Michael Hoenig

Michael Hoenig (born January 4th, 1952 in Hamburg) is a German composer who, in addition to two solo albums, has composed music for several movies and games. In 1996, he was nominated for an Emmy award (best theme song) for his work on the short-lived sci-fi series Dark Skies.

Early Career

As the editor of the underground magazine LOVE in the late sixties, Hoenig was part of the burgeoning progressive rock scene in Berlin, which fostered bands like Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel and Amon Düül. His interest in avant-garde music, sound generators and prepared tapes caught the eye of Michael Günter, the bassist of Agitation Free, and he joined the band in February, 1971. In late 1974, Hoenig was hired to replace Peter Baumann in Tangerine Dream for touring purposes and subsequently left Agitation Free, which broke up shortly after. Baumann rejoined the band in 1975, but Hoenig and Klaus Schulze continued to collaborate with the shortlived project, Timewind. A year later, Hoenig and Manuel Göttsching of Ash Ra Tempel collaborated on the record "Early Water". In 1978, he released his first solo album, the highly acclaimed Departures From the Northern Wasteland, and left for Los Angeles shortly after it was released.

Film Scores/Later Career

Hoenig owns a recording studio in Los Angeles and through his company Metamusic Productions, he has composed the scores for several movies (see filmography below) and television shows. In addition to this, he has composed music for the extremely popular Baldur's Gate PC games by Bioware. In 1987, Hoenig released his second solo album, Xcept One.

Filmography

• Dracula 3000 (2004)
• The Contaminated Man (2000)
• After Alice (1999)
• Her Costly Affair (1996)
• Thrill (1996)
• Above Suspicion (1995)
• Terminal Justice (1995)
• Search for Grace (1994)
• Eyes of Terror (1994]
• Visions of Murder (1993)
• The Amy Fisher Story (1993)
• The Last of the Finest (1990)
• Class of 1999 (1990)
• I, Madman (1989)
• The Blob (1988)
• The Gate (1987)
• Shattered Spirits (1987)
• The Wraith (1987)
• 9 1/2 Weeks (1986) (additional music)
• Silent Witness (1985)
• Deadly Encounter (1982)
• Koyaanisqatsi (1982) (additional music)

TV Series

• The District (2000-2004)
• Strange World (1999)
• Dark Skies (1996-1997)

Games

• Baldur's Gate (1998)
• Baldur's Gate 2 (2000)