Martin Schlumpf was born in Aarau where he attended school until completion of his undergraduate education in 1966.
During this time he performed as double-bassist and occasionally as saxophonist in various jazz formations. In the classical field he was taught piano at irregular intervals during his eight-year study of the cello.
Following a central acoustic experience provided by Anton Webern the young musician began attempts at composition in 1964.
1986 saw the beginning of his musical studies in Zurich with the following as his main subjects:
- Clarinet (Hansjürg Lethold)
- Piano (Warren Thew and Evelyne Dubourg)
- Conducting (Ferdinand Leitner)
- Theory and composition (Rudolf Kelterborn)
1971 - Received his piano diploma under Warren Thew,
1972 - Graduated with a diploma in theory under Rudolf Kelterborn, Further studies led him in 1974 to Boris Blacher in Berlin.
In 1975 Martin Schlumpf became a piano teacher at the Seminar Küssnacht and music teacher at Freudenberg college in Zurich. He has been professor for music theory at the 'Hochschule Musik und Theater Zürich' (Zurich School of Music and Theatre) since 1977 and teaches group improvisation there since 1991.
Unitl 1980 Martin Schlumpf was primarily a composer in the field of classical music and won various prizes at competitions for composition including the first prize in the competitions of the City of Zurich from 1972 until 1979 and first prize in the 'Tonhalle' competition in 1975. After 1980 he returned to improvised music and performed in various groups of his own, initially as double-bassist together with Urs Blöchlinger in the 'Trio 80' and then, after 1982, as saxophonist and bass clarinettist in the twelve-headed orchestra 'Swiss Fusion 84', the sextet 'Die Vögel' and above all in 'Bermuda Viereck'.
Martin Schlumpf also cooperated on other projects, examples of his involvement include:
- A film music project together with Christoph Baumann
- In 'Duck Dich', a cabaret with Martin Hamburger
- In the John Tchicai-Orchestra
- In the big band 'Notspielplatz Zürich'
- In the international orchestra 'Cadavre exquis' by Urs Blöchlinger
- In the theatre projects 'Krötenaquarium' and 'Attinghausen'.
He has been a member of and the soprano saxophonist with the 'Aargauer Saxophon Quartett' since 1987. Since the end of the eighties Martin Schlumpf has been involved in various activities in that area of intersection between improvisation and composition, gradually paying more and more attention to his work as a composer in a modified, quasi 'post modern' style under which works such as the cycle 'Vier Jahreszeiten', the piano concert 'Mouvements', 'Klarinettentrio', 'Rattaplasma 2' or the cello concert 'Waves' have already been produced.
Since 1999 Martin Schlumpf has expanded the involvement of the computer in his compositional work, the aim of which is to achieve an aggrandisement of the sound palette and create complex, polymetric structures.
In 1999 he received a research commission from Zurich School of Music and Theatre for the computer-sound processing of several 'Studies for Player Piano' by Conlon Nancarrow.
Martin Schlumpf lives with his wife in Würenlingen.
Work list
3 Lieder (Paul Celan) (1971)
Instrumentation: for soprano and chamber ensemble
Manuscript
Evokationen (1972)
Instrumentation: for six brass instrumentalists, piano and percussion
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Trio (1972-1973)
Instrumentation: for flute, viola and harp
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
5 Pieces for large Orchestra (1973)
Instrumentation: (4.3.4.3 (and all doubling)/4.3.3.1/hp.pf/timp.4perc/large string section)
Duration: 15' 00"
Edition Kunzelmann
Grütstr. 28 CH-8134 Adliswil
Fragment (1974-1975)
Instrumentation: for solo violin and chamber orchestra (2.1.2.1(partly doubling)/2.1.1.1/hp.cel.hpd/6perc/3.3.3.2)
Duration: 14' 00" Manuscript
String quartet (1975)
A strongly associative work in a single movement.
Duration: 26' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Les extrèmes se touchent (1975)
Instrumentation: for violoncello and piano
Technically difficult piece; a series of characteristic pieces.
- Passagen - Freischütz - Ouverture - Interruptus - From Eriboll to Kirkiboll - 'Rattaplasma - der sebische Olymp - Kokoskotten'
Duration: var. Manuscript
Onyx (1985)
Instrumentation: for alto saxophone and violoncello
A piece in four movements with some jazzy elements (phrasing, rhythm).
