Thomas Kessler (composer)
Thomas Kessler (born September 25, 1937 in Zurich ) is a Swiss composer . He is one of the pioneers of electronic music .
Life
Kessler studied German and Romance languages at the University of Zurich and Paris and then composition with Heinz Friedrich Hartig , Ernst Pepping and Boris Blacher at the State University of Music Berlin .
In 1965 he founded his own electronic studio and became a member of the composers' association Gruppe Neue Musik Berlin . He met composers like Luc Ferrari and Vinko Globokar . Later he was director of the electronics Beat Studio Berlin and music director of the Center Universitaire International de Formation et de Recherche Dramatiques in Nancy. Thomas Kessler taught composition and music theory at the Music Academy of the City of Basel from 1973 to 2000 , where he founded the well-known Electronic Studio Basel . His students included u. a. Wolfgang Heiniger , Max E. Keller , Bettina Skrzypczak , René Wohlhauser and Thomas Chr. Heyde .
Together with Gérard Zinsstag he founded the Days for New Music in Zurich and with Wolfgang Heiniger the festival ECHT! ZEIT in Basel. In 2001 he became composer in residence at the New Music Concerts in Toronto. As part of the Œuvres Suisses project , he composed the work “Utopia III” for orchestra (in five groups) and multiple live electronics for the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich , which was performed on November 18, 2016 under the direction of Pierre-André Valade in the Tonhalle Zurich was premiered.
Awards
- In 1968 he was awarded the art prize for the young generation in Berlin
- In 2007 he received the Marguerite Staehelin Composition Prize endowed with CHF 50,000 in recognition of his outstanding services as a musician
- In 2011 he was in the Academy of Arts in Berlin elected
- In 2018 he was awarded the Swiss Music Prize.
Audio language
His works include chamber music pieces , orchestral works and compositions with live electronics . Since 1973 he has been using tapes, synthesizers and computers more and more. In Los Angeles he met Saul Williams , whose rap lyrics inspired him.
Works
- Constellations I (1965) for flute, trombone, violoncello and piano
- Four pieces (1965) for string quartet
- Countdown for Orpheus (1966) for tape
- Music for flute, piano and tape (1966)
- Music for double bass, piano and tape (1966)
- Constellations II (1967) for flute, piano, violin and violoncello
- Trio (1968) for string trio
- May music (revolution music) (1968) for ensemble and tape
- National Holidays (1969)
- Smog (1971) for trombone and orchestra
- Portrait (1972) for trombone, piano and percussion
- Loop (1973) for belt loop and 4 variable instruments
- Aufbruch (1973) for non-European instruments
- Piano Control (1974) for piano and synthesizer
- Klangumkehr (1975) for large orchestra
- Lost Paradise (1975) for piano, harp, alto flute, viola, English horn and live electronics
- Dialoge (1977) for 2 non-European and 2 European musicians and vocoders
- Unison (1978) for 3 clarinets
- Violin Control (1978) for violin and synthesizer
- Sound archive (1979)
- Pujaparwata (1980) for gamelan ensemble and tape
- Traumklang (1981) for ensemble and live electronics
- Drumphony (1981) for percussion, computer and orchestra
- Drum Control (1983) for percussion and computer
- Flute Control (1984–1988) for flute and live electronics
- La Montagne Ardente (1985) for 3 synthesizers
- String Control (1987) for 1 string instrument and live electronics
- Polysono (1987) for bassoon
- Aufbruch (1989–1990) for 5 samplers and orchestra
- Hades (1989) for organ and tape
- Harpsichord Control (1990–2005) for harpsichord and live electronics
- Double Bass Control (1990–1991) for double bass and live electronics
- Pièce de Concours (1990) for violin and tape
- Choral (1991) for 4 alto saxophones
- Ki (1992) for organ
- Message (1993) for tape
- Voice Control (1994–2000) for 3 voices and live electronics
- Trombone Control (1994) for trombone and live electronics
- Inselmusik (1995) for alto saxophone, marimbaphone and piano
- Windharp (1996) for violin, flute and live electronics
- Irasshaimase (1999) for shakuhachi and tape
- Guitar Control (1999) for guitar and live electronics
- Poetry reading (2001–2002) for three musicians and live electronics
- "Is it?" (2002) for soprano and soprano saxophone
- "Said the shotgun to the head." (2003) for poetry narrator, rap choir and orchestra
- Utopia (2004) for 72 orchestra musicians with 72 live electronic instruments
- Oboe Control (2005) for oboe and live electronics
- Engelberger Variation (2005) for organ
- Lufttore (2006) for bass clarinet and accordion
- NGH WHT (2007) for speaker and string quartet
- sweet sounds (2008) for saxophone and vocal ensemble
- Utopia II (2010/2011) commissioned composition for the Cologne Philharmonic for orchestra and electronics; WP: July 1st, 2011.
literature
- Lydia Jeschke: Thomas Kessler . In: Contemporary Composers (KDG). Edition Text & Criticism, Munich 1996, ISBN 978-3-86916-164-8 .
- Fritz Muggler , Bruno Spoerri : Thomas Kessler and the live electronics . In: Bruno Spoerri (ed.): Music from nowhere. The history of electroacoustic music in Switzerland . Chronos, Zurich 2010, ISBN 978-3-03-401038-2 , pp. 124–128.
Web links
- Thomas Kessler's website
- Thomas Kessler at Boosey & Hawkes
- Works by and about Thomas Kessler in the catalog of the German National Library
- Thomas Kessler , KDG - Contemporary Composers, in the Munzinger Archive ( beginning of the article freely available)
- Information about Kessler at Musinfo
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Kessler, Thomas |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Swiss composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 25, 1937 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Zurich |