Fortner, Wolfgang (1907-1987)

[Sydney Grew]

Wolfgang Fortner was born in Leipzig in 1907, and became an influential composer and teacher. He greatly admired the work of Bach. But besides all that his compositions are seldom heard to-day.

He is well known for his having in 1946 together With Wolfgang Steinecke started the notorious Darmstadt summer courses.

He left us

a symphony, 1947

an Organ Concerto, 1932

a Piano Concerto, 1943

a Violin Concerto, 1946

a Cello Concerto, 1951

String Quartet no. 1, 1930

String Quartet no. 2, 1938

String Quartet no. 3, 1948

String Quartet no. 4, 1975

and a great deal more.

[kernelbogey]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Fortner

[gurnemanz]

I only know his Violin Concerto in a good 1949 recording with W Furtwängler and the Berlin Phil. The soloist, Gerhard Taschner, was the orchestra's leader. I also have a well worth hearing 1954 recording of Taschner playing the Beethoven Concerto with the Berlin Phil under Georg Solti.

[Petrushka]

I have 'Günter Wand The Radio Recordings' boxed set which contains a 1960 recording of the Symphony, a 1966 recording of Aulodie for oboe and orchestra and a 1957 recording of Bluthochzeit a lyric tragedy in two acts,

Now unavailable, alas https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gunter-Wand...s=music&sr=1-1

[Serial_Apologist]

Fortner's Sieben Elegien for solo piano was the first piece written in the 12-tone method I found myself able to understand immediately from hearing it on the radio at age 14. It can be heard by scrolling down the following page, along with other works, which I shall listen to later.

http://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8439314--wolfgang-fortner-sonate-zyklus-7-elegien-trio