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Petros Petridis (Composer)
Born: July 23, 1892 - Nigdé (Capodocia), Turkey
Died: August 17, 1977 - Athens, Greece
Petros [Petro, John] Petridis was an eminent Turkish-born Greek composer. He studied in Constantinople at the American Robert College, and received instruction in piano from Hegey and in harmony from Selvelli. The he went to Paris and read law at the Sorbonne and political science at the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques (1911-1914). Later he studied with Wolff (1914) and Roussel (1919).
Petros Petridis became a naturalized Greek citizen in 1913. Subsequently he was a music critic for English, American, and Greek publications, dividing his time between Paris and Athens. His use of Byzantine modalities, adorned with contemporary harmonies, reveals the influence of Greek culture.
Works
Dramatic
Zefyra, opera (1923-1925; rev. 1958-64); lphigenia in Tauris, incidental music to Euripides' play (Athens, October 15, 1941); O pramateftis (The Pedlar), ballet (1941-1943; Athens, May 6, 1944).
Orchestral
Kleftikoi boroi (Cleftic Dances; 1922); 5 symphonies: No. I, Greek (1928-1929; Athens, January 16, 1933), No. 2, Lyric (1941; Athens, December 11, 1949), No. 3, Parisian (1944-1946; Geneva, 1949), No. 4, Doric (1941-1943; Athens, May 20, 1945), and No. 5, Pastoral (1949-1951; rev. 1972-1973); Concerto Grosso for Winds and Timpani (c. 1929); Greek Suite (1929-30; Athens, November 27, 1932); Digbenis Akritas (1933-1939; Athens, May 17, 1940); Studies for Small Orchestra (Athens, January 29, 1934); 2 piano concertos (1934, rev. c.1948; 1937); Vyzantini thyssia (Byzantine Offering; 1934-1935); Ionian Suite (c1935); Cello Concerto (1936); Chorale and Variations on Kyrie ton dynameon for Strings (1940; Athens, June 28, 1941); Chorale and Variations on Christos anesti for Strings (1941-1943; Athens, May 20, 1945); Largo for Strings (Athens, February 6, 1944); Issagoghi pentihimi ke heroiki (Funeral and Heroic Overture; 1944; Athens, May 20, 1945); Violin Concerto (1972); Concerto for 2 Pianos (1972).
Chamber
Piano Trio (c1933); String Quartet (1951; unfinished); piano pieces.
Vocal
Hayos Pavlos, oratorio for Narrator, Soloists, Chorus, and orchestra (1950; Athens, June 29, 1951); Requiem ya ton aftorkratora (Requiem for the Emperor) for Soloists, Chorus, and orchestra (1952-1964); songs.
Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Classical Musicians (1997)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (Fenruary 2006)
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Use of Chorale Melodies in his works |
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Title |
Chorale Melody |
Year |
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Christ ist erstanden for string orchestra (1943) |
Christ ist erstanden |
1943 |
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