Schott, Mainz 2015,
ISBN978-3-7957-0896-2.