Erik Oña Collection
Erik Guillermo Oña
Argentinian-Swiss composer and conductor
born November 20, 1961, in Córdoba, Argentina
died September 14, 2019, in Basel, Switzerland
Description
In 2022, the Paul Sacher Foundation received as a gift from Erik Oña's widow, Helena Bugallo, an extensive collection of documents related to Oña's compositional work. The collection includes all of the surviving manuscripts of the composer's own works, beginning with the first pieces still premiered in Argentina, such as Viviendas propias (1985), Avatar (1988), Aspectos (1988) and Aspectos II (1991). On the basis of the sketch documents, major individual works such as Tiger und Patriarch (1994), Euler Sonaten (2001) or Das Gold des Rheins (2012) can be studied in detail, likewise as the structural connections within the three-part group of works consisting of Jodeln (1996–99), Andere Stimmen (2003) and Lokaler Widerstand (2006). Furthermore, the collection contains manuscripts of Oña's arrangements (including pieces by Mahler, Mozart and especially Conlon Nancarrow) as well as a stock of recordings and concert programmes.
In addition to his own composing, Erik Oña's musical activities also included conducting and teaching composition. Right after completing his studies in composition and conducting at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (1982–88), he began teaching composition and orchestration at the same place (1988–93). The situation was similar at his next destination, the State University of New York at Buffalo, where a teaching position again followed his studies in composition (1993–99 with a PhD).
Further visiting professorships took Oña to the Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo (composition and computer music, 1995/97/99) and to the University of Birmingham in England (composition, 2001–03). In 2003, he was appointed professor of composition and head of the Electronic Studio at the Basel Academy of Music, where he remained until his premature death.
In parallel, Oña conducted various ensembles and orchestras in Europe, and North and South America, not only at his places of study and teaching. In so doing, he premiered more than 150 works, many of which with the Cologne Thürmchen Ensemble, to which he belonged as a permanent conductor as of 1996.
Scope of holdings
- Music manuscripts: sketches, drafts, fair copies of works and arrangements
- Photos: small amount
- Movies / videos: small amount
- Sound recordings
- Programs
Period
1985–2019
Chronology
- 2022 Collection enters the PSS holdings
Inventories
- Internal lists can be consulted at the PSS
Internal links
[none]
External links
- Homepage: www.erik-ona.com
- Editor: Thuermchen Verlag
curator in charge / archivist in charge
Matthias Kassel / Heidrun Ziems
Update
18 December 2023