N.Z. Composer Returns For Six Weeks' Lecture Tour

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28347, 5 August 1957, Page 12

N.Z. Composer Returns For Six Weeks ' Lecture Tour

(fiew Zealand Press Assocuxtxonj

AUCKLAND, August 4. The Viennese-born New Zealand violinist, pianist, and composer, Richard Hoffmann, who now lives in America, arrived in Auckland yesterday from Germany on the first visit to the land of his adoption for 10 years. He brought some scores of his own works, which have been highly acclaimed overseas. He will give a series of lectures during his sixweeks’ visit and he is full of enthusiasm. for electronic music—-a

new medium of sound production. Mr Hoffmann has had a brilliant musical career. He completed his bachelor of music degree in 1945 at Auckland at the age of 20 and, two years later, went to the University of California to study under the late Dr. Arnold Schoenberg. He helped in the compilation of Schoenberg’s manuscripts for the Library of Congress and is an authority on his works. He was twice awarded the Huntington Hartford scholarship for his work in composition—a fellowship usually awarded .only to Americans. Since 1954, he has been attached to the Music Conservatory at Oberlin College, Ohio. At present, he is engaged in teaching composition and theory at the conservatory, which has between 500 and 600 students.

In the 10 years of his absence, Mr Hoffmann has become recognised as a prolific writer of music of merit and has composed string and piano quartets, a violin concerto. "variations for piano, sonatas and a fantasie and fugue for the organ. Much of his composition is written in the 12-tone technique.

He will lecture in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin before leaving for America on September 14.