1934 Józef Koffler

1934

To mark Arnold Schönberg’s sixtieth birthday, Koffler submits a homage titled Drei Begegnungen [‘Three Meetings’] to a celebratory volume prepared by his pupils and friends. In the text, he writes:

I have one great wish: to meet the Maestro again, this time – in person.

First page of the text Drei Begegnungen [Three Encounters], in: Arnold Schönberg zum 60. Geburtstag [Arnold Schönberg on his 60th Birthday], Vienna 1934

Title page of the collective publication Arnold Schönberg zum 60. Geburtstag, Vienna 1934

19 January

Fragment of a review of Koffler's Sonatina performance at a concert of Lwów composers, Kurier Powszechny 1934 no. 17

During a concert of Lwów composers held at the PTM hall in that city, Edward Steuerman plays piano pieces by Koffler.

30 April

Protest przeciw polityce Pol. Radia w Warszawie [Protest Against the Policy of Polish Radio in Warsaw], Gazeta Lwowska, May 2, 1934, p. 3

Koffler takes part in a public conference dedicated to the Polish Radio Warsaw programme policy towards Lwów. The report he delivers is followed by a stormy debate. A resolution is passed, demanding greater access to radio broadcasts for Lwów’s artists.

May

Information about Koffler's selection to the ISCM festival jury in Karlsbad, Orkiestra 1934 no. 5

Orkiestra, No. 5, reports that Koffler has been elected member of the ISCM jury selecting works for the ISCM festival to be held in 1935 in Karlovy Vary (Germ. Karlsbad).

December

Koffler among ISCM jury members for the Karlsbad festival, Die Stunde January 6, 1935

Alois Hába and Koffler prepare a strategy for the ISCM jury meeting. They propose to create a counterbalance for dodecaphony in the form of Czechoslovak ‘athematic modernism’ (Alois and Karel Hába, Karl Reiner), and to promote representatives of Slav music, namely, the Yugoslav Slavko Osterc and the Soviet composers Vissarion Shebalin and Lev Knipper. They also single out composers from Romania (Marcel Mihalovici) and Switzerland.

Juan Carlos Paz, https://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/p/paz_juan_carlos.htm

After the jury meeting, Koffler writs a ‘long and cordial letter’ to Juan Carlos Paz of Argentina, pointing out the ‘technical and stylistic faults’ of the latter composer’s first attempt at dodecaphonic technique in Composición sobre los doce tonosfor flute and piano. Paz is grateful to Koffler for this advice (Juan Carlos Paz, Alturas, tensiones, ataques, intensidades, Buenos Aires, 1972, p. 154).

25 December

Protocol of the conversation between Józef Koffler and Alois Hába, December 25, 1934. National Museum Prague – Czech Museum of Music, ref. 821

In Prague, Koffler and Hába compile and sign the Protokoll der Besprechung zwischen Alois Hába und Józef Koffler, which reads:

With full conviction that cooperation between the ISCM’s Slav sections is useful and possible, [the undersigned] state as follows:

1) The undersigned propose that their respective [ISCM] sections pass a fundamental resolution that will establish such cooperation.

2) The purpose of the agreement is: a) to lobby jointly within the ISCM for an appropriate representation of Slav music at festivals, b) to further artistic exchange, c) to hold festivals of contemporary Slav music.

3) The Czechoslovak and Polish sections shall select one representative each in order to a) communicate with the existing Slav sections, b) support the establishment of new Slav sections where they are absent, c) draw up the principles of communication and present them to all Slav sections for approval.

4) The agreement is to be signed by a conference of Slav section delegates to be held, if possible, during the festival in Karlovy Vary (1935), so that the first Slav Festival can be staged in Warsaw in December 1935.

5) In case of any dispute, the German text shall prevail.