Christoph Delz

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Christoph Delz (born January 3, 1950 in Basel ; † September 13, 1993 in Riehen ) was a Swiss composer and pianist .

Life

Delz received music lessons from an early age and received a teaching and concert diploma for piano even before graduating from high school. After graduating from school, he began studying music at the Cologne University of Music in 1974 . Here he took piano (with Aloys Kontarsky ), composition, electrical composition and conducting. His composition teacher was Karlheinz Stockhausen . He finished his studies in Cologne in 1981.

Then he worked for three years in the electronic studio of the local music college. He also studied German and philosophy at the University of Cologne . In 1989 he moved his residence from Cologne back to Switzerland, where he settled in Riehen. Here he lived as a freelance composer. He died of AIDS in 1993 at the age of forty-three .

As a pianist, in addition to his own compositions, he also interpreted the works of other contemporary composers, such as Mauricio Kagel and Claude Vivier , as well as classical works in particular by Robert Schumann , Modest Mussorgski and Arnold Schönberg .

His compositional work mainly includes choral works and compositions for piano. He also created nocturnes , fantasies and masses as well as songs .

Delz learned that he had AIDS a few years before his untimely death. In 1990 (at the age of 40) he wrote a will with which he established the 'Christoph Delz Foundation' upon his death. This is based in Basel. Its purpose is to look after and distribute his musical legacy and to promote contemporary composers of serious music. In order to fulfill this purpose, the foundation should in particular distribute the compositions of Christoph Delz via the media and advertise an international composition competition for young participants.

Works (selection)

  • "Sils" for piano op. 1
  • Piano quartet op.2
  • “Siegel” for wind instruments, percussion and piano op. 3
  • “Cologne Mass” for tape, mixed choir and boys' choir op. 4
  • "In the jungle" for large orchestra op. 6
  • String quartet op.7
  • 1st piano concerto op.9
  • 2 Nocturnes for piano and orchestra op.11
  • “Seasons” for piano and small orchestra op. 12
  • "Istanbul" for piano, soprano, bass, choir and orchestra op. 14

Awards

Discography

  • MDG : Complete Works Vol. 1: Im Dschungel for large orchestra op. 6; Piano quartet op. 2; Die Atmer der Lydia for orchestra op. 5; Piano concerto op. 9; Work songs op. 8; Siegel for 8 wind instruments, percussion & piano op. 3; Sils for piano op. 1; String quartet op. 7; Istanbul for piano, soprano, bass, choir & orchestra op.14
  • MDG: Complete Works Vol. 2 (2012): Solde. Lecture d 'après Lautréamont op.10a; Two Nocturnes, Op. 11; Joyce Fantasy, op.13a; other (2 CDs)
  • MGB: string quartet
  • Guild (2004): eight piano works

literature

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ drs.ch
  2. ↑ delz.ch
  3. ↑ audio samples
  4. ↑ Audio sample Basler Madrigalisten , Collegium novum Zurich, Kölner Rundfunkchor and others; AUD 707 1782-2
  5. ↑ audio sample
  6. ↑ Audio samples , www.guildmusic.com
personal data
SURNAME Delz, Christoph
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss composer and pianist
DATE OF BIRTH January 3, 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH Basel
DATE OF DEATH September 13, 1993
Place of death Riehen