Roumen Balyozov
composer, violoncellist
06.09.1949 – 27.01.2019Sofia – Bulgaria
Roumen Balyozov graduated the State Academy of Music in Sofia majoring in Violoncello under Professor Konstantin Popov (1972) and Composition under Professor Dimitar Tapkoff (1975). Since 1974 he has been member of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra.
He wrote 4 operas and 1 ballet; 4 symphonies and other works for symphony and string orchestra; chamber music for various instruments and ensembles; film and theatre music. His compositional style makes experiments with well-established genre approaches and different composition techniques, which make his music close to trends such as the free serialism, the minimalism and others, as well as to the post-vanguard aesthetics. His works were recorded for the Bulgarian National Radio and Television, the Bulgarian recording company Balkanton, Radio Cologne (WDR), Radio Bratislava; they were performed in Europe and America. His awards include the Award of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture (1981), “Dimitar Vulchev” Award for theatrical music (2003); Second Prize from the competition for symphonic piece “7/8” – Plovdiv (2006) and others.
Creativity
Stage music:
Operas:
“The Little Prince”, after Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1974-75);
“When the Dolls are not Sleeping”, after Leda Mileva (1980, Chamber Opera of Blagoevgrad);
“Serenade”, after Slavomir Mrozek (1990);
“Nonsenseville Love Story”, after Boris Vian (1992).
Ballet:
A Green Game (1987, National Palace of Culture, Sofia).
For symphony orchestra:
Symphonies:
Symphony N1 for soprano, bass and big symphony orchestra (1979);
Symphony N2 “Music of the Future” (1999);
Symphony N3 “Not Started” (1999);
Symphony N4 “Elocutionary” (2001).
Triptych of Symphonic Poems “Old Bulgarian Pages”(1980-82).
Divertimenti capricciosi:
N1 “A Game of Classics” (1974);
N2 “Bach-85 or The Well-Tempered Orchestra” (1985).
“Silhouettes” (1974);
Bagatelles (1998);
Ritual Dance (2000);
New Bagatelles (2004);
Canetti music (2005);
Ritual music 2 (2005-06).
For string orchestra:
Concerti grossi:
N1 “Parable about the Obstacles” for string quartet and string orchestra (1982);
N2 “Dedicated to Bratislava” for clarinet, piano, percussion and string orchestra (1987);
N3 “Crossing Over” for marimba and string orchestra (1988);
“Folklore Studies” for strings and percussion (1972);
ContrARIA (John Cage – Balyozov) for voice and strings (1989);
“Still Life with strings” and “Still Life with Arcs” (2000).
Chamber music:
Divertimento capriccioso 4 “Patience” for ensemble of 14 instrumentalists and conductor (1989);
“Kaleidoscope” for chamber ensemble (1997);
“Music of occasion” for eight French horns (1986);
“Conflicts” for flute, viola, harp, piano and tape (1977);
“Memorial ’78” for violoncello and percussion sextet (1978);
“The Toys” – Children’s Suite for small instrumental ensemble (1978);
“The Brave Leaden Soldier” – fairy tale for brass quartet and reader (1979);
“Martian Dances” for percussion sextet (1981);
“Garlands” for wind quintet (1983);
“Still Life with Sticks” for percussion sextet and piano (1999);
“Still Life in Yellow” for brass instruments (1999);
“Still Life with Finger-holes” for wood winds (1999).
String quartets:
N1 “Fugues and Postludes” (1979);
N2 (1982).
“Counterpoints” for four trombones (1987);
“Contour” for three violoncellos and double bass (1992);
“Ornitophony” for soprano, bass and piano (1979);
“Poetry” for clarinet, vibraphone and piano (1981);
“La Folia” for viola, violoncello and double bass (1992);
“Beyond” for soprano, viola and violoncello (1999);
“Co-ordination” for clarinet and piano (1977);
“Carnival” for double bass and piano (1986);
“Bestiarium” for violoncello and piano (1988);
“Antique Pastoral” and “Humoresque” for French horn and piano (1989);
“Da Capo” for flute and tape (1994);
“Archeography I” for clarinet and marimba;
“Archeography II” for clarinet;
“Archeography III” for marimba (1998);
Rhapsodic improvisation N1 (1971) and N2 (1979) for violoncello solo;
“Pastorals” for oboe (1976);
Three Pieces for clarinet (1981);
“Welcome, 21th Century” – installation for solo violoncello (1999);
“Basis and superstructure” for 2 violoncellos (version for viola and violoncello)(2002);
“inVENTZIons” for violoncello and piano (2003);
“Noble and sentimental bagatelles” for tuba and piano (2003);
“Hamlet-material” instrumental theatre for soprano, violoncello and piano (2003-04);
“Capriccio on Occasion” (2004) and “Capriccio on Other Occasion” (2005) for violoncello solo;
“Exact Music” for 7 expedient instruments (2004).
For piano:
“Changes” (on a theme by Paganini) for two pianos (1972);
Two Children Stories (1984);
Divertimento capriccioso 3;
“Recital for a Speaking Pianist” (1986);
Acrostic (1986);
“Acupuncture” for two pianos, 8 hands (1987);
Calendar (1994);
“Still Life with Keyboards” for three pianos, 12 hands (1998-99);
Six Onerous Pieces in 3/4 (1999);
“Moz-art a la Schnittke”(2005);
“Be-bop sleigh” for two pianos (2005);
“Byrds in a Cage” for two pianos and tape (2005-06).