Composer of the Month

April 2017

Rolf Rudin

rolf-rudin

Rolf Rudin (born 1961) studied music in Frankfurt and Würzburg, Germany. After graduating in composition (1991) and conducting (1992), he lectured in music theory at his Alma Mater in Frankfurt from 1993 to 2001. Since then, he has been living as a freelance composer near Frankfurt, and is self-publishing his own works. Besides other scholarships, he received a fellowship for a six-month stay at the “Cité Internationale des Arts” in Paris and a German Cultural Award for outstanding cultural and artistic performance.

As a composer, he writes for most all genres. He has garnered particular success for his works for concert band. His works are to be found on concert programs around the world. Many of his works received awards at German and international composition contests. Among them, he won in 1997, as well as in 2001, awards at the International Band Composition Contest of Corciano, Italy, and he received the “Special Award for the best composition in a contemporary musical language” by the Confederation of German Band Associations for his English Horn Concerto “At the End of the Day”. His commissioned work for the European Brass Band Championships, “The God Particle”, received the “4barsrest Award”in 2015 as the “Test Piece of the Year“.

Rudin was invited as “Guest-Composer/-Conductor” by Universities in the USA, such as the Christopher Newport University, Virginia, the renowned Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota. Furthermore, he accepted an invitation by the International Festival “Mid Europe” at Schladming/Austria, and in 2010, the “Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte” in Montepulciano/Italy.

His compositions have been compulsory pieces at German and international competitions, such as the German Federal Festival of Music in 1995, the international competition for Symphonic Wind Bands in Strasbourg/France in 2000 and the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, The Netherlands in 2001.

He writes for renowned ensembles, and, in 2006, a consortium of more than 30 Universities and High Schools from USA commissioned his “Six Dances” for Chamber Wind Ensemble for the “Jim Cochran Chamber Commissioning Project“.

From 1999 to 2005, Rudin was a member of the International WASBE Board of directors and, in 2012, he was elected as President of the German Section of WASBE. He has had World Premieres at four International WASBE Conferences, 1997 in Schladming, 1999 in San Luis Obispo, 2001 in Lucerne and 2015 in San Jose.

QUOTES:
Rolf Rudin is one of those composers who lives in two time frames at once. He is firmly rooted in the German legacy of the past but writes music that presents traditional values wrapped in modernity. His work is epic yet approachable. He is what I like to think of as a broad stroke painter of sound. Rolf’s music is engaging and never fails to enhance the soul while elevating the spirit. He is a truly unique voice and his writing for winds broadens the repertoire in a most important way.
Eugene Corporon, “A Composer’s Insight”, Vol. 5, Meredith Music Publications, December 2010

Rolf Rudin has become the premier wind composer for wind band in Germany…His style displays a great sense of both economy and balance, as he works with limited numbers of musical gestures in an almost unlimited way.
Dr. Thomas Hunt, Ohio Northern University, February 2014

Although by no means restricting himself to this medium, Rolf Rudin can be regarded as the most interesting serious German composer for wind band … he is certainly one of the most diligent authors.
WINDS, Summer 1998

Youtube: Rolf Rudin – Der Traum des Oenghus, op 37 (1993) Blaeserphil OWL 2013
Youtube: Out of Nowhere (2007/08) op. 76 – Rolf Rudin – 4 Ausschnitte/Excerpts
Youtube: I. Introitus – Requiem Aeternam
Youtube: Rolf Rudin: Lied ohne Worte
Youtube: Mannheimer Bläserphilharmonie: Rolf Rudin – Sinfonie Nr. 5
Youtube: Amen (2011) – Rolf Rudin (Gr. 3/4)

More information: Website

All Composers

Become a Member Today

Members receive a host of benefits by joining the WASBE community, including:

  • Exclusive Access to the Member Directory

  • Electronic Magazine and Journal Editions

You Make it Possible!

WASBE is a non-profit organization. Our events and service are only possible with the support of donations and volunteers

DONATE