Hauschka

For other uses, see Hauschka (disambiguation).

Hauschka
Birth name	Volker Bertelmann
Origin	Germany
Genres	Electronic music, avant-garde
Occupations	Musician, Composer
Instruments	Piano
Labels	FatCat Records
Associated acts	Music AM, Tonetraeger
Website	www.hauschka-net.de
Notable instruments
Prepared Piano

Hauschka is the alias of Düsseldorf-based pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann.

Background

Bertelmann's work is based upon an exploration of the possibilities of the prepared piano - a playfully disruptive intervention into the preconceived idea of the piano as a pure-toned, perfected instrument. Bertelmann explores and influences the outcome of his music by modifying parts of the instrument, attaching various objects to the strings to create a sound described as "a delicate, sometimes haunting form of experimental piano music". Hauschka's sound borrows as much from John Cage's same-titled prepared piano works and the historic predecessors of Les Six – namely Erik Satie.

In 2007 his first full album for FatCat Room to Expand was released to critical praise.

Tours

When preparing for performances on stage, it would take Bertelmann two hours to set up his instruments, but he has since brought the preparation time down to 10 minutes due to constraints of the venues at which he has performed.

In November 2008, Hauschka toured the East Coast of the United States with Icelandic band, múm, selling all of his merchandise in one day for the first time.

In 2009 Hauschka did his Ferndorf Tour in Japan playing 10 concerts in total 8 different cities.

Discography

Albums

• Substantial (2004)
• The prepared piano (2005)
• Room to Expand (2007)
• Versions of the Prepared Piano (2007)
• Ferndorf (2008)
• Snowflakes and Carwrecks (2008)
• Small Pieces (2009)
• Foreign Landscapes (2010)
• Salon Des Amateurs (2011)

External links

• www.hauschka-net.de
• MySpace: Hauschka
• Last.fm: Hauschka
• FatCat: Hauschka
• 2010 NPR interview with Hauschka
• Interview with Hauschka on Headphone Commute (Jan, 2010)