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Alexander GoehrEnglish composer
Date of Birth: 10.08.1932
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Alexander Goehr
Early Life and EducationAlexander Goehr was born in 1932 in Berlin, Germany, to a Jewish family. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Britain to escape the rising Nazi regime. Goehr's mother, Laelia Goehr, was a classical pianist, and his father, Walter Goehr, was a renowned conductor. Growing up in a musical household, Goehr developed an early interest in music. He later received a classical education at Oxford University and studied composition at the Royal Manchester College of Music under the guidance of Richard Hall.
Early Career
During his time at the Royal Manchester College of Music, Goehr formed friendships with many influential musicians and composers, including Peter Maxwell Davies, Harrison Birtwistle, and pianist John Ogdon. He experimented with various musical styles and was influenced by Olivier Messiaen's "Turangalîla Symphony" and Indian classical music. In the mid-1950s, Goehr traveled to Paris, where he attended Olivier Messiaen's masterclass. There, he met Pierre Boulez and became interested in the serialist avant-garde movement. However, his enthusiasm for this style waned over time.
Recognition and Works
In 1956, Goehr returned to Britain and gained attention for his cantata "The Deluge," which was premiered in 1957. He also composed "Sutter's Gold," a notable work for choir, baritone, and orchestra. However, this piece faced difficulties in performance due to its complexity. Despite this, Goehr established himself as an avant-garde composer known for his talent and unexpected musical choices. Throughout the 1960s, Goehr continued to write choral music, producing works such as "Two Choruses," "Pastorals," "Warngedichte," and "Romanza for cello and orchestra." In addition to composing, Goehr contributed to the establishment of the Wardour Castle Summer School, collaborating with Davies and Birtwistle.
Later Career and Legacy
In the late 1960s, Goehr taught at institutions such as the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and Yale University. In the 1970s, he worked at Southampton University in England and held positions as a visiting professor of music at Leeds University and Cambridge University. Goehr's famous students include Thomas Adès, George Benjamin, Chen Yi, Robin Holloway, Silvina Milstein, Francesco Cilluffo, as well as musicologists Nicholas Cook and Nicholas Williams. In 1985, Goehr composed the opera "Behold the Sun," followed by works like "Symphony with Chaconne" and "Eve Dreams in Paradise" in the 1980s. He continues to create music to this day, with recent compositions including "Broken Psalm for mixed choir" in 2009 and "Turmmusik (Tower Music)" in 2010. In addition to his composition and teaching career, Goehr is known for his writings on music, including books such as "Musical Ideas and Ideas about Music" (1978) and "Finding the Key: Selected Writings of Alexander Goehr."
