Professional activity: Composers, Improvisers, Interpreters
Biography
* 15. 05. 1955.
- Born in Romanshorn, lives with his family in Lucerne
- Studied at both the conservatory and the Akademie für Schul- und Kirchenmusik in Lucerne
- Teacher at the Musikhochschule Luzern (piano and group improvisation, chamber music)
- Very active composer and improviser
- Develops so-called 'installative music' in an interdisciplinary context
- Co-founder of the Forum Neue Musik Luzern
- Recipient of various prizes and awards including the Edwin Fischer Stiftung Sponsorship Prize, Bursaries (1988, 1996 and 2000) + the Paris-Atelier in 1992 from the canton of Aargau, Bursaries (1988, 1998) from the canton of Lucerne
- Numerous commissions for compositions and a catalogue of over 50 works
- Broadcasts on various radio stations and performances in concert series and festivals at home and abroad
Work list
Tauber (1986)
Instrumentation: for orator, alto, tenor and ensemble (1.1.1.0/1.1.1.0/2perc/2.1.1.1)
Texts: Heinz Zimmermann
A melodrama based on a text by Heinz Zimmermann. The theme of this piece concerns outer and inner captivity.
Instrumentation: for choir (SATB) wind music (clarinet, cornet, bugle, horn, trombone, tuba) and electronic tape
Texts: Volkslied
Satirical adaptation of the Swiss National Anthem in a collage like combination with other existing folk songs.
The wind passage (score flexible) requires a professional player. The chorus passage can be performed by a good amateur choir.
Instrumentation: for chamber orchestra (1.1.1(bcl).1/ 1.1.1.1/2perc/pf/ 2.1.1.1)
Penetrating and bursting forth or the structural surface, this is where the individual instruments make sound contact. Inspired by the first text of ‘Stimmen’ by Paul Celan.
Instrumentation: for alto, clarinet and chamber orchestra (flute, horn and strings)
Texts: Max Bolliger
Based on a text by Max Bolliger from the collection of poems 'Schweigen, vermehrt um den Schnee' (Silence multiplied by the snow). On the theme of nature and death.
Instrumentation: for three performers (all three vocal with additional instruments ad lib.)
With tape (collage of water sounds and water traces) and an installation for the visual artist Erwin Bossard. CD and photos available from the composer.
Duration: 45' 00" Manuscript
L'absence de vent (1992)
Instrumentation: for orator, soprano, alto, countertenor, flute, guitar and bass clarinet
Texts: Samuel Backett
An audio play after a quote from Samuel Beckett's "Mal vu mal dit" (Badly seen badly said).
Formal severity (alto) and virtuoso intoxicated play (vn) with a conformably direct relationship to the speech form and content of a text bearing the same name by Ernst Jandl.
Instrumentation: for contrabass saxophone (also baritone saxophone) and electronic tape
Texts: Ernst Jandl
A theatrical attempt by a saxophonist to articulate the self-ironic text by Ernst Jandl through the mouthpiece of his instrument while the electronic tape plays.
Instrumentation: for instrumental ensemble (fl.cl/pf/perc/vn.vc)
Alternating solos for the wind and strings are concurrent with the transparent, fragile playing of the ensemble. Based on the ‘Stimmen’ - texts by Paul Celan.
Instrumentation: for violoncello, accordion, guitar, vocal ensemble or percussion
For the sound installation by Hedwig Renggli.
Duration: ad libitum Manuscript
stossen, ziehen, schieben - am Rand (1999)
Instrumentation: for two pianos
Four movements:
'kontrabass', cumbersome and kinetic.
'harmonium' compressed variations form.
'verklang' an unconventional way of dealing with fade out.
'jezz' rhythmically tricky, moving play.
Instrumentation: for five alphorns and simple electronic (ad libitum)
Solo voice (with freedom to improvise) to a rhythmically flowing alphorn quartet movement. Required are: five horns in F, three horns in F#, and one horn in E. Recorded transformed alphorn figures on CD can be used freely as a counterpart to the solo alphorn.
Instrumentation: for a baroque ensemble (altus, tenor recorder, baroque violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord)
Texts: Thomas Locher
Based on text clippings from 'Das Eine. Das Selbe. Das Gleiche' by Thomas Locher. Introduction and dance that allow the baroque elements to shine through. Tonally subtle and transparent music. Typical baroque performance technique combined with a variety of contemporary experimental (noisy, brittle) playing methods.
A procession through the streets of Zug with sound objects. Developed in cooperation with the Lucerne artist Barbara Jäggi for the STV-Fest 2001. DVD available from the composer.
For the Kornschütte lucerne, together with the Lucerne artist Barbara Jäggi.
CD for the installation available from the composer; photographic documentation.
Manuscript
Der Hosenträger (2001)
Five short scenes
Instrumentation: for one percussionist (one floor tom-tom and three cymbals)
The presentation of this piece goes beyond pure percussion playing. The performance concepts have theatrical significance and have to be accomplished with a concentrated stage presence.
