he Living Composers Project

Zapf, Helmut (b. March 4, 1956, Rauschengesees). German composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and organ works that have been performed throughout Europe; he is also active as an organist.

Mr. Zapf is also active in other positions. He worked as a cantor in Eisenberg from 1979–82. He founded the Ensemble Junge Musik in 1992, a new music ensemble that consists of students from various music schools in Berlin. He co-founded with his wife Karin the Randspiele in 1993, an annual series of new music concerts held in his local church in Zepernick, during which he often performs as an organist. He also plays organ at this church throughout the year.

He has taught ear training and music theory at the Hanns-Eisler-Musikhochschule since 1987 and composition, ear training and music theory at the Bezirksmusikschule Kreuzberg since 1990.

The Ortus Verlag publishes most of his works. In addition to the works listed below, Mr. Zapf completed Vater unser for 12 mixed voices by Max Reger in 1991.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Street address: Mr. Helmut Zapf, Schönower Str. 74, 16341 Zepernick, Germany

Telephone/fax: + 4930 9441 9545

Cellular phone: + 4917 9242 3791

Website: http://www.helmutzapf.com/e/index_d.php

Website (Randspiele): http://www.randspiele.de/

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS

STAGE: Lilith (scenic oratorio, texts by Kerstin Hensel, Aniar Amos, the composer), soprano, bass, 2 dancers, flute, oboe, clarinet, viola, cello, double bass, piano, American organ, 2 percussion, CD, film (by Aniar Amos), 1999–2000; Das goldene Kalb (ballet in 3 scenes with introduction and epilogue), soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, harp, violin, viola, 2 celli, double bass, piano, accordion, 2 percussion, CD, 2005–06

ORCHESTRAL: Concertino, 1986; Venezianische Erinnerungen, 1987; Zusammenklang I, small orchestra (16 players), 1987; Dreiklang III, large orchestra (70 players), 1992; Dreiklang V (romance), piano, large orchestra (63 players), 1994; Lobe der Steine, violin, small orchestra, 2000 (version of Prolog); Nürnberger Mixt(o)ur, 16 or more accordions, 5 CDs/5-track tape, 2001–02; Albedo VI, sheng (Chinese mouth organ), small orchestra (13 players), 2002

CHAMBER MUSIC: Recitativ, oboe, string quartet, 1979; Friede auf Erden, trombone, 1981; Singender Mann, flute, 1982; Streichquartett I, string quartet, 1984; Brechungen I-III, flute (+ alto flute, piccolo), violin, viola, cello, 1981–85 (each of its sections may be performed separately); Contra-Punkte, flute, bassoon, viola, piano, percussion, 1985; Komposition, flute, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, live electronics, 1986; Solo, double bass, 1986; Wandlungen, trombone, CD, 1986; In Melodie den Geist zu wiegen, ertöne nun der Saite Zauber, harp, 1987; Posaunenklang, trombone, 1987; Tanzende Alte, cello, 1987; Arpeggio, harp, CD, 1988; Intrada, any 8 brass, 1988; organum, harp, organ, percussion, 1988; Psalmos, flute, harp, 1988; Skulptur, 3 guitars, 1988; Zusammenklang II, oboe, English horn, trombone, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1988; rivolto, oboe (+ English horn), viola, double bass, 1989; 2 + 4, 6 percussion, 1989–90; Air, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, 1990; 2:1, bass clarinet (+ soprano saxophone), CD, 1990; Zusammenklang III, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet, French horn, bassoon, piano, 1989–91; Dreiklang I, 2 bass clarinets, double bass, 1991; 3 + 1, violin, viola, cello, accordion, 1991; Epilog, double bass, CD, 1991; Lied zu zweit, alto recorder, piano, 1991; Trio, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 celli, double bass, 1991; Dreiklang II, 2 bass clarinets, tuba, 1992; sound, string quartet, 1993; canzone, bass drum, live electronics, 1994; être en vie, 6 percussion, 1994; strumento dell'arco, violin, viola, any noise instruments (1 player), CD, 1994; Zwischentöne – Dreiklang VI, flute, oboe, clarinet, guitar, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1994

CHAMBER MUSIC: Abendklänge, improvisational bass saxophone, ensemble (flute [+ piccolo, bass flute], bass clarinet, trombone, string quartet, double bass, piano, percussion), 1995; canto dell'aria, oboe, CD, 1995; Concertino, accordion, CD, 1995; Romanze, violin, piano, 1995; air varié, oboe, harp, 1996; Trio I-II, violin, viola, cello, 1996; Denstedter Klanglandschaften, violin, organ, 1997; Denstedter Klanglandschaften II, violin, organ, percussion, CD, 1998; Drei Brechungen aus VII, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, 1998; square, bass clarinet (+ clarinet), trumpet, violin, double bass, 4 CDs/4-track tape, 1998; Frühling, harp, accordion, 1999; Sommer, clarinet, accordion, 1999; Herbst, viola, accordion, 1999; Winter, double bass, accordion, 1999; Hommage Nr. 3, violin, organ, CD, 1999; Trionfale, 4 trombones, 2 bass trombones, 1999; ach B, violin, CD, 2000; Albedo, piccolo (+ flute, alto flute, bass flute, contrabass flute), CD, 2000; Albedo III, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, string quartet, double bass, 2000; namenlos, violin, 2000; Albedo IV, flute (+ piccolo), clarinet, tuba, harp, double bass, 2001; Albedo V, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2001; Im Rausch(en) der Sinne, 3 sopranino recorders (all + soprano recorder, alto recorder, tenor recorder, bass recorder), 2001; wo jetzt hingehen, 4 percussion, 2001

