IDAGIO | Koffler: Piano Works & String Trio, Op. 10

Featuring

Ernst Kovacic
Steven Dann
Anssi Karttunen
Martin von der Heydt
Johannes Kalitzke
Zebra Trio

œnm . österreichisches ensemble für neue musik
Józef Koffler
Johannes Schöllhorn

Did you know?

1/7

Composer Biography

Józef Koffler (1896-1944) was the first Polish and one of the first European twelve-tone composers, securing his place in music history.

Composer's Artistic Vision

For Koffler, each melody in his 40 Polish Folk Songs was a 'living organism' that created its own harmony, counterpoint, texture, and color.

Performer Biography

Pianist Martin von der Heydt is known for exploring the piano repertoire with new and surprising program concepts, often juxtaposing historical and contemporary compositions.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Koffler adopted Arnold Schönberg's twelve-tone method but often modified its strict rules to achieve his desired artistic results.

Performer Biography

Martin von der Heydt is one of the few pianists who perform highly complex works by composers like Xenakis, Ligeti, and Nancarrow from memory.

Compositional Technique

Koffler's 40 Polish Folk Songs Op. 6 is a cycle of piano miniatures inspired by Debussy's impressionism, Bartók's folklorism, and Prokofiev's vitalism.

Critical Reception

Koffler's Variations sur une valse de Johann Strauss Op. 23 was initially met with resistance, with critics accusing him of an 'ill-considered choice of theme' and 'inept piano texture'.