Christoph Schnell

Christoph Schnell (2019)

Christoph Schnell (* 1954 ) is a Swiss composer .

Life

He studied musicology , art history and ethnomusicology at the University of Zurich and received his doctorate in 1984 as a musicologist specializing in the interdisciplinary field of “computers and music”. A quick scientific career led him a. a. to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . He was a lecturer at domestic and foreign universities. From 2004 to 2014 he was a lecturer for public lectures in computer science and musicology at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). He is the owner of the sole proprietorship «umea - united media artists Dr. Schnell », which has its own film and sound studio.

He completed his artistic training with Peter Mezger (violin, St. Gallen), Giovanni Bria (piano, Zurich); Composition discussions, courses, lectures, seminars, etc. a. at B. Billeter, P. Huber, H.-U. Lehmann and Y. Xenakis. Christoph Schnell wrote his first piece at the age of 10. Pieces of music for solo violin and two violins as well as for small string orchestra followed . Schnell later also wrote works for unusual ensembles, such as B. the work "Surround us" for large symphony orchestra and 5.1 surround system (op. 157, premiered in March 2010). The now well over 250 compositions include chamber music pieces, nine string quartets and works with a large cast as well as - since the early 1980s - works for computers and electronic musical instruments. His most important works include his violin concertos and “Requiem X”, composed in 2017 and premiered a year later, which was filmed under his direction (2018/2019).

In 2008 Schnell defined a new genre of music: the “MusicalOper”. It is a combination of opera, musical and drama with musical elements from music history to film music and atonality. Schnell composed three examples himself: the tragicomic musical opera “Emergency 51”, which premiered in 2012, and the science fiction musical opera “Baby Bill”, which premiered in 2014, and the crime musical opera “Black Widow”. Even if the MusicalOper has not yet found widespread use as a musical genre, Schnell is considered to be its inventor. The renowned German-language specialist magazine "Musicals" wrote: "Like its predecessor [ Emergency 51 ], Baby Bill made it clear that new forms of musical theater are definitely possible ..."

Works (selection)

Chamber music / string orchestra

• “Nocturne” for cello solo (1976, op. 46);
• «Guernica» - piece for string orchestra and percussion instruments (1976, op. 47);
• «Secco» for piano and pianist head voice (1977, op. 51);
• String Quartet No. 2 (2002, op.133);
• String Quartet No. 3 (2003, op.139); String Quartet No. 5 (2008, op. 151);
• “Dance with a Vampire” for violin and piano (2004, op. 142);
• “5 Bagatelles” for piano (2005, op. 144);
• "Toccata Trinitatis" for large organ (2008/2009, op. 147).

Computers and electronics

• "Bach Sitting under an Apple Tree" for computers and electronics (1991/92, op. 79);
• "The Scandalous Affair with My Bildnis" - portrait aria from Mozart's Magic Flute for computers and electronics (1995/96, op. 106);
• «Atmosphere II» - multi-part work for computers, electronics and live recording (1998, op. 113 ff; CD production);
• "Surround me ...!" for synthesizers, solo violin and 5.1 digital surround system (2008, op.152).

Symphonic line-up

• «Rasputin» - piece for large orchestra (1977, op. 50);
• “Bolero Funebre” for symphonic wind orchestra (2001, op. 130);
• «Moments heroïques» for symphonic wind orchestra (2006, op. 150);
• "Einzug der Meister" for large symphony orchestra (2009, op. 156c).
• "Surround Us ...!", Suite from "Surround Me ...!" for synthesizers, 5.1 surround system and large symphony orchestra (2009, op.157)

Musical theater

• "Emergency 51" - tragicomic musical opera in 3 acts (2010, op. 160).
• «Baby Bill» - Dramatic Musical Opera in 3 acts (2012, op. 166).
• «Black Widow» - Crime MusicalOper in 3 acts (2015, op. 170).

Solo concerts

• Violin Concerto No. 1 "Surround me ...!", For solo violin, synthesizers and 5.1 surround system (2008, op. 152)
• Violin Concerto No. 2 for solo violin, string orchestra, timpani and synthesizer (2017, op.183)
• Piano Concerto No. 1 "Rockefeller Plaza", symphonic concerto for piano and orchestra (2017, op.184)
• Violin Concerto No. 3 for electric violin, string orchestra, timpani and drum set (2018, op.186)
• Violin Concerto No. 4 for solo violin, string orchestra, timpani and drum set (2018, op.189)
• Violin Concerto No. 5 for solo violin, string orchestra, timpani and snare drum (2019, op.190)

Religious music

• Missa quasi vit (i) a for 4 vocal soloists and percussion (1983, op.61)
• Requiem X for choir, string orchestra, timpani, percussion and taiko drums (2017, op.182)

Web links

• Artist's website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ http://www.umea.ch ; founded in 1997
2. ↑ Zeitschrift Musicals , No. 170, p. 46.
3. ↑ ^{a b c} http://www.musicaloper.ch