Heinz Chur - Composer

Heinz Chur was born in Essen (Germany), and for himself music is a wonderful language - a language of ideas and emotions. The Piano Sonatas Nos. 6 - 8 are examples of his tonal style. These sonatas were composed concurrently (e.g., the first movement of Piano Sonata No. 6 developed during the same year as the final movement of Piano Sonata No. 8), and in each case the completed sonatas were committed to writing within the space of a few days: Sonata No. 6 in 1984, Sonata No. 7 in 1985, and Sonata No. 8 in 1987. Each sonata has a three-movement form. While No. 6 is a piece of passionate music, No. 7 bears the stamp of mystical fantasy. In the latter sonata the slow first movement is followed by a wild second movement at times reflecting the fugue style. In turn, the second movement proceeds to a slow third movement representing a virtual mirror reproduction of the first movement. It is here, after thematic development, elaboration, and inversion in the second movement, that the cycle described by the music is brought to completion: the mysterious cycle of growth and decay. Piano Sonata No. 8 is a sonata of new beginning and hope, as is manifestly shown in the radiant D major conclusion of the third movement.

Works: 5 Symphonies (1978-2006) / String Quartet "Halloween" (1990) /
9 Piano Sonatas (1982-1990) / Requiem (1981) / Mass (1990).

CD: Piano Sonatas Nos. 6 - 8 / Noriko Kitano, Piano

Broadcasted on:
KRZA Radio 88.7 FM (Alamosa & Taos), Alamosa, Colorado, USA
WFCF 88.5 FM Flagler College Radio St. Augustine, Florida, USA
Dutch Coast Radio, Zandvoort, Netherlands
BR, Germany
RBB, Germany
WDR 3, Germany