(b. 4 March 1956, Remptendorf-Rauschengesees, Thuringia).
German composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and organ works that have been performed throughout Europe.
Mr. Zapf privately studied organ and piano with Gerhard Voltz as a child and later trained as an apprentice to an automobile mechanic from 1972–74. He then studied composition with Johannes Petzold and organ with Gottfried Preller and Hans-Günter Wauer in Eisenach and Halle and often attended seminars in Gera from 1974–79. He studied composition with Georg Katzer at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin from 1982–86. He also attended the Ferienkurse in Darmstadt in 1990, on a scholarship.
Among his honours are the Premio Valentino Bucchi in Rome (1986, for Solo), the Hanns-Eisler-Preis (1986, for Concertino) and the Kompositionspreis at the Weimarer Tage für Neue Musik (2003, for Frühling), as well as residencies at the Villa Massimo in Rome (1995), the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris (1998) and the Künstlerhof Schreyahn (2000). He has been a member of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin since 2015.
He is also active in other positions. He worked as a cantor in Eisenberg, Thuringia from 1979–82. He founded the Ensemble Junge Musik for contemporary music in Berlin in 1992. He co-founded with his wife Karin the annual series for contemporary music Randspiele in Panketal-Zepernick in 1993. He performs as a church organist in Panketal-Zepernick.
He has taught ear training and music theory at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin since 1987 and composition, ear training and music theory at the Musikschule Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg in Berlin since 1990.
He is the father of the violinist Susanne Zapf.
His primary publishers are Boosey & Hawkes and the Ortus Verlag.
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, fixed media, 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 cellos, double bass, piano, accordion, 2 percussion, fixed media, 2005–06
Kreis im Quadrat, violin (+ voice), live electronics ad libitum, 2013 (may be performed as a concert work)
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, tenor, violin, small orchestra)
Nürnberger Mixt(o)ur, 16 or more accordions, fixed media (5 tracks), 2001–02
Albedo VI, sheng (mouth organ from China), small orchestra (13 players), 2002
Aufwind, small orchestra (winds, brass, percussion), 2009
via rupta, small orchestra (14 players), 2009
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 (+ piccolo, alto flute), violin, viola, cello, 1981–85 (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, fixed media, 1986
In Melodie den Geist zu wiegen, ertöne nun der Saite Zauber, harp, 1987
Posaunenklang, trombone, 1987
Tanzende Alte, cello, 1987
Arpeggio, harp, fixed media, 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), fixed media, 1990
Zusammenklang III, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet, bassoon, French horn, piano, 1989–91
Dreiklang I, 2 bass clarinets, double bass, 1991
3 + 1, violin, viola, cello, accordion, 1991
Epilog, double bass, fixed media, 1991
Lied zu zweit, alto recorder, piano, 1991
Trio, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, double bass, 1991
Dreiklang II, 2 bass clarinets, tuba, 1992
Dreiklang IV, 3 contrabass clarinets, 1992, revised 2009
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), fixed media, 1994
Zwischentöne – Dreiklang VI, flute, oboe, clarinet, guitar, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1994
Abendklänge, improvisational bass saxophone, ensemble (flute [+ piccolo, bass flute], bass clarinet, trombone, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion), 1995
canto dell'aria, oboe, fixed media, 1995
Concertino, accordion, fixed media, 1995
Romanze, violin, piano, 1995
air varié, oboe, harp, 1996
Trio I–II, violin, viola, cello, 1996
Denstedter Klanglandschaften I, violin, organ, 1997
Denstedter Klanglandschaften II, violin, organ, percussion, fixed media, 1998
Drei Brechungen aus VII, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, 1998
square, bass clarinet (+ clarinet), trumpet, violin, double bass, fixed media (4 tracks), 1998
Frühling, harp, accordion, 1999
Sommer, clarinet, accordion, 1999
Herbst, viola, accordion, 1999
Winter, double bass, accordion, 1999
Hommage Nr. 3, violin, organ, fixed media, 1999
Trionfale I, 4 trombones, 2 bass trombones, 1999
ach B, violin, fixed media, 2000
Albedo I, piccolo (+ flute, alto flute, bass flute, contrabass flute), fixed media, 2000
Albedo III, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, 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
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 (+ piccolo, alto flute), guitar, 2002 (also version for guitar, violin, 2004)
Albedo VIII, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), 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 cellos, piano, accordion, percussion, 2003
Albedo IX, bağlama (lute from Turkey), ensemble (flute, clarinet [+ bass clarinet], French horn, piano), 2003
POST-LUDUM, French horn, trumpet/B-flat trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, 2003
ODEM I, flute (+ piccolo, bass flute), oboe, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), tuba, fixed media 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, fixed media, 2005
