Born in Basel Rudolf Kelterborn was educated in theory and composition under G. Güldenstein and W. Geiser, conducting under A. Krannhals at the 'Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel' (the music academy of Basel city), under J. Handschin at the University of Basel and further studies under G. Bialas, W. Fortner (composition) and I. Markewitch (conducting). He had many years experience teaching theory, analysis and composition at the Basel Academy of Music (1955-60), at the 'Nordwestdeutschen Musik-Akademie' Detmold (1960-68, appointed Professor in 1963), at the conservatory and music school in Zurich (1968-75 and 1980-83) and the 'Staatlichen Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe' (state-run music school in Karlsruhe) (1980-83). Between the years 1969-75 he was chief editor of the 'Schweizerischen Musikzeitung' (a Swiss music periodical), 1974-80 head of department for music at the radio station for the German speaking region of Switzerland, and from 1983 until 94 he was director of the Music Academy in Basel. In 1987 (together with Heinz Holliger and Jürg Wyttenbach) he founded the Basel Music Forum and was jointly responsible for its programme until 1997.
His compositional works encompass all musical genera, receive international acclaim and have won numerous distinguished prizes including: Swiss Composers prize, 'Tonkünstlervereins', the city of Basel Art prize, the Bernhard Sprengel Prize for German Industry, the Conrad Ferdinand Meyer Prize and the Zurich Radio Prize to name but a few. He is a member of the 'Freien Akademie der Künste' Mannheim (The Free Academy of Arts in Mannheim).
He is also a guest conductor (mostly for his own work), produces musical-theoretical and analytical articles and scripts, and is a guest lecturer in many countries including the USA, England, China, Japan ans Eastern Europe.
Work list
Suite (1954)
Instrumentation: for brass instrumentalists (2tpt.2tbn), percussion and strings (min: 8.8.6.4.2 (1 five stringed db))
Cast:
Eteokles, King of Thebes (Bar)
Antigone, his sister (S)
Ismene, his sister (A)
Menoikeus, a young Thebian (T)
Teiresias, blind prophet (B)
Scout (T)
Soldier (B)
The Visions:
The bride of Menoikeus (S)
The prophet Manto (A)
The statesman (B)
The freedom fighter (speaking role)
The political prisoner (speaking role)
The mother (small female choir)
Choir and extras:
Folk of Thebes, soldiers, generals, two priests
Orchestra:
2(2.pic).2(2.ca).2(2.bcl.2/2.3.2.1/timp/2perc/hp.pf/str)
Cast:
Jupiter (T)
Emporer Jovian (B)
Sulpicia (S)
Tucca, chronicler and poet (B)
The messenger (T)
Prisca, maid of Sulpicia (A or Mez)
Pelides (dancing role)
A writer (Bar)
Two golden helmets (2B-Bar)
Choir:
The senate, women of rome, golden helmets, six writers
Ochestra:
2(2.pic).2(2.ca).2(2.bcl).2(2.cbn)/3.3.3.1/timp.2perc/hp.pf/str)
Instrumentation: for six instrumental groups (spatially divided large orchestra: 3(auxilliary instruments).2(2.ca).3(3.bcl).1(cbn)/3.2.3.0/4perc/hp/10.0.7.7.5(2 five-stringed db))
Instrumentation: for solo soprano (electronic tape possible), on stage solo ensemble: clarinet, vibraphone and cymbals, double-bass and orchestra (2(pic).2.2.1(cbn)/2.2.2.0/2-3perc/hp/min.2.2.4.4.3(one five stringed db))
Ein Engel kommt nach Babylon. Oper in drei Akten (1975-1976)
Opera in three acts.
