science

Kurt Schwertsik

Kurt Schwertsik is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Kurt Schwertsik rather than just read about it. In short: Kurt Schwertsik (born 25 June 1935) is an Austrian composer, also a hornist and academic teacher. He is known for creating the Third Viennese School and spreading contemporary classical music.

Key takeaways

Kurt Schwertsik belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Kurt Schwertsik to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Kurt Schwertsik from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Kurt Schwertsik (born 25 June 1935) is an Austrian composer, also a hornist and academic teacher. He is known for creating the Third Viennese School and spreading contemporary classical music.

Life Schwertsik was born in Vienna. A pupil of Joseph Marx and Karl Schiske at the Academy of Music, he later studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen in Cologne and Darmstadt. In 1958 he founded the ensemble die reihe with fellow composer and conductor Friedrich Cerha (famous for finishing the opera Lulu, by Alban Berg) and later, in 1968, the ensemble "MOB art & tone ART" with Otto Matthäus Zykan and Heinz Karl Gruber. He served as hornist of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (from 1968) while teaching Composition at the Konservatorium Wien (from 1979). Between 1989 and 2004 he was Professor of Composition at the Vienna Musikhochschule (Academy of Music, when he was studying there, now called University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna). His works are characterised by his particular exploration of tonality and his musical irony and humour. He received the Grand Austrian State Prize (1992), the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (1997) and numerous other awards. Kurt Schwertsik is President of the Joseph Marx Society that was founded in 2006 in order to implement the Renaissance of this composer. Thus, Schwertsik has accepted the position of the leader of an organisation for the first time in his career and also avowed himself a melodist according to the musical philosophy that was developed and represented by Joseph Marx. Among his notable students is Lukas Ligeti.

Prizes City of Vienna Prize for Music (1980) Grand Austrian State Prize for music (1992) Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (1997) Silver Medal for Service to the City of Vienna (2006)

Works (selection)

Instrumental music Orchestral works

... für Audifax und Abachum, symphony for large orchestra, op.8 (1963–70) Draculas Haus- und Hofmusik, a Transylvanian symphony for strings, op.18 (1968) Symphonie im MOB-Stil for orchestra, op.19 (1971) Epilog zu Rosamunde, op.33 (1978) Tag- und Nachtweisen; Im Ton des Mönchs von Salzburg und Herrn Marteins, op.34 (1978) Irdische Klänge Cycle (1980–1992), comprising: Irdische Klänge, Symphony in 2 movements, op.37 (1980) Fünf Naturstücke, Der Irdischen Klänge 2. Teil, op.45 (1983–84) Mit den Riesenstiefeln, op.60 (1991) Uluru, op.64 (1992) Baumgesänge, op.65 (1992) Sinfonia-Sinfonietta, op.73 (1996) 'Mond-Lichtung for string orchestra, op.75 (1997) Unter Messing Baumen for 4 natural horns and orchestra, op.77 (1998) Nachtmusiken Music for solo instrument and orchestra

Alphorn Concerto ‘'In Keltischer Manier’’, op.27 (1975) Violin Concerto No. 1, op.31 (1977) Guitar Concerto, op.35 (1979) Instant Music for flute and wind orchestra, op.40 (1981) Timpani Concerto, op.54 (1987–88) Double-Bass Concerto, op.56 (1989) Violin Concerto No. 2 Flute Concerto Trombone Concerto

Stage music Der lange Weg zur großen Mauer – Opera based on a novel by Richard Bletschacher, op.24 (1974) Wiener Chronik 1848, ballet op.28 (1976–77, originally performed as Walzerträume; written for the Cologne City Opera) Katzelmacher – Opera based on a text by Rainer Werner Fassbinder Fanferlieschen Schönefüßchen – Fairy-tale opera after Clemens Brentano, based on a text by Karin and Thomas Körner, op.42 (1982) Das verlorene Wut, Singspiel for TV based on a text by Christine Nöstlinger, op.57 (1989) Der ewige Frieden, operetta on a text by Thomas Korner, op.58 (1990) Frida Kahlo, dance-theatre work (1991) Café-Museum – Die Erleuchtung, chamber opera, op.67 (1993) Die Welt der Mongolen, opera based on a text by Michael Köhlmeier, op.72 (1996) Schlaf der Gerechten, operella based on a text by Kristine Tornquist (sirene Operntheater, 2004) Chalifa und die Affen, chamber opera based on a text by Kristine Tornquist from Arabian Nights (sirene Operntheater, 2011) Alice, phantastic revue based on Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, text editor Kristine Tornquist (sirene Operntheater, 2023)

Vocal music shâl-i-mâr for baritone and orchestra, op.17 (1962–72) to texts by H.C. Artmann Starckdeutsche Lieder und Tänze for baritone and orchestra, op.44 (1982) to texts by Matthias Koeppel Human existence for voice and chamber ensemble (1992), texts by Flann O'Brien Die Furie des Verschwindens for mixed choir Roald Dahl’s Goldilocks for narrator and orchestra, op.74 (1996), text by Donald Sturrock after Roald Dahl a huge number of songs

Chamber music Liebesträume for 7 instruments, op.7 (1962) Eichendorff-Quintett for wind quintet, op.9 (1964) 5 Nocturnes for cello and piano, op.10c (1966) Music vom Mutterland Mu for 11 instruments, op.22 (1974) Skizzen und Entwürfe for string quartet, op.25 (1974) Twilight Music, A Celtic Serenade for Octet, op. 30 (1976) Blechpartie im neuesten Geschmack for brass quintet, op.43 (1982) Am Ende Steht ein Marsch for wind octet, op. 59 (1991) Drei späte Liebeslieder for cello and piano, op.66 (1992) Mobelmusik-Klassisch for 2 violins, viola and double bass, op.68 (1994; also version for string orchestra) Wake for string quartet, op.70 (1994) Adieu Satie for bandoneon and string quartet Ganesha Walkabout for string quartet, op.76 (1998) Sotto Voce for 4 instruments, Op. 39 (Flute, Violin, 'cello & Guitar) (1980)

Solo instrumental 5 Nocturnes for piano, op.10a Ein Kleines Requiem, op.97

References

External links Kurt Schwertisk page at Boosey & Hawkes (publisher): biography, works list, recordings and performance search. Documentary: Schwertsik on Schwertsik Joseph Marx Society Ein Kleines Requiem

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Kurt Schwertsik

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Kurt Schwertsik claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Kurt Schwertsik before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Kurt Schwertsik ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Kurt Schwertsik

In research: Kurt Schwertsik appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Kurt Schwertsik in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Kurt Schwertsik is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1935 births, 20th-century Austrian classical composers, 20th-century Austrian male composers, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Kurt Schwertsik outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Kurt Schwertsik in 20 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

What is Kurt Schwertsik in simple terms?

Kurt Schwertsik (born 25 June 1935) is an Austrian composer, also a hornist and academic teacher. He is known for creating the Third Viennese School and spreading contemporary classical music.

Why does Kurt Schwertsik matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Kurt Schwertsik?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Kurt Schwertsik.