Roman Haubenstock-Ramati
Born on the 27th February 1919 in Krakow, from 1934-38 studied Violin and Music Theory, whilst he was still at secondary school, at the Conservatory in his birthplace. Roman made his debut as a composer in 1937 in a concert in Krakow, where his Prelude for Stringquartet and Sonata for Violin and Piano were performed. Although he felt a strong affinity to Fine Art, he decided upon musical studies: 1939-41 he took lessons at the Music College in Lwow under Jozef Koffler, who directed his thoughs to the Second Vienese School. Parallel to his artistic activites Haubenstock-Ramati attended the philosophy and the music-science lectures at the Universities of Krakow and Lemberg.
Due to the events of the war he had to interrupt his education: 1941 he was imprisoned by soviet soldier under accusations of espionage and deported, in 1942 he was a soldier in the Polish/Allied army and was in the Middle East at the war’s end. 1947 he returned to Poland, learned of the deaths of his parents and brother in concentration camps. Shortly afterward (1948) he took over the direction of the music department of the Krakow radiostation. Because there were no opportunites for his artistic work in stalinish Poland, he emmigrated to Israel with his wife in 1950. In Tel-Aviv he constructed the central music library and taught at the Academy of Music.
In 1957 he received a scholarship from the Studio de Recherches de Musique Concrète, which allowed him to go to Paris for six months. In the same year, the publisher Alfred Schlee nominated Haubenstock-Ramati for the New Music Lectorat at Universal Edition in Vienna. Due his musical-graphical talents the composer seemed predestined for this position. He held the post until 1968. Alongside his Lectorat duties he organised the first „Musikalische Graphik“ (musical image) exhibition in Donaueschingen as well as further teaching at the Tel-Aviv Music Academy. 1967 he directed the organisation of the Gaudeamus Institue in Bilthoven. After leaving Universal Edition he once again placed teaching in the foreground. Without interrupting his work as a guest of the Berlin DAAD (1970/71), Roman taught at the Darmstadt Holiday Courses (1964 and 65), Buenos Aires (1968) as well as Stockholm (1969). Finally he became Professor for Composition at the Vienna College for Music and Performing Art. Only in 1989, at the age of 70 did he retired from teaching. Haubenstock-Ramati died after long illness on 3rd March 1994 in Vienna.
Outstanding Service Cross from the German Republic, Musikprotokoll Graz prize (1977), Austrian National prize (1981), Gold Medal of Honour from the City of Vienna (1983).
Due to the events of the war he had to interrupt his education: 1941 he was imprisoned by soviet soldier under accusations of espionage and deported, in 1942 he was a soldier in the Polish/Allied army and was in the Middle East at the war’s end. 1947 he returned to Poland, learned of the deaths of his parents and brother in concentration camps. Shortly afterward (1948) he took over the direction of the music department of the Krakow radiostation. Because there were no opportunites for his artistic work in stalinish Poland, he emmigrated to Israel with his wife in 1950. In Tel-Aviv he constructed the central music library and taught at the Academy of Music.
In 1957 he received a scholarship from the Studio de Recherches de Musique Concrète, which allowed him to go to Paris for six months. In the same year, the publisher Alfred Schlee nominated Haubenstock-Ramati for the New Music Lectorat at Universal Edition in Vienna. Due his musical-graphical talents the composer seemed predestined for this position. He held the post until 1968. Alongside his Lectorat duties he organised the first „Musikalische Graphik“ (musical image) exhibition in Donaueschingen as well as further teaching at the Tel-Aviv Music Academy. 1967 he directed the organisation of the Gaudeamus Institue in Bilthoven. After leaving Universal Edition he once again placed teaching in the foreground. Without interrupting his work as a guest of the Berlin DAAD (1970/71), Roman taught at the Darmstadt Holiday Courses (1964 and 65), Buenos Aires (1968) as well as Stockholm (1969). Finally he became Professor for Composition at the Vienna College for Music and Performing Art. Only in 1989, at the age of 70 did he retired from teaching. Haubenstock-Ramati died after long illness on 3rd March 1994 in Vienna.
Outstanding Service Cross from the German Republic, Musikprotokoll Graz prize (1977), Austrian National prize (1981), Gold Medal of Honour from the City of Vienna (1983).