Otto Matthäus Zykan (29 April 1935, Vienna – 25 May 2006, Sachsendorf, Burgschleinitz-Kühnring) was an Austrian composer and pianist.[1]
The son of composer Otto Zykan (1902–1989), Otto M Zykan received his first piano lessons from his father, and from 1940 he was taught by his paternal grandmother, who had been a student of Theodor Leschetizky. He joined the Vienna Boys Choir and studied at the Vienna Music Academy[2] where his teachers included Karl Schiske (composition), Bruno Seidlhofer and Josef Dichler (piano). He also attended the Darmstadt summer courses (1958, 1964–1966), winning the Kranichstein Music Prize of the international piano competition on his first visit.
In 1967, working with H.K. Gruber and Kurt Schwertsik, Zykan co-founded the Salonkonzerte Group and associated ensembles such as MOB art & tone ART (sometimes termed the 'Third Viennese School') to further his ideas about ‘instrumental theatre’, music that aimed for closer links between performance, music and language.[3] These 'total art productions', influenced by Dadaism and analogous to the music theatre productions of Mauricio Kagel, were often composed in the form of sketch-like drafts. Depending as they did on personal interpretation[4] Zykan discouraged any performances without his direct involvement. The music theatre piece Symphonie aus der Heilen Welt was first produced in 1977. In the same year his satirical television play Staatsoperette, directed by Franz Novotny, caused a scandal.[5]
More conventionally, Zykan also composed opera, orchestral, concerto and instrumental music, as well as film scores. One of his earliest works was a piano concerto using serial techniques, which won a prize at the Innsbruck Youth Culture Week in 1963. His three operas are Singers Nähmaschine ist die beste (1966, of which there is a revised film version, 1973), Kunst kommt von Gönnen (1980) and Auszählreim (1986). His two cello concertos - the first composed in 1982, the second entitled Beethoven's Cello in 2005 - were written for and premiered by the Austrian cellist Heinrich Schiff.[6] In 1994 he wrote the electronic score for Hans Hoffer's production of Odysseus, staged at the Linz Festival.[7] His Masse! received its premiere at the Vienna Musikverein in 2002. Film scores include Exit (1980) and Strudlhofstiege (an adaption of the novel by Heimito von Doderer, 1988).[5]
As a pianist, Zykan began touring in 1968. He championed the work of Schoenberg and recorded the complete piano music in 1970. These landmark recordings were re-released in 2023 alongside new recordings of Zykan's own piano music, performed by Duncan Honeybourne.[8]
Zykan's partner was the Austrian musicologist and radio producer Irene Suchy. He died while cycling near his home in Sachsendorf, and is buried in the cemetery in Reinprechtspölla.[5]
Selected worksedit
Dramatic
Sings Nähmaschine ist die beste, opera (1966, rev. 1973)
Schön der Reihe nach, ballet (1966)
Lehrstück am Beispiel Schönbergs, music theatre (1974)
Symphonie der heilen Welt, scenic concerto (1977)
Exit, film score (1980)
Kunst kommt von Gönnen, opera (1980)
Die Orgel der Barbarei, four voices and instruments (1984)
Auszählreim, opera (1986; rev. 1987)
Strudlhofstiege, film score (1988)
Wahr ist, dass der Tiger frisst, choral opera (1994)
Mesmer, film music (1994)
Odysseus, incidental music (1994)
Orchestral
Piano Concerto (1958)
Kurze Anweisung (1969)
Concerto for speaker, violin and orchestra (1977)
Ausgesucht Freundliches, concerto for two soloists, chorus, and orchestra (1979)
Cello Concerto (1982)
Beethoven's Cello, 3 movements for cello and orchestra (2005)
Chamber and instrumental
Cello Sonata (1958)
4 String Quartets (1958-1990)
Kryptomnemie for winds, percussion, and piano (1963)
6 Chansons, die keine sind for Piano (1965)
Kammermusik for 12 Instruments (1965)
4 Nachtstück for piano (1968)
Miles Smiles (1970)
Trio for Solo Violin (1977)
Vibraphonstück (1982)
Vocal
Das Unterösterreichische Liederbuch, 21 songs in three parts, voices and piano (1966 and later)[9]
Inszene I, conductor, actor and five voices (1967)
Inszene 2, actor and four voices (1967)
Rondo: Alles ist Musik was nicht Gymnastik ist for Speaker and tape (1971)
Inszene 3, eight male voices and tape (1981)
Die Orgel der Barbarei for 4 singers, soloist, and tuba (1984)
Engels Engel for 3 vocalists or chorus and tape (1988)
Masse! (2002)
Referencesedit
^Wolfgang Gratzer : Zykan, Otto M. (Matthew). In: Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon. Online edition, Vienna 2002 ff., ISBN 3-7001-3077-5
^Slonimsky, Nicolas (1978). "Zykan, Otto M.". Baker's Biographical dictionary of musicians (6th ed.). New York: Schirmer Books. p. 1955. ISBN0-02-870240-9.
