Günter Kochan (1930–2009) composed six symphonies, orchestral music and chamber music, one opera, cantatas, youth songs and mass songs as well as film music and radio dramas.[1]
His compositions were mostly published by Edition Peters and by Deutschen Verlag für Musik in Leipzig as well as by Verlag Neue Musik in Berlin.
Works
Instrumental Music
Symphonies
Symphony for large Orchestra with Choir (1962/64) based on words by Paul Wiens. UA 13 November 1963 in Oschatz (Thomas-Müntzer-Haus, Festtage Neuer Musik, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Herbert Kegel)
Symphony No. 2 for large Orchestra in one movement (1968). UA 21 February 1969 Berlin (II. Musik-Biennale Berlin, Berliner Sinfonieorchester, Kurt Sanderling)
Symphony No. 3 for Orchestra with Soprano Solo "Dem Andenken Hanns Eislers gewidmet" (1972) based on words by Johannes R. Becher. UA 12 November 1973 Rostock (Philharmonisches Orchester Rostock, Roswitha Trexler (Soprano), Gerd Puls)
Symphony No. 4 for Orchestra (1983/84). UA 1 Februar 1985 in Berlin (Schauspielhaus, X. Musik-Biennale Berlin, Sinfoniekonzert, Berliner Sinfonieorchester, Leitung: Claus Peter Flor)
Symphony No. 5 for Orchestra (1985–87). UA 13/14/15 November 1987 in Berlin (Schauspielhaus, Sinfoniekonzert, Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester, Claus Peter Flor)
Symphony No. 6 for Orchester (2003–06). UA 11/12 February 2011 in Berlin (Konzerthaus, 3. Konzert, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Lothar Zagrosek)
Orchesterwerke
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major op. 1 (1951/52) (Version for Violin and Piano edited by
Curt Beilschmidt)
Polkas – heiteres Stück für großes Orchester (1955)
Concertino for Flute and small Orchestra (1964). UA 2 October 1964 in Dresden (
Staatskapelle Dresden, Johannes Walter (Flute), Herbert Kegel)
Fantasie for Flute and Orchestra (1965)
Variations on a Venetian Canzonetta for Piano and small Orchestra (1966)
Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra (1967). UA 1 July 1969 in Rostock (Volkstheater, 1. Philharmonisches Konzert, Rostocker Theaterorchester, Friedemann Erben (Violoncello), Gerd Puls)
Suite for Orchestra No. 3 (Rostocker Suite) (1969) from the Film Music Jubiläum einer Stadt – 750 Jahre Rostock
Variations on a theme by
Mendelssohn for Piano and Orchestra (1971/72) on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the death of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. UA 3 November 1972 in Berlin (Staatskapelle Berlin, Dieter Zechlin (Piano),
Günther Herbig)
Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (1973/74). UA 16 February 1975 in Berlin (
Hallesche Philharmonie, Alfred Lipka (Viola),
Olaf Koch)
2. Konzert für Violoncello und Orchester (1976). UA 5 May 1978 in Rostock (Philharmonisches Orchester Rostock,
Jürnjakob Timm (Violoncello), Gerd Puls)
Concerto for Wind Quintet and two String groups (1975–77). UA 18 February 1977 in Berlin (VI. Musik-Biennale Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin, Bläserquintett der Staatskapelle Berlin, Alexander Dimitriew)
Bilder aus dem Kombinat. 7 Pieces for Orchestra (1976/77). UA 30 June 1978 in Sonneberg (17.
Arbeiterfestspiele, Arbeiter-Sinfonieorchester Bitterfeld, Arnfried-Joachim Eichhorn)
Passacaglia and Hymn for large Orchestra (1979). UA 10 December 1979 in Halle (Hallesche Philharmonie, Olaf Koch)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1980). UA 19 February 1982 in Berlin (Deutsche Staatsoper, DDR-Musiktage 1982, Egon Morbitzer (Violin),
Staatskapelle Berlin,
Friedrich Goldmann)
IN MEMORIAM. Music for Orchestra (1982). Dedication: Konrad Wolf and
Paul Wiens. UA 15/16/17 December 1984 in Berlin (
Schauspielhaus, Berliner Sinfonieorchester,
Claus Peter Flor)
Der Große Friede. Triptychon for Tenor, Horn, Timpani, Percussions and Strings (1986). Lyrics by
Walter Lowenfels and Paul Wiens. UA 15 February 1987 in Berlin (XI.
