Leibowitz, René (1913–1972)

French-Polish composer. After studying with Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern, he destroyed all his works written before 1937, including six string quartets, and devoted himself entirely to 12-note music. He was known as a leading teacher of 12-note composition and published Schoenberg et son école and Introduction à la musique de douze sons.

Leibowitz settled in Paris, France, in 1926 and studied in Germany and Austria 1930–33 with Schoenberg and Webern. He conducted works of the 12-note school in the USA 1947–48.

Works Stage music drama La Nuit close (1949).

Vocal four unaccompanied choruses, Tourist Death for soprano and chamber orchestra (1943), L'Explication des métaphores for speaker, two pianos, harp, and percussion; songs.

Orchestral symphonies and variations for orchestra.

Chamber chamber symphony for 12 instruments, chamber concerto for violin, piano, and 17 instruments; string quartet, ten canons for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, wind quintet; violin and piano sonata; sonata and pieces for piano.