Ștefan Niculescu

Ștefan Niculescu (July 31, 1927 – January 22, 2008) was a Romanian composer, musicologist, and professor. He composed contemporary art music, spanning many genres. He took particular inspiration from the musical folklore of the Far East, heterophony, and electronic music. Unisonos I (1970), for orchestra Unisonos II (1971), for orchestra Ison I (1973), for orchestra Ison II (1975), for orchestra Symphony No. 2 "Opus dacicum" (1980), for large orchestra Sincronie II (1981), for orchestra Symphony No. 3 "Cantos" (1984–1986), for solo woodwinds and orchestra (three versions with different soloists) Symphony No. 4 "Deisis" (1995) Symphony No. 5 "Litanii" (1997) Formanți (undated)

Chamber Invențiuni (1963), for clarinet and piano Echos I (1977), for violin Ricercare in uno (1984), for synthesizer, clarinet, and violin Hétérophonies pour Montreux (1986), for five instruments Octuplum (1987), for eight instruments Chant-son (1989), for saxophone Sequentia (1994), for six instruments Undecimum (1998), for eleven instruments

Vocal three cantatas (1959–1965) Aforisme de Heraclit ("Aphorisms of Heraclitus", 1969), for 20 solo voices Invocatio (1988), choral symphony Axion (1992), for women's choir and saxophone Psalmus (1993), for six voices

Stage Cartea cu Apolodor (premiered 1975, Cluj-Napoca), a children's opera-ballet with a libretto by Gellu Naum

Film Calea Victoriei sau cheia visurilor (1966) Faust XX (1966)

Awards and honours Niculescu received many awards from the Romanian Academy for composition in 1962 and for musicology in 1972. He also received awards from the for composition in 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1998, and won its grand prize in 1994.

Decorations Cultural Merit Medal, first class (September 26, 1966) Order of Faithful Service, Knight rank (December 1, 2000) Order of the Star of Romania, Commander rank (December 1, 2000)