Instrumentation: for voice (altus), recorder(s), violin, gamba and doublebass
This project is a collaboration between video art and a musically open play disposition in the room. Based on a text by Thomas Locher, with the Scappatella Ensemble and the video artist Judith Albert.
CD and video with the composer.
Instrumentation: for violoncello and string orchestra (5.4.2.2.1)
Commissioned by Festival Stings Lucerne with the soloist Patrick Demenga. It is the renewed attempt to convey the movement of nature in non-imitative musical outlines.
Dance stage made of wood (dance area 2.5 x 4m). A mobile dance floor triggers notes from accordions installed underneath the dance floor. In collaboration with Peter Allamand for 'klangraum heiligkreuz 2003', an exhibition with sound installations and sound actions (29.6.03 - 19.10.03) in Heiligkreuz, Entlebuch. DVD and photos available from the composer.
Duration: variabel Manuscript
Klangschweife (2003)
Sound chain movements (with various exclusive sound requisites) in an open space for 10 performers. Performed within the framework of 'witterung.stromaufwärts Hörgänge im Freien' at the Festival Rümlingen in 2003 on the night of 15th/16th August 2003.
Duration: 50' 00" Manuscript
Gesang der Engel (2003)
Sound action
In and around the Heiligkreuz church with improvising soloists and a loose action group consisting of ca. 20 people. Performed within the framework of 'klangraum heiligkreuz 2003', an exhibition with sound installations and sound actions (29.6.03 - 19.10.03) in Heiligkreuz, Entlebuch. DVD and photos available from the composer.
Duration: 45' 00" Manuscript
Akkordeon in Fahrt (2004)
sound action
Instrumentation: for 4 accordion players
For the sound installation (in collaboration with Peter Allamand) and intervention group (actresses, countertenor, violin, alphorn, wind trio) within the framework of the bus project 'luzern-stadterfahren' on 5.6.04 in Lucerne, Photos and DVD available from the composer.
Duration: 40' 00" Manuscript
Helium (2004)
Performance
With a melodica hanging from a red 150cm diameter, 450cm circumference, 1400g force-bearing, helium gas filled (ca. 1.8m3) balloon. The playing of the harmonica, brought about by the gradual deflating of the balloon, serves the sole purpose of bringing the balloon back down to the floor (performed on the 29.09.04 in the Kappelle zum hl. Geist, Lucerne).
Duration: 20' 00" Manuscript
Klangtransit (2004)
World New Music Days 2004. A sort of call for cessation on the prolifically traversed Seebrücke in Lucerne. Concept: Barbara Jäggi, Corinne Jäggi, Markus Lauterburg and Urban Mäder
Organisation: Christine Weber Wort&Ohr.
Sound installation by Andreas Glauger. DVD available from the composer.
Duration: variabel Manuscript
Gesten - Nichts (2004)
Concert piece
Instrumentation: for choir (SATB), violin, double bass and organ
Commissioned by the Cantorin Contenti Zug. Even though the starting point for this composition is texts from Bach's "Jesu, meine Freude", "Gesten - Nichts" still remains a rudimentary music of sound and noise.
With 40 children, for the installation bearing the same name by the American artist Dale Chihuly at the Museum of Art, Lucerne. Mille Flori is the result of the Art and Music Workshop in cooperation with Flurina Paravicini within the framework of the Children's Corner at the 2005 Lucerne Festival. CD and DVD available from the composer.
Duration: 30' 00" Manuscript
35 Gesten für Kontrabaß (2005)
For Cristin Wildbolz.
The course of motions is derived partly from simple normal bass playing and partly from musical motion sequences.
Sound installation and sound performance within the framework of the Archipel Festival, Geneva 2006. Together with Alexa Montani, Marie Schwab, Lukas Berchtold, Patrick Kovaliv and 14 children. DVD and photos available form the composer.
Duration: 30' 00" Manuscript
Solitaire (2006)
Sound installation
In collaboration with Peter Allamand. Accordion (with a fixed deep B) on a stool, a vacuum cleaner sucks on the bellows for 8 seconds, the bellows then move towards the floor for the following 20 seconds. First presented within the framework of the Archipal Festival in Geneva in 2006. DVD and photos available from the composer.
Duration: variabel Manuscript
Lauter Blech (2006)
Exhibition of sheet metal objects (various sizes and forms of sheet metal rolls) by Barbara Jäggi from 13th - 30th April 2006 at the 'Kunstpanorama' in Lucerne. Following various concepts, six sound actions were performed during this period, each with two female performers who set the rolls in motion together with music ensembles. CD and photos available from the composer.
In collaboration with Peter Allamand and performed within the framework of 'Nachtschicht', Festival Rümlingen 2007, on the night of 24th/25th August 2007. Eight participants move around paths in the landscape with mobile accordion objects mounted on wheels; the motion causes the bellows to move thus producing tones and noises. Five conceptual actions for voice and movement in a temporally open form provide the basis for this performance. DVD and photos available from the composer.
Duration: variabel Manuscript
Ballast (2009)
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano and percussion
Three movements: gestaut, dickflüssig, überschwappend.