Musik-Biennale Berlin, Sinfoniekonzert,
Sebastian Weigle (Horn), Gunter Wurzel (Tenor), Staatskapelle Berlin, Chihiro Hayashi)
Präludium for large Orchestra. UA March 1986 in Berlin (FDJ-Sinfonieorchester der DDR,
Reinhard Seehafer)
Konzertante Szenen for 27 instrumental Solists. UA 14 April 1986 in Halle (Hallesche Philharmonie,
Ude Nissen)
Herbstbilder. Metamorphoses for 28 solo string instruments (1990/91)
Kammermusik und Klavierwerke
Sonate for two Pianos (1947)
Two Sonatines for Piano (1948)
Suite for Piano op. 2 (1952)
Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano op. 4 (1954). UA 12 September 1954 in Dresden (
Staatstheater, Gottfried Lucke (Violin), Clemens Dillner (Violoncello),
Günter Blumhagen (Piano))
Preludes, Intermezzi and Fugues for Piano op. 7 (1954)
Divertimento for Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon op. 12 (1956). UA 1959 in Warschau (
Warschauer Herbst, Members of the Gewandhaus-Bläserquintett)
11 kleine Stücke for Piano for four hands op. 20 (1959)
Sieben Miniaturen for four Tubas (1977). UA 17 June 1978 in Los Angeles (Musikfestival, University of Southern California, Los Angeles-Tubaquartet:
Roger Bobo, Tommy Johnson, Jim Self, Don Waldrop)
Fantasy for Viola solo. UA 22 September 1980 in Berlin (Konzert der Musikhochschule Berlin, Alfred Lipka (Viola))
String Trio [dedicated to Ernst Hermann Meyer to his 75th anniversary] (1979/80). UA 23 May 1981 in Dresden (Plenarsaal des
Neuen Rathauses, Eröffnung der
Dresdner Musikfestspiele 1981, Peter Glatte (Violin), Winfried Berger (Viola), Joachim Bischof (Violoncello))
Sonata for Viola and Piano (1984/85). UA (Alfred Lipka (Viola), Dieter Zechlin (Piano))
Variations for Piano (1986). UA 22 November 1987 in Berlin (Matinee im Apollo-Saal anlässlich des 30. Jubiläums des
Verlages Neue Musik Berlin, Dieter Brauer (Piano))
Fünf Bagatellen for four Trombones (1987). UA 25 Februar 1988 in Berlin (
Apollo-Saal, DDR-Musiktage 1988, Kammerkonzert, Mitglieder des Posaunenquintetts Berlin: Wilfried Helm (Alto Trombone),
Ralf Zank (Tenor Trombone), Norman Reichelt (Tenor Trombone), Jörg Lehmann (Bass Trombone))
Bagatellen und Interludien for Piano (1989) (UA München 2016, Andreas Skouras)
Piano Quintet (1992/93). UA 28 May 2000 in Leipzig (
Gewandhaus,
Rolf-Dieter Arens (Piano), Gewandhaus-Quartett:
Frank-Michael Erben (Violin), Conrad Suske (Violin), Volker Metz (Viola), Jürnjakob Timm (Violoncello))
Schneiders Höllenfahrt for four Trombones and Tuba (1993). UA (PosaunenQuintett Berlin)
Sieben Szenen for Flute, Viola and Guitar (1993)
Duo for Clarinet and Piano (1994/95)
Music for Alto Recorder and Piano or Harpsichord (1995). UA (Markus Bartholomé (Alto Recorder),
Andreas Skouras (Harpsichord))
Konzertstück for four Trombones and Tuba (1995/96). UA (PosaunenQuintett Berlin)
Revue der Einverstandenen. Text:
Karl Mickel (published under the Pseudonym Adam Schrank). UA 1958
Music to Klaus Störtebeker (1959). Text:
Kurt Barthel. UA 16 August 1959 Ralswiek (
Rügenfestspiele, Direction:
Hanns Anselm Perten) – see: Klaus Störtebeker : Dramat. Ballade in 6 Episoden, e. Vorspiel u. e. Nachspiel / Buch: Kuba. Dramat. Einrichtg: Hanns Anselm Perten. Musik Günter Kochan. [Erarbeitg d. Anh. u. Zusammenstellg d. Bildbeil.:
Hans-Joachim Theil ] – Online Ausg.: Leipzig ; Frankfurt, M. : Dt. Nationalbibliothek, 2013. Online Ressource
