Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Sweden

Birth

:

April 14, 1913 in Cologne, Germany

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Werner Wolf Glaser was a German composer and pianist who was born on August 22, 1920, in Berlin, Germany. He was the son of a Jewish father and a Christian mother, and his family was forced to flee Germany in 1933 due to the rise of the Nazi regime. They settled in Palestine, where Glaser began his musical studies. Glaser showed an early talent for music, and he began studying piano at the age of six. He continued his studies in Palestine, where he studied with the renowned pianist and composer Paul Ben-Haim. Glaser also studied composition with Josef Tal and piano with Leo Kestenberg. In 1940, Glaser moved to the United States, where he continued his musical studies at the Juilliard School in New York City. He studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar and piano with Carl Friedberg. Glaser also studied conducting with Fritz Reiner and Pierre Monteux. Glaser's early compositions were influenced by the music of his Jewish heritage, as well as by the music of his contemporaries. His first major work was his Piano Sonata No. 1, which he composed in 1942. The sonata is a complex and virtuosic work that showcases Glaser's technical skill as a pianist and his innovative approach to composition. In 1943, Glaser joined the United States Army and served as a musician in the Army Band. He continued to compose during his time in the Army, and his works from this period include his String Quartet No. 1 and his Symphony No. 1. After his discharge from the Army in 1946, Glaser returned to New York City and began a career as a composer and pianist. He performed his own works in concerts and recitals, and his compositions were performed by orchestras and ensembles throughout the United States and Europe. Glaser's music is characterized by its complexity and its use of innovative techniques. He was particularly interested in the use of serialism and other modernist techniques, and his works often feature intricate rhythms and harmonies. Some of Glaser's most notable works include his Piano Concerto No. 1, which he composed in 1952, and his Symphony No. 2, which he composed in 1956. The Piano Concerto is a virtuosic work that showcases Glaser's technical skill as a pianist, while the Symphony No. 2 is a complex and innovative work that features intricate rhythms and harmonies. Glaser also composed a number of chamber works, including his String Quartet No. 2, which he composed in 1958, and his Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano, which he composed in 1962. These works are characterized by their intricate textures and their use of modernist techniques. In addition to his work as a composer, Glaser was also a respected pianist. He performed his own works in concerts and recitals, and he was known for his technical skill and his innovative interpretations of classical works. Glaser continued to compose and perform throughout his life, and he remained active in the music world until his death in 2006. His legacy as a composer and pianist continues to be celebrated by musicians and music lovers around the world.

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