CHAMBER MUSIC: Albedo VII, flute, piano, percussion, 2002; ALLELUIA (chamber symphony), flute, bass clarinet, trombone, tuba, harp, violin, cello, vibraphone, 2002; auf dass die Gebeine wieder fröhlich werden (exultent ossa), clarinet, double bass, 2002; Domine pacem, 4 violas da gamba, 2002; wenn der winter kommt..., flute (+ alto flute, piccolo), guitar, 2002 (also version for guitar, violin, 2004); Albedo VIII, flute (+ alto flute, piccolo), cello, piano, 2003; Trionfale II, French horn, trumpet/B-flat trumpet, trombone, tuba, 2 accordions, 2003; Momento Musicale, flute, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, harp, electric guitar, 2 violins, 2 celli, piano, accordion, percussion, 2003; Albedo IX, baglama (Turkish lute), ensemble (flute, clarinet [+ bass clarinet], French horn, piano), 2003; POST-LUDUM, French horn, trumpet/B-flat trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, 2003; ODEM, flute (+ piccolo, bass flute), oboe, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), tuba, 3 CDs ad libitum, 2004; ODEM II, piano, accordion, 2004; ...aber doch..., 2 soprano saxophones, 2 alto saxophones, string quartet, 2004; ...fast zwanzig... (for the 70th birthday of Georg Katzer), trombone, CD, 2005; Klangetüde III, 4 baglama, violin, piano, 2005

CHAMBER MUSIC: Fragmente, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, 2006; Skelett, clarinet, double bass, accordion, live electronics, 2006; Sonette, guitar, 2006 (each of its five movements may be performed separately); starres geld – weisse stille, 4 percussion, 2006; RANDSPIEL, percussion, CD, 2006; SAND, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2006–07; racconto del suono per tre strumenti, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), double bass, accordion, 2007; on the hop, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), 4 percussion, 2007

CHORAL: Das Leiden und Sterben unseres Herren Jesu (text from the Bible [German translation]), soprano, bass, speaker, 4 mixed voices, bass clarinet, violin, organ, 1980; Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (text from Psalm 84 [German translation]), 4 mixed voices, 1988; Pater noster, 12 mixed voices, 1990; discantus II, 'ex quoque lapide' (text from the Bible [German translation]), 3 sopranos, 2 tenors, 3 basses, flute, any saxophone, French horn, violin, viola, 2 double basses, drumkit, 1997; magnificat, alto, 3 male voices, violin, organ, percussion, 1998; Lobet den Herren (text from Psalm 104 [German translation]), mixed chorus, 2000; Die sieben letzten Worte Jesu am Kreuz (text from the Bible [German translation]), mixed chorus, clarinet, 2002 (may be performed with Franz Joseph Haydn work of same name); Die sorgenvollen Gesichter (text by Wolfgang Hilbig), soprano, alto, tenor, 2 basses, 4-8 mixed voices, 2004; Telefon (text by Ulrike Liedtke), 4-8 female voices, 2004; Christus am Ölberge, soprano, tenor, 4 mixed voices, 4 male voices, piano, organ, 2005 (treatment of Ludwig van Beethoven work of same name); Ein Deutsches Requiem, soloists, mixed chorus, harp, 2 pianos, organ, timpani, 2006 (treatment of London version of Johannes Brahms work of same name); MIGRATION, 4-8 mixed voices, alto saxophone, CD, 2007; Collage, soprano, 2 altos, 2 tenors, 2 bass recorders, 2007

VOCAL: Piece 1 (text by Friedrich Hölderlin), mezzo-soprano, organ, small orchestra (5 winds, 3 French horns, harp, 3 percussion, 8 violas, 6 celli, 4 double basses), 1990; Totentanz (text by Rolf Gerlach), speaker, 2 bass clarinets, organ, 1991; discantus I (text by Eva-Maria Kohl), mezzo-soprano, violin, organ, percussion, 1997; discantus III (text from the Bible [German translation]), high soprano, violin, 4 violas, percussion, 1998; Prolog (text from the Bible [German translation]), tenor, violin, small orchestra, 2000 (also version without tenor as Lobe der Steine); leer und still und... (text by Wolfgang Hilbig), soprano, flute (+ alto flute, piccolo), guitar, 2002 (also version for soprano, guitar, violin, 2004); ein mund voll wind (text by Wolfgang Hilbig), mezzo-soprano, alto recorder, piano, timpani (+ vibraphone), 2005; rechenschaft (text by Wolfgang Hilbig), alto, oboe, 2005 (also version for soprano, soprano saxophone, 2007); Brecht ab den 'Sang der Maschinen'. Brecht auf., soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, violin, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, CD, 2006

ORGAN: Toccata, 1976; Fuge A.S., 1978; toccata 79, 'Dir, dir Jehova will ich singen', 1979; ombre, organ, CD, 1997; Klangbeschreibungen für Orgel – Dominus pascit me, 2000; Domine labia mea aperia, 2002; Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (toccata), 2004; ombre II, '...so sind unsere Fröhlichkeiten...', organ, CD, 2004

ELECTROACOUSTIC: Anklang, CD, 1987; Motette, CD, 1991; ...lass mich hören..., 4-/8-track tape, 2002; Harmony du soir, CD/4-track tape, 2006

(Last updated on November 10, 2007)