Peter Machajdík['maxajɟik] (born 1 June 1961) is a Slovak composer of classical music, performer and sound artist.[1] He was born and grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia. He has received critical acclaim for his chamber, orchestral, electronic, choral, and theatre works.
Machajdik has composed music in nearly all genres, including orchestra,[2] band, chorus, chamber music,[3] works for solo instrument,[4] works for piano[5] and organ,[6] as well as liturgical works and hymns.
Moreover, he has created a number of graphic notations, including the Dialogue with... series which is based on letters received from composer colleagues with additional visual elements added. While in this series the written content of the letters may appear as audible text, other graphic notations are purely visual (like Wold). Others again contain notation or text describing elements to be performed (like Donauklang).
His music is published primarily by Musica Slovaca, Alea Publishing,[7] Zimbel Press,[8] and Edition Hudba.
Peter Machajdík's music often asks questions about the society in which we live. It calls for humanity and responsibility that human beings should have to each other and to the world. Machajdík's works, often considered as the counterpoint to the violence, intolerance, racism and greed of our age, are marked by a keen sensitivity to instrumental colour and texture.
Film credits include Machajdik's scores for 4 Schüler gegen Stalin (2005),[12] Wild Slovakia (2015)[13] and Miloš and the Lynxes (2010).[14] Machajdik has worked with choreographers and dancers such as Dorothea Rust, Studio tanca, Petra Fornayova, Tina Mantel, Lucia Kašiarová, and others.
A vegetarian and teetotaler, Machajdík lives in Berlin, Germany, and in a little Slovak town situated in a valley, surrounded by lofty hills.
He is currently Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Arts in Košice.
Selected works
Arching Sentiments[15] for brass quintet (2024) c. 10 minutes
They observed, but did not evaluate[16] for clarinet in B♭, violoncello and accordion (2024) c. 12 minutes
Mothers[18] for viola and string orchestra (2023), Meta World Contemporary Art Festival, Belgrade, 13 December 2023, Saša Mirković (vla), Ensemble Metamorphosis
Natural Harbors[19] for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano (2022) 15 minutes
The Lost Blue - Still Connecting[20] for flute, percussion (vib, crotales) and piano (2022) 14 minutes
Quiet Differences[21] for two guitars (2022) 7 minutes
Terauchi[37] for string quartet and audio-playback (2018) 10 minutes
Ave verum[38] for soprano, violin and organ (2018), Organ Plus Festival in Ružomberok, 25 June 2023, Miriam Žiarna, soprano, Rastislav Adamko, violin, Zuzana Zahradníková, organ
Ave verum[39] for soprano, violin and piano (2018), Filharmonia Częstochowska, Częstochowa, 20 March 2024, Miriam Žiarna, soprano, Rastislav Adamko, violin, Zuzana Zahradníková, piano
Concerto for 2 bayans and orchestra,[56] dedicated to all of those who helped to remove „the iron curtain“ and the communistic regimes in the central part of Europe in the 1989 (2008)
On the Seven Colours of Light for organ (2007)[57]
Iese for flute solo (2007) approx. 5 minutes
To the Rainbow So Close Again[58] for string quartet (2004)
Nell'autunno del suo abbraccio insonne for harp (2004)
Niekto príde" (Nokon kjem til å komme) [music for the production of Jon Fosse's play Nokon kjem til å komme under Eduard Kudláč's direction at the Žilina Theatre][64] (2021)
Bezzubata [music for the production of Miklos Forgacs's play Bezzubata under Eduard Kudláč's direction at the Žilina Theatre][65] (2019)
Sound Art and Graphic Notation
Donauklang [open instrumentation and duration assumed] (1989)
Dialogue with Stockhausen [open instrumentation and duration assumed] [1984]
Dialogue with Malcom Goldstein [open instrumentation and duration assumed] [1984]
2012: A MARVELOUS LOVE - New Music for Organ (Carson Cooman plays compositions by Peter Machajdík, Patricia Van Ness, Jim Dalton, Tim Rozema, Al Benner, Thomas Åberg, and Harold Stover), Albany Records, Catalogue No. TROY1357
2012: THE IMMANENT VELVET[68] (Machajdík's chamber music for piano, guitar, cello, harp and strings), Azyl Records, Catalogue No. R266-0024-2-331
2015: ELEKTRICKÁ GITARA[69] (Machajdík's 12-minute composition LET for electric guitar, and works by composers such as Luciano Berio, Daniel Matej, Boško Milaković, Juraj Vajó, Pavol Bizoň, Ivan Buffa), Hevhetia, Catalogue No. HV 0070-2-331
On the 2008 CD NAMAH, Machajdík worked with singer Jon Anderson from Yes,[75] harpist Floraleda Sacchi, vocalist & drummer David Moss, clarinet virtuoso Guido Arbonelli, cello player Jozef Lupták, and others.