Instrumentation: for voices, choir and orchestra (2(pic).2(2ca).3(2bcl).2(2cbn)/3.3.3.0/timp.3-4perc/hp.pf.gtr/str;tp)
Texts: Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Libretto by Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
People: The angel (T) / the girl Kurrubi (S) / the beggar Akki (Bar) / Nebukadnezar (Bar) / Nimrod (T) / the crown prince (silent roll) / the arch minister (Bar) / chief theologist (B) / the primary general (T) / first, second, third soldiers (speaking rolls) / the police officer (B) / the banker Enggibi (T) / Frau Enggibi (S or Mezzo) / the wine dealer Ali (Bar) / Frau Ali (Mezzo or A) / the hetaera Tabtum (A) / first worker (Bar) / second worker (T) / first workers wife (S) / second workers wife (S oder A) / the executioner (T) / Halef, the executioners helper (speaking part) / three trombonists, three trumpet players (instrumentalists).
Choir: poet, women, folk.
Instrumentation: for voices and orchestra (2(2pic).2(2ca).3(3bcl).2(2cbn)/3.2.2.0/timp.2perc/hp.pf/10.6.5.3(five stringed)), electronic tape and a small ball orchestra on the stage (v/dr/amppf)
Texts: Anton Tschechov (Rudolf Kelterborn)
Libretto by the composer based on the comedy bearing the same name by Anton Tschechow and according to the German version translated by Gudrun Düwel.People: Ranewskaja, estate owner (S) / Anja, her step daughter (S) / Warja, her foster daughter (Mezzo, light A) / Gajew, the brother of Ranewskaja (Bar) / Lopachin, (Builder/merchant) (B-Bar) / Trofimow, student (T) / Simeonow-Pistschik, estate owner (T) / Charlotta Iwanowna, governess (A) / Jepichodow, clerk (Bar) / Dunjascha, chambermaid ([coloratura-] S) / Firs, old butler (T) / a man (B) / station manager (B) / post office clerk (Bar) / servants, guests, coachman (extras)
Instrumentation: for baritone, 2 trumpets, bass trombone, timpani and percussion
Text from 'Die Wiedertäufer' by Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
Duration: 5' 00" Manuscript
Notturni (1981)
Instrumentation: for violoncello and double bass
Duration: 10' 00"
Boosey & Hawkes
London
Ophelia. Oper in fünf Szenen (1982-1983)
Opera in five scenes
Instrumentation: for voices and orchestra (1(pic).1(ca).3(3bcl).1(cbn)/2.2.2.0/3timp.3perc/hp/6.4.3.2(five stringed)), additional scoring for the large stage: (pf/2perc/str:12.4.3.2)
Texts: Herbert Meier
Libretto by Herbert Meier based on an idea by the composer.
People: Ophelia (S) / Hamlet (Bar) / King Claudius (B-Bar) / Queen Gertrude (Mezzo, high A) / Polonius (T) / voice of the ghost (T) / six guests (S, Mezzo, A, T, Bar, B).
Madrigalists: The couple (coloratura-S, T (high)), Teacher (Countertenor, T, Bar).
Extras: Further guests, waiters and doctors.
Instrumentation: for eight vocal parts, choir and orchestra
Texts: Hans Jörg Schneider
Cast:
Tale teller (female)
Voice of Christine (S)
Voice of the devil (T)
Voice of the clergyman (B)
Priest (T)
Four knights (2TBarB)
Voices (SMez)
Orchestra:
(1.1.4.1/3.3.2.0/3perc/hp.2pf/9str)
Duration: 60' 00" Manuscript
Schlag an mit deiner Sichel (1982)
Madrigal about an imaginary death-dance
Instrumentation: for four solo voices and renaissance instruments
Duration: 20' 00" Manuscript
Musik für 6 Schlagzeuger (1983-1984)
Duration: 12' 00"
Boosey & Hawkes
London
Musica luminosa (1983-1984)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.0.0/timp.1perc/8.6.5.4.3)
The string players are often fragmented as soloists.
Instrumentation: for large orchestra (4(3&4pic).3(3.ca).Ebcl.3(bcl).3(cbn)/4.4.3(tba).btba/hp/4timp.3perc/min.14.12.10.8.5) all db five stringed when possible
Instrumentation: for eleven voices (three female, eight male) and instrumental ensemble (1(pic).1(ca).2(2bcl).0/1.1.1.0/2perc/hp/1.1.1.1)
Texts: William Shakespeare, Gottfried Keller (David Freeman, Rudolf Kelterborn)
Libretto by David Freeman and Rudolf Kelterborn using elements of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Gottfried Keller's "The village Romeo and Juliet", as well as a motive from Israel / Palestine. The opera was commissioned by the city of Zurich for the Zurich Opera Factory.