http://d-nb.info/1035745585
Aurora. Cantata for medium femal Voice, Choir and Orchestra (1966). Text: Stephan Hermlin. UA 12 March 1967 in Berlin
Urbar machen, tätig sein, Mensch sein! Cycle for mixed Choir (1969). Text:
Werner Lindemann. UA 13 December 1969 in Stuer (FDGB-Chor Neubrandenburg, Günter Wilsch)
Wir unaufhaltsam. Symphonic Demonstration for Baritone, Speaker, mixed Choir and Orchestra (1970) based on a text by
Jo Schulz. UA 1971 in Riesa (13. Arbeiterfestspiele, Hermann Hähnel (Baritone), Monika Naumann und Werner Hafft (Speaker), Chor des Volkskunstensembles „Joliot-Curie“ des VEB Rohrkombinats Riesa, Chor der Technischen Universität Dresden,
Staatliches Sinfonieorchester Riesa, Karl Haffner)
Das Testament von Ho chi Minh (1970). Cantata for Speaker, Chamber Orchestra and nine Instruments. UA in Rostock (Volkstheater)
Die Hände der Genossen. Cantata for Baritone and Orchestra (1974) based on texts by
Giannis Ritsos. UA 25 February 1975 (Berliner Sinfonieorchester,
Werner Haseleu (Baritone), Kurt Sanderling)
Melodram
LUTHER. Melodrama for two Speakers, mixed Choir and large Orchestra (1981) based on texts by Johannes R. Becher on the occassion of the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther on 10 November 1983. UA 12/13/14 November 1983 in Rostock (
Volkstheater, 3. Philharmonisches Konzert,
Uwe Detlef Jessen, Hans-Dieter Neumann (Speaker), Chor des Volkstheaters Rostock, Rostocker Singakademie, Philharmonisches Orchester des Volkstheaters Rostock, Gerd Puls)
Sololieder
Neues Dorf. Four Songs for Voices and Piano op. 3 (1952). Text:
Franz Fühmann
3
Shakespeare-Lieder for Alto and Orchestra (1964)
Five Songs for medium Voice and Piano (1965/66) based on words by
Johannes R. Becher
Die Räuber. TV movie, DDR 1967. Direction: Gerd Keil.
Jubiläum einer Stadt – 750 Jahre Rostock. Short Documentary, DDR 1968. Direction:
Winfried Junge.
Die Verschworenen. TV movie, DDR 1971. Direction: Martin Eckermann.
Inselsommer. TV movie, DDR 1973/74. Direction:
Martin Eckermann.
Folk Song Arrangements
Deutsche Volkslieder for Voices and Piano op. 11a (1955)
Deutsche Volkslieder for Voices and Piano op. 11b (1956)
Deutsche Volkslieder 1. Folge für Sopran and Piano (1956)
Deutsche Volkslieder 2. Folge für Sopran and Piano (1979). UA 17 April 1984 in Weimar (1. Erfurter Tage Zeitgenössischer Musik, Neue Musik im
Saal am Palais, Composer Portrait Günter Kochan, Karin Kurzendörfer (Soprano),
Reinhard Wolschina (Piano))
Sieben deutsche Volkslieder for four Trombones and Tuba (1994/95). UA ? (PosaunenQuintett Berlin)
Literature
Kochan, Günter. In Wilfried W. Bruchhäuser: Komponisten der Gegenwart im Deutschen Komponisten-Interessenverband. Ein Handbuch. 4th edition, Deutscher Komponisten-Interessenverband, Berlin 1995, ISBN 3-55561-410-X, p. 683.
Günter Kochan. In
Sigrid Neef (with
Hermann Neef): Deutsche Oper im 20. Jahrhundert. DDR 1949–1989. Lang, Berlin 1992, ISBN 3-86032-011-4, pp. 257–260.
Hans-Joachim Kynaß: Günter Kochan. Verband Deutscher Komponisten und Musikwissenschaftler, Musikinformationszentrum, Berlin 1967.
Günter Kochan. In Association of Composers and Musicologists of the GDR (ed.): Composers and Musicologists of the German Democratic Republic. Short biographies and lists of works. Verlag Neue Musik, Berlin 1959, pp. 97 ff.