^Josef Heinzelmann. 'The Viennese 'MOB art & tone ART' Group', in Tempo, New Series, No. 126 (September 1978), pp. 10-12
^Lothar Knessl. 'Zykan, Otto M', in Grove Music Online (2001)
^ abc'Death while cycling - composer Otto M. Zykan dies', in Wiener Zeitung , May 25, 2006
otto, zykan, otto, matthäus, zykan, april, 1935, vienna, 2006, sachsendorf, burgschleinitz, kühnring, austrian, composer, pianist, composer, 1902, 1989, otto, zykan, received, first, piano, lessons, from, father, from, 1940, taught, paternal, grandmother, been. Otto Matthaus Zykan 29 April 1935 Vienna 25 May 2006 Sachsendorf Burgschleinitz Kuhnring was an Austrian composer and pianist 1 The son of composer Otto Zykan 1902 1989 Otto M Zykan received his first piano lessons from his father and from 1940 he was taught by his paternal grandmother who had been a student of Theodor Leschetizky He joined the Vienna Boys Choir and studied at the Vienna Music Academy 2 where his teachers included Karl Schiske composition Bruno Seidlhofer and Josef Dichler piano He also attended the Darmstadt summer courses 1958 1964 1966 winning the Kranichstein Music Prize of the international piano competition on his first visit In 1967 working with H K Gruber and Kurt Schwertsik Zykan co founded the Salonkonzerte Group and associated ensembles such as MOB art amp tone ART sometimes termed the Third Viennese School to further his ideas about instrumental theatre music that aimed for closer links between performance music and language 3 These total art productions influenced by Dadaism and analogous to the music theatre productions of Mauricio Kagel were often composed in the form of sketch like drafts Depending as they did on personal interpretation 4 Zykan discouraged any performances without his direct involvement The music theatre piece Symphonie aus der Heilen Welt was first produced in 1977 In the same year his satirical television play Staatsoperette directed by Franz Novotny caused a scandal 5 More conventionally Zykan also composed opera orchestral concerto and instrumental music as well as film scores One of his earliest works was a piano concerto using serial techniques which won a prize at the Innsbruck Youth Culture Week in 1963 His three operas are Singers Nahmaschine ist die beste 1966 of which there is a revised film version 1973 Kunst kommt von Gonnen 1980 and Auszahlreim 1986 His two cello concertos the first composed in 1982 the second entitled Beethoven s Cello in 2005 were written for and premiered by the Austrian cellist Heinrich Schiff 6 In 1994 he wrote the electronic score for Hans Hoffer s production of Odysseus staged at the Linz Festival 7 His Masse received its premiere at the Vienna Musikverein in 2002 Film scores include Exit 1980 and Strudlhofstiege an adaption of the novel by Heimito von Doderer 1988 5 As a pianist Zykan began touring in 1968 He championed the work of Schoenberg and recorded the complete piano music in 1970 These landmark recordings were re released in 2023 alongside new recordings of Zykan s own piano music performed by Duncan Honeybourne 8 Zykan s partner was the Austrian musicologist and radio producer Irene Suchy He died while cycling near his home in Sachsendorf and is buried in the cemetery in Reinprechtspolla 5 Selected works editDramatic Sings Nahmaschine ist die beste opera 1966 rev 1973 Schon der Reihe nach ballet 1966 Lehrstuck am Beispiel Schonbergs music theatre 1974 Symphonie der heilen Welt scenic concerto 1977 Exit film score 1980 Kunst kommt von Gonnen opera 1980 Die Orgel der Barbarei four voices and instruments 1984 Auszahlreim opera 1986 rev 1987 Strudlhofstiege film score 1988 Wahr ist dass der Tiger frisst choral opera 1994 Mesmer film music 1994 Odysseus incidental music 1994 Orchestral Piano Concerto 1958 Kurze Anweisung 1969 Concerto for speaker violin and orchestra 1977 Ausgesucht Freundliches concerto for two soloists chorus and orchestra 1979 Cello Concerto 1982 Beethoven s Cello 3 movements for cello and orchestra 2005 Chamber and instrumental Cello Sonata 1958 4 String Quartets 1958 1990 Kryptomnemie for winds percussion and piano 1963 6 Chansons die keine sind for Piano 1965 Kammermusik for 12 Instruments 1965 4 Nachtstuck for piano 1968 Miles Smiles 1970 Trio for Solo Violin 1977 Vibraphonstuck 1982 Vocal Das Unterosterreichische Liederbuch 21 songs in three parts voices and piano 1966 and later 9 Inszene I conductor actor and five voices 1967 Inszene 2 actor and four voices 1967 Rondo Alles ist Musik was nicht Gymnastik ist for Speaker and tape 1971 Inszene 3 eight male voices and tape 1981 Die Orgel der Barbarei for 4 singers soloist and tuba 1984 Engels Engel for 3 vocalists or chorus and tape 1988 Masse 2002 References edit Wolfgang Gratzer Zykan Otto M Matthew In Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon Online edition Vienna 2002 ff ISBN 3 7001 3077 5 Slonimsky Nicolas 1978 Zykan Otto M Baker s Biographical dictionary of musicians 6th ed New York Schirmer Books p 1955 ISBN 0 02 870240 9 Josef Heinzelmann The Viennese MOB art amp tone ART Group in Tempo New Series No 126 September 1978 pp 10 12 Lothar Knessl Zykan Otto M in Grove Music Online 2001 a b c Death while cycling composer Otto M Zykan dies in Wiener Zeitung May 25 2006 Kairos Records KAI0015046 2019 Otto M Zykan Odysseus Austria Forum Prima Facie CD215 216 2023 Kairos Music PMR 0122 2022 nbsp This article about an Austrian composer is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Otto Zykan 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