Alexander Wagendristel

Alexander Wagendristel (born March 23, 1965 in Vienna ) is an Austrian composer and flautist .

Life

In 1974 Wagendristel received his first flute lessons from Robert Wolf. From 1980 to 1990 he studied at the Vienna University of Music and received flute lessons from Werner Tripp and composition from Friedrich Neumann , Heinrich Gattermeyer and Erich Urbanner . In 1988 she attended the Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music.

Wagendristel has been the first flutist in the orchestra of the United Theater in Vienna since 1987. Between 1988 and 1992 he was also a flautist in the improvisation group Things of NowNow , which also included Lukas Ligeti , Friedrich Neubarth and Christian Minkowitsch .

In 2002, together with Roland Freisitzer and Thomas Heinisch , he founded the ensemble reconsil wien , which is dedicated to the performance of the latest music. Since 2006 Wagendristel has also been working as a composer of musical songs and as an arranger.

Music genre

According to his own statement, the main bearer of Wagendristel's music is the rhythm, which is usually dominant, but multi-layered and ambiguous, which determines his compositions. The contrast between tonality and atonality appears to be abolished and embedded in a sound system that encompasses all sound possibilities.

Wagendristel's work can be roughly divided into four style phases:

• 1980–1987: early phase, studies, learning process, stylistically more conservative and epigonal
• 1988–1994: Working with the group Things of NowNow, the development of an already very personal style inspired by György Ligeti , Igor Stravinsky and the minimalists, which is characterized by polymetrics and “twisted” tonality.
• 1994–2002: Approaching the tonal language of the European avant-garde, although the approach with polymetrics and dominating rhythms is retained. In addition, the pitches are derived from the overtone series - proportions also play an important role in the rhythmic area in this phase. Microtonality is increasingly used.
• since 2003: Based on the experiences of the two previous phases formation of "its own language" style perceived, its main elements by the composer himself as heterophony , Hoketus techniques, rather loosely managed micropolyphony form, alternating and polymeter whose sound material from the overtone series derived becomes - now with more tonally colored sounds, but which never drift into a retro feeling. Influences from rock and jazz as well as non-European ethno music are also clearly noticeable.

Works

A selection of the works that Wagendristel created or in which he was involved:

Stage works

• The Fool (A. Wagendristel after EAPoe), Opera in 2 acts op. 45 (1991–95)
• The love of the 3 oranges (Th.Strittmatter n. C. Gozzi), Musical Comedy in 2 Acts, Op. 49 (1994)
• The Very First Soap Opera (Robert Wiche), short opera op.71 (1997)
• Eternal Peace (Dora Lux), chamber opera (2020, siren opera theater )

Orchestral works

• Symphony No.1 “Torso” for orchestra op.21 (1986, rev.1996)
• m'onde , 2nd version for Orchestra op.57a (1995/96)
• (") Symphony No. 2 (") for 4 percussionists and chamber orchestra op. 66 (1996)
• Typhon for piano and orchestra op.89 (2001)
• Wing for harp and orchestra op.98 (2003)
• Suoni Reali for 15 solo strings (string orchestra) op.38 (1990)

Ensemble works

• Channel music for 12 instruments op.49c (1994/99)
• Games Without Frontiers for 15 instruments op.77 (1998)
• Chorea for 7 instruments op.84 (2000)
• Split The Lark for flute and 15 instruments op.87 (2000–2001)
• Glee for piano and 14 instruments op.95 (2002)
• Glam for trumpet and six instruments op.105 (2005)
• Fruit for alto saxophone and ensemble op.109 (2005)
• Love Train for violoncello and 6 instruments op.111 (2006)
• Love Train , version for violoncello and 8 instruments op.111b (2006)

Web links

• Fruit. Colours. Fresh
• Ensemble Reconsil
• siren opera theater