Rechberger, Herman

(1947-2022)

Born in Linz, Austria, Herman Rechberger (14.2.1947 -11.1.2022) studied the guitar and graphic art in Linz, Zurich and Brussels. He moved to Finland in 1970, continued his music studies at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and soon made a name for himself as a composer and performing artist.

Herman Rechberger was a multi-instrumentalist and something of a Renaissance figure on the Finnish musical scene, colourfully and easily combining musical elements from different historical eras and geographical regions. His special interests were early music and the Orient, but he also felt a strong pull towards the musical education of children. He has been the receiver of several national and international awards and prizes.

An explorer of new musical territories, Rechberger has an extensive oeuvre that includes operas and multimedia works, choral, chamber and instrumental music and orchestral works. The orchestral Venezia (1985) is considered to be one of his main works. He has also written three symphonies (2001, 2002 and 2005) which have not been premiered yet. His work list includes also a number of concertos, among them Golpe de corazón (Heartbeat Concerto, 1992) and the clarinet concerto Alovlar premiered in Finland in 2003. Rechberger has also composed the oratorio-like opera …nunc et semper (…now and forever) which was the first part of the operatic trilogy The Age of Dreams (Aika ja uni) performed at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in 2000 and 2001.

Rechberger’s orchestral works include Vierzehn! (Fourteen!) commissioned for the opening of the Bruckner Festival in Austria in 2003, and Tobá Hanyé, a work chosen for the finals of the Zeitklang composition competition in St. Pölten, Austria. He has also composed a children’s opera Das Opernschiff (The Opera Ship), which received the third prize at the composition competition organized by the Cologne Opera.

Herman Rechberger also wrote books on African, Arabian and Balkan music. His last published book was Scales and Modes around the World. All these have been published by Fennica Gehrman.

...Nunc et semper... /Nyt ja aina /Now and Forever

First part of the opera trilogy The Age of Dreams (1998)

for chorus (SATB), tapes and symphony orchestra

3333-4331-13-hp-cel-pf-str

Duration: 30

...Vierzehn!

(2002)

for orchestra

3333-4331-12-hp-str

Duration: 7

Alovlar (Ehtirasli) / (Passionate) Flames

Concerto for Clarinet / Bass Clarinet (2001)

String Quartet, Frame-drum and String Orchestra (min 44322)

Duration: 20

Assahra' / Sahara

(1997/2001)

for accordion orchestra (accordion I-IV) and percussion (I-II)

Duration: 13

Clausulas

(1988-89)

for organ

Duration: 0

Giza

(1998)

for 2 solo violins and string orchestra

str

Duration: 13

Golpe de Corazón / Heartbeat Concerto

(1992)

for guitar and chamber orchestra

1111-0000-02-str

Duration: 17

Kaamos

(1972)

for string orchestra

str

Duration: 8

Kahraba / Yellow Amber

(1996)

for violoncello, darabuka and chamber orchestra

1111-0000-01(darabuka)-str

Duration: 19

La nave dei pazzi / The Ship of Fools

(1996)

for orchestra

4242-4431-13-hp-pf-electric guitar-str (10-10-8-6-5)

Duration: 20

Landler

(2000)

for orchestra

2222-4221-21-str

Duration: 6

Lumen & oscura

(2009)

for ensemble

kantele/tbn/2perc/2vl/vla/2vc/db + ambient CD

Duration: 15

Nefes II

(2003/06)

for 3 clarinets and string orchestra

str

Duration: 0

Symphony No. 1

From Dusk to Dawn (2001)

for orchestra

2233-4221-12-hp-str

Duration: 24

Symphony No. 2

Hawwa (2002)

for vocal ensemble and orchestra

2233-4221-12-hp-str

Duration: 20

Symphony No. 3

Slavijanka (2005)

for orchestra

3333-4331-04-hp-cel-strings

Duration: 29

Tobá Hánye - A Tribute to the Mahi Tribe

Music for a Ritual (Music for a Ritual)

for soprano, instrumental ensemble and orchestra

2222-1111-02-str(min. 44321) and ensemble: el gtr, sopr, asax, tbn and pf

Duration: 15

Venezia / Venice

(1985)

for countertenor, 2 tenors, baritone, bass and orchestra

4(+4 ocarinas)444-6441-14-hp-cel-harpsichord-mandolin-guitar-accordion-tape-str(16-14-12-10-8)

Duration: 27

Lumen & Oscura
Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, cond. Jan Söderblom
(SKS CD12/CD1)

Eyktime, for recorder and guitar
(YouTube)