Duration: 12' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
7 Kompositionen für das eigene BERMUDA VIERECK (1985)
Instrumentation: for quartet
- Ein gelber Spazierstock rutscht mir quer durchs Haupt
- Noblesse galvanisée
- HardauSuite (59/2 Süd)
- Die Ballade vom Elephanten und dem Moskito (in memory of Timo Fleig)
- Umdumm
- 29/16: ‘Die Wolkenpumpe
- Bimmelresonanz II
Duration: var. Manuscript
Five O'Clock Jump (1986)
Instrumentation: for thirteen instruments (fl.ssx.2asx.bsx/2tpt.tbn/perc/pf/vn.2db)
Duration: 16' 00" Manuscript
"... per la quinta vox..." (1986)
Instrumentation: for viola solo
Manuscript
9 Kompositionen für das eigene BERMUDA VIERECK (1990)
Instrumentation: for quartet
- 'Bluse für C'. - 'Quick Zappa inglese' - The Harder the Better - Round about - 17 dh 38 jnn - 'S hätt nöd sölle si' - 'Clair de Prune' - A Simple Melody - 'Messiaen lässt grüssen'
Duration: var. Manuscript
Winterkreis (1991)
Instrumentation: for saxophone quartet (satbar)
A sound poem with a tonal motif in irregular metre (which enters in various states) this is interrupted by the insertion of 'wild bird' sounds and an imaginary radio, which appears collage-like. The ensemble faces some unusual tasks but this piece makes no virtuosic demands.
A time/content scheme based on a woodcarving by A. Athanassoglou: A basic tonal motif forms a doubled arch-form development, with the influence of minimal music in the first part, and a more harmonic and dramatic treatment of sound in the second.
Instrumentation: for small group of improvisers (fl.sx/tpt/perc)
Duration: 7' 00" Manuscript
December rains (1993)
Instrumentation: for piano solo
Extrovert and very rhythmical piano piece with partly uneven metres and a virtuosic unisono part with 'December Song' as a slow, ballad like conclusion.
Duration: 6' 00"
Edition Kunzelmann
Grütstr. 28 CH-8134 Adliswil
... wie die Zeit vergeht ... 8 rationale Zeitsprünge am Punkt 662/264 (1993)
8 rational time jumps at the point 662/264
Instrumentation: for piano and percussion quartet
2 marimbas, vibraphone, crotales, 6 cowbells, 5 toms, 3 log drums, 4 calabassas, 2 bass-strings, 5 tubular bells, large drum-set (with 5 toms), 8 gongs, div. cymbals, 4 whips, 2 metal-sets, tambourine, tam-tam, amongst others.For percussionists who feel comfortable in a groovy environment. Frequently pulsating rhythm with hanging ostinato figures of varying length; difficult part for the first marimba. The solo pianist is chiefly improvising.
Instrumentation: for piano and orchestra (3(pic)3.3(bcl)3(cbn)/4.3.3.1/hp75perc/8.8.6.6.4)
The piano is an integral part of the orchestra. Not uncomfortably virtuosic, jazzy in parts, very rhythmic (with cadenza).
Duration: 15' 00"
Edition Kunzelmann
Grütstr. 28 CH-8134 Adliswil
Frühling (1995)
Instrumentation: for percussion quartet
Two marimbas, vibraphone, nine toms, four bongos, two timbales, small and big drum, four calabassas, five woodblocks, four gongs, three cymbals, two tam-tams, metal foil.
Duration: 18' 00"
Edition Kunzelmann
Grütstr. 28 CH-8134 Adliswil
... aufflattern mit dunklen Gesichtern die Fledermäuse... (1995)
Autumn music
Instrumentation: for four female voices
Texts: Georg Trakl
Chiefly gentle parting music based on the poem 'Septemberabend' by Georg Trakl. For warm lyrical voices.
Duration: 16' 00"
Edition Kunzelmann
Grütstr. 28 CH-8134 Adliswil
Trio für Klarinette, Cello und Klavier (1997)
Stamped with rhythm this polymetric piece has very demanding interplay.
Duration: 27' 00"
Edition Kunzelmann
Grütstr. 28 CH-8134 Adliswil
Cumuli III (3-4-1-5-2 - Kapitel II im Buch der Proportionen) (1999)
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, trombone, electric piano (or piano), electric bass (or double-bass) and percussion