Duration: abendfüllend
Boosey & Hawkes
London
Monolog einer Jüdin (1990-1991)
Instrumentation: for alto, horn, trumpet, trombone, 2 percussion and violin
Duration: 6' 00"
Boosey & Hawkes
London
Ensemble-Book I. A Cycle with Poems by Erika Burkart (1990)
A cycle with poems by Erika Burkart
Instrumentation: for baritone and instruments (1(pic,bfl).0.1(cbcl).0/1.1.1.0/hp.pf/2perc/1.1.1.1)
Range of the marimbaphone: F-f3. The marimba player is also required to play two hanging Chinese cymbals, four bongos, an antique cymbal and a woodblock.
Duration: 14' 00"
Boosey & Hawkes
London
Ensemble-Book II. Music in four Movements with Texts by Georg Trakl (1992-1994)
Music in four movements with text by Georg Trakl
Instrumentation: for mezzo-soprano (or alto) and instruments (fl(pic,afl).ob.cl(bcl)/gtr/pf/1perc/vn.va.vc.db)
Instrumentation: for three string orchestras (v.va.vc, 3vn, va.vc.db)
The three trios must be situated spatially seperated on the podium.
Duration: 13' 00" Manuscript
Klavierstücke 1-6 (2001-2004)
I have occupied myself with the plans for a cycle for many years – I continuously set the project back after never being completely convinced that I could fulfil the demands I had set myself.
The 'Klavierstücke 1-6' is intended as a cycle yet the pieces can be performed individually or in various groups (2-5) and orders.
Klavierstück I "Trifolium" (7')
Arose (as a quasi starting point) through an "extraneous" impulse: The Zurich School of Music commissioned a piano piece for an internal competition (compulsory piece). This was won by See Siang Wong who later world premiered the complete cycle – the pieces 3 and 5 are dedicated to him.
This piece is, as the title "Trifolium" suggests, three-part. It is the longest and most gestural of the 6 pieces and each of the following pieces revert back to one or several elements of "Trifolium".
Klavierstück 2 "a una voce – a due mani" (3'15)
This two-handed monophony is a very virtuosic, intensely emotional music. The monophony is minimally interspersed with octavial moments and, at the end, through small "exceptions".
Klavierstück 3 "Nachtstück mit Coda" (4'45)
A dark and threatening partly dramatic serenade is, so to say, relativised by an ecstatically light coda.
Klavierstück 4 "Wintermusik" (5')
The title of this piece evokes so many figurative and atmospheric associations that a commentary would be superfluous.
Klavierstück 5 "blurred" (2'30)
This is the most technically demanding of all the pieces. The title means "out of focus, unclear, hazy, indistinct" and when instructed in the score: "pppp means as quietly as is at all possible. When isolated tones do not accost then this is to be accepted." Using the left pedal it is to be played "a una corda" and "ephemerally" almost throughout.
Klavierstück 6 "Kontrapunkte" (5')
The title does not only refer here to certain polyphonic techniques (imitation, canon etc.) but also to the expressive and gestural contrapositions as well as the confrontation of normal playing techniques upon the keys with the sounds produced from within the piano, which comes into play in the second half. Initially I wanted to avoid using any "unconventional" playing techniques – but towards the end I was once again tempted to commit an inconsequence and open up a new door...
Instrumentation: for 17 voices (5S3A1Altus3T3Bar2B) and instrumental ensemble (ob(ca).cl(bcl)/tpt/perc/hp/gtr/vn.va.vc.db)
A musical production of the poem 'Skizzenblatt' by Hermann Hesse.
Further texts from Gryphius, A. von Haugwitz, Shakespeare, Trakl, Petrarca and from the Bibel.