Vytautas Bacevičius
Encyclopedia
Vytautas Bacevičius was a Lithuanian composer of decidedly radical and modernistic leanings. Most of his works are in an atonal idiom of his own devising. He developed a theory of 'cosmic music' and came to regard Schoenberg
's 12-note music as out-dated, regarding himself as a successor to Scriabin, André Jolivet
and Varèse
.
Bacevičius studied in Łódź with, among others, Kazimierz Sikorski
and moved to Kaunas
in Lithuania in 1926. In 1927 he went to Paris
where he studied composition with Nikolai Tcherepnin
. Returning to Lithuania in 1928 he established himself as a pianist and composer and teacher. He became the Chair of the Lithuanian Section of the ISCM. He was on tour in Argentina in 1939 when the Germans invaded Lithuania, rendering him an exile in America. He moved to the USA in 1940 and lived mainly in New York, continuing to give recitals but mainly supporting himself by teaching.
Though born in Poland, he adopted the Lithuanian form of his name (Bacevičius); he was the brother of the Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz
, to whom he dedicated his Second Symphony, della Guerra, in 1940. Bacevičius regarded his orchestral works as the most important part of his output, and composed six symphonies in all as well as four piano concertos, a violin concerto and numerous works for piano solo.
Schoenberg
Schoenberg is the surname of several persons:* Arnold Schoenberg , Austrian-American composer* Claude-Michel Schoenberg , French record producer, actor, singer, popular songwriter, and musical theatre composer...
's 12-note music as out-dated, regarding himself as a successor to Scriabin, André Jolivet
André Jolivet
André Jolivet was a French composer. Known for his devotion to French culture and musical thought, Jolivet's music draws on his interest in acoustics and atonality as well as both ancient and modern influences in music, particularly on instruments used in ancient times...
and Varèse
Varese
Varese is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.- Geography :...
.
Bacevičius studied in Łódź with, among others, Kazimierz Sikorski
Kazimierz Sikorski
Kazimierz Sikorski was a Polish composer.-Biography:Sikorski studied in Warsaw, first music at the Warsaw Conservatory and then philosophy at the University of Warsaw. He then studied in Lwów, which was Polish at the time, and Paris. In 1926, he became a teacher of composition at the Conservatory...
and moved to Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
in Lithuania in 1926. In 1927 he went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he studied composition with Nikolai Tcherepnin
Nikolai Tcherepnin
Nikolai Nikolayevich Tcherepnin was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. He was born in Saint Petersburg and studied under Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory...
. Returning to Lithuania in 1928 he established himself as a pianist and composer and teacher. He became the Chair of the Lithuanian Section of the ISCM. He was on tour in Argentina in 1939 when the Germans invaded Lithuania, rendering him an exile in America. He moved to the USA in 1940 and lived mainly in New York, continuing to give recitals but mainly supporting himself by teaching.
Though born in Poland, he adopted the Lithuanian form of his name (Bacevičius); he was the brother of the Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz
Grazyna Bacewicz
Grażyna Bacewicz was a Polish composer and violinist. She is only the second Polish female composer to have achieved national and international recognition, the first being Maria Szymanowska in the early 19th century.- Life :Bacewicz was born in Łódź...
, to whom he dedicated his Second Symphony, della Guerra, in 1940. Bacevičius regarded his orchestral works as the most important part of his output, and composed six symphonies in all as well as four piano concertos, a violin concerto and numerous works for piano solo.
Works
WorklistRecordings
- Orchestral Music: Graphique, Poème Électrique, Piano Concerto No. 1, Sur les thèmes lituaniens, Symphony No. 2, Della Guerra, Symphony No. 6, Cosmique; Aidas Puodžiukas, piano. Lithuanian State Symphony OrchestraLithuanian State Symphony OrchestraThe Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra is one of Lithuania's two national orchestras, founded in 1988. The other, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1940....
dir. Vytautas Lukočius and Martynas Staškus, conductors. Toccata ClassicsToccata ClassicsToccata Classics is an independent British classic music label founded in 2005.The founder of Toccata Classics is Martin Anderson, a music journalist. The label was founded primarily to promote unrecorded works by lesser-known composers, including British composers...
2007