Hans Zender
Hans Zender (1936-2019) was a German composer and conductor, born in Wiesbaden. He studied composition with Wolfgang Fortner, along with piano and conducting, at the music academies of Frankfurt and Freiburg. He led the Saarbrücken radio symphony orchestra from 1971 to 1984 and taught composition in Frankfurt from 1988 to 2000. His Schuberts Winterreise (1993) is what he called a composed interpretation of Schubert's song cycle. Zender wrote the operas Stephen Climax (1979-1984) and Don Quijote de la Mancha (1989-1991), and the Hölderlin lesen series.
Elemente / Litanei / Recitativ (LP)
The superb 1976 "tape montage for two loudspeaker groups" plus another 1976 piece for 3 cellos and a 1980 composition for flute, alto and harpsichord, released on Wergo in 1982. With insert.
Dialog mit Haydn / Issei no Kyo / Nanzen no Kyo
Three works by Hans Zender: Dialog mit Haydn (Kretzschmar, Wiget, Bundesjugendorchester, Zender), Issei no kyō (Claron McFadden, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Johannes Kalitzke) and Nanzen no kyō with the WDR Rundfunkchor. MDR/WDR productions, 2017.
Adónde? Wohin?
Hans Zender's four Canciones on St John of the Cross (2008-14), with Angelika Luz, Ernst Kovacic, Klangforum Wien, the Bavarian Radio Choir and Symphony Orchestra, the SWR Vokalensemble and SWR Sinfonieorchester; four conductors.
Logos-Fragmente (Canto IX)
First complete recording of Hans Zender's Logos-Fragmente (Canto IX) for 32 voices and four orchestral groups, on early Christian and Gnostic texts, with the SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart and SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg under Emilio Pomàrico.