Klangetüde III, 4 bağlama, violin, piano, 2005
Fragmente, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, 2006
Skelett, clarinet, double bass, accordion, live electronics, 2006
Sonette, guitar, 2006 (its five movements may be performed separately)
starres geld – weiße stille, 4 percussion, 2006
RANDSPIEL, percussion, fixed media, 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
Collage, soprano recorder, 2 alto recorders, 2 tenor recorders, 2 bass recorders, 2007
letargo, 4 bassoons, 2008
Wasser – Luft, trumpet, violin, piano, 2008
eine etwas defekte Schaukel, bassoon, 2009
november, violin, viola, 2009
Etüde für zwei Violinen, 2 violins, 2009
Baustelle II, any player, live electronics, 2009
après, flute, cello, piano, 2009
Störung, piano, 2 percussion, fixed media, 2009
3. Streichquartett, string quartet, 2008–10
Partita II – Lydia, violin/viola, live electronics, 2010 (also shorter version as LUD, violin/viola, live electronics ad libitum, 2010)
L, trumpet (+ flügelhorn), 2010
Hou-ou, guitar, violin, piano, 2010
Lydische Landschaft, flute, cello, accordion, 2010
articolazione e tempo, flute, 2011
Miriam (suite), flute (+ piccolo), live electronics ad libitum, 2011
canto e ballo, flute, 2011
persona, 2 soprano saxophones, 2011
A-B-A, flute, 2011
David und Goliath, accordion, 2011
Notausang, 4 saxophones, 2011
Bakkuda, guitar, double bass, live electronics, 2011
et incarnatus est, harp, organ, 2011
sing of spring, 3 clarinets, 2012
evening song, trumpet, piano, live electronics, 2012
NETZBAND, any high wind instrument, 3 clarinets, contrabass clarinet, 2012
Klangfetzen, saxophone, trumpet, electric guitar, 2 violins, viola, cello, bass guitar, percussion, 2012
Schattenwände, 5 contrabass clarinets, 2012
Verschwommene Ränder / Nine Bagatelles (after Verschwommene Ränder by Hendrik Jackson), string quartet, 2012–13
Kreis im Quadrat, violin (+ voice), live electronics ad libitum, 2013 (stage work; may be performed as a concert work)
NICHTS – gspieltgsungen, contrabass clarinet (+ voice), violin (+ voice), 2013
let, soprano saxophone, cello, piano, accordion, 2013
Dari, gayageum (zither from the Koreas), violin, double bass, piano, percussion, 2013
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, drum kit, 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 Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, H XX/1:A by Franz Joseph Haydn)
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
MIGRATION, 4–8 mixed voices, alto saxophone, fixed media, 2007
Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär, soloists, speakers, mixed chorus, organ, orchestra, 2008
Lasst uns Hütten bauen, soloists, mixed chorus, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, organ, 2 percussion, 2010
Verleih uns Frieden, 4–6 mixed voices, 2011
fuga in circulum vitiosus, 4 speakers, 28 mixed voices, trombone, 4 cassette recorders, 2012
Das Glück (choral fantasy, text by Friedrich von Schiller), alto, 12 mixed voices, tenor saxophone, piano, string quartet, 2013–14
VOCAL:
Piece 1 (text by Friedrich Hölderlin), mezzo-soprano, organ, small orchestra (5 winds, 3 French horns, harp, 3 percussion, 8 violas, 6 cellos, 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 as Lobe der Steine, violin, small orchestra)
leer und still und... (text by Wolfgang Hilbig), soprano, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), 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 versions for soprano, soprano saxophone, 2007; soprano, cello, 2009; soprano, piano, 2011; soprano, fixed media, 2012; version by Thomas Noll for soprano, organ, 2012)
Brecht ab den 'Sang der Maschinen'. Brecht auf., soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, violin, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, fixed media, 2006
weiß und rot, soprano, sheng, soprano saxophone, percussion, 2008
Vom Suchen und Finden, soprano, flutes (1 player), clarinets (1 player), 2011
freeze frame I–III (text by Hendrik Jackson), soprano, cello, 2012
Tachyon II (5 aphorisms, text by William Shakespeare), soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 2014
PIANO:
un verso per piano – la salita a Bellegra, 2009
ORGAN:
Toccata, 1976
Fuge A. S., 1978
toccata 79, 'Dir, dir Jehova will ich singen', 1979
ombre I, organ, fixed media, 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, fixed media, 2004
Schmutz, organ (+ French horn), 2010
Orgelfantasie I, '...der Wunder tut' (in memoriam Werner Zapf), 2011
ELECTROACOUSTIC:
Anklang, fixed media, 1987
Motette, fixed media, 1991
...lass mich hören..., fixed media (4/8 tracks), 2002
Harmonie du soir, fixed media (4 tracks), 2006
Der Tod, fixed media (4 tracks), 2008
ZWISCHENZEIT, fixed media, 2008
wie im Himmel, also auch auf Erden, fixed media (12 tracks), 2011–12
ARRANGEMENTS:
Vater unser (completion of fragment by Max Reger), 12 mixed voices, 1991
Christus am Ölberge, Op. 85 (Ludwig van Beethoven), soprano, tenor, 4 mixed voices, 4 male voices, piano, organ, 2005
Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (London version) (Johannes Brahms), mezzo-soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, harp, 2 pianos, organ, timpani, 2006
Ciaconna from Partita Nr. 2 in D-moll, BWV 1004 (Johann Sebastian Bach), 4 mixed voices, violin, 2008