Helmut Zapf (born 4 March 1956) is a German composer.
Life
Born in , Thüringen, Zapf studied church music from 1974 until 1979 at the Kirchenmusikschulen Eisenach (Thüringen) and the Evangelische Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Halle. During this time Zapf took part in the Summer Courses for Neue Musik in Gera (Thuringia).
After graduating, he worked as Kantor at the city church in Eisenberg (Thuringia) from 1979 to 1982. Until the beginning of his with Georg Katzer at the Akademie der Künste der DDR in Berlin (1982–1986), he wrote his first self-taught compositions, among others Singender Mann for solo flute, Brechungen I und II for flute and string trio, Klangetüde II for orchestra, Recitativ for oboe and string quartet.
Since completing his masterclass, Zapf has lived and worked as self employed composer in (Panketal) near Berlin.
He has been a member of the Academy of Arts, Berlin since 2015.
Work
Source:
Orchestral
1985/86: Wechselnd
1986: Concertino
1988: Venezianische Erinnerungen
1989: Piece
1992: Dreiklang III
1992: Dreiklang V
2008: Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär
2009: Aufwind
2010: Lasst uns Hütten bauen
2015: Klangbäume
2016: Eomeonie (Mutter/mother) 2017: im Wind ertrunken (großer Epilog zu "windwärts") 2017: windwärts
Chamber music
2003: Trionfale II for trumpet in C, horn in F, trombone, tuba and 2 accordions
2003: Albedo IX for baglama, flute, clarinet, horn and piano
2004: Empty and silent for soprano, violin and guitar
2004: When winter comes for violin and guitar
2004: Odem for C-flute (Picc. Bssfl.), oboe (Engl. horn), clarinet in B (Bsskl.), tuba 2004: Odem II for accordion and piano 2005: Ein Mund voll Wind for mezzo-soprano, alto recorder, vibraphone (and timpani) and piano text after Wolfgang Hilbig, Geste 2005: Klangetüde III for violin, 4 baglamas and piano 2005: Rechenschaft for alto and oboe, text Wolfgang Hilbig 2006: Rechenschaft version for soprano and soprano saxophone 2006: Fragmente for clarinet in B and string trio 2007: Sand for chamber ensemble (fl.cl.sax.vl.va.vc.pn) 2008: Rechenschaft version for soprano and violoncello
Chamber music with electronics
2006: Skeleton for clarinet in B-flat, accordion, double bass and live electronics. 2006: Brecht ab den Sang der Maschinen. Brecht auf! for chamber ensemble (fl.ob.piano.hr.vl.vc.cb.pn.perc.soprano) and CD-playback 2006: Das goldene Kalb for chamber ensemble (fl.ob.kl.tp.trb.vl.va.2vc.kb.2perc.pn.soprano) and CD-performance
Percussion music
2006: Starres Gold – Weiße Stille for percussion quartet
2006: Randspiel for percussion solo and CD-player
Organ music
2004: Ombre per Organo II (... so sind unsere Fröhlichkeiten ...) for organ and CD-playback 2004: Klangbeschreibungen II for organ solo
Choral music
2004: Die sorgenvollen Gesichter 4–8 voices, mixed choir and solos (S.A.T.B.), text: W.Hilbig 2007: Migration 4–8 voices mixed choir, alto saxophone and electronics, text: Old Testament
Music for stage
2006: Das Goldene Kalb, ballet for chamber ensemble (fl.ob.kl.trp.tb.akk.hf.pn.perc.perc.vl.va.vc.vc.cb.), Sopr. & Electronics – Libretto Dr. Ulrike Liedtke – premiere 2007: Neues Schlosstheater der Musikakademie Rheinsberg – ensemble mosaik berlin – direction: Arno Waschk
Radio play music
1988: Katja Oelmann: Steig der Stadt aufs Dach – Direction: (Hörspiel – Rundfunk der DDR)
Awards
1986: Hanns Eisler Prize by Radio DDR II
1989: Hans Stieber Prize
1990: Prize of critics of the Music Criticism Commission of the for the GDR Music Days (for organum for percussion, harp and organ) 1990: Diplom of the 1993: Promotion prize of the Academy of Arts, Berlin and Brandenburg 1995: Guest of Honour of the Villa Massimo Rome 1999: Scholarship holder of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation 2000: Work scholarship of the State of Lower Saxony at the 2005: Working scholarship of the Akademie der Künste Berlin at the Villa Serpentara near Rome
Further reading
Zapf, Helmut. In Wilfried W. Bruchhäuser: Komponisten der Gegenwart im Deutschen Komponisten-Interessenverband. Ein Handbuch. 4th edition, Deutscher Komponisten-Interessenverband, Berlin 1995, , .