Karlheinz Essl Jr.
Karlheinz Essl (born August 15, 1960 in Vienna) is an Austrian composer, performer, sound artist, improviser and composition teacher.
Biography
Karlheinz Essl was born in Vienna in 1960. Studies at the University of Music in Vienna: composition (Friedrich Cerha), electro-acoustic music (Dieter Kaufmann) and double bass. Studies at the University of Vienna: musicology (1989 doctoral thesis on Das Synthese-Denken bei Anton Webern). 1990-94 „composer in residence” at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse für Neue Musik. 1992-93 work on a commission at IRCAM in Paris. Since 1994 music curator of the Essl Collection in Klosterneuburg/Vienna. Between 1995–2006 he was teaching Algorithmic composition at the Studio for Advanced Music & Media Technology at the Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama, and Dance in Linz, Austria. As of 2007, professor of composition for electro-acoustic and experimental music at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. [1]
Characterisation
Karlheinz Essl's work with computers (with emphasis on algorithmic composition and generative music) and a prolonged occupation with the poetics of serial music have been a formative influence on his compositional thinking. Besides writing instrumental music, Karlheinz Essl also works in the field of electronic music, interactive realtime compositions and sound installations. Since the early 90's he has developed various software environments for realtime composition which he uses himself for his own live performances and also in collaboration with artists from other fields (choreographers, dancers, visual artists and poets).[2]
In 1998, Essl started to develop a computer-based electronic instrument called m@ze°2 which he uses as an improviser in live performances. Since 2008 he his working on a series of compositions for various solo instruments and live-electronics named Sequitur. Recently he has written several solo and ensemble pieces for electric guitar.
Projects
Since the 1990s, Karlheinz Essl carried out a number of projects for the Internet and became increasingly involved with improvisation. In 1997, Karlheinz Essl was featured at the Salzburg Festival with portrait concerts and sound installations. In 2003, he was artist-in-residence of the festival musik aktuell, and in 2004 he was presented with a series of portrait concerts at the Brucknerhaus Linz. 2008–2009 he is composer-in-residence of the Belgium ensemble Champ d'Action.
Selected Works
- Helix 1.0 for string quartet (1986)
- met him pike trousers for large orchestra (1987)
- Rudiments for 4 snare drums (1989)
- Close the Gap for 3 tenor saxophones (1989
- ...et consumimur igni for 3 ensemble groups (1990)
- In's Offene! flute, bass clarinet, violin and cello (1991)
- Entsagung for ensemble and electronics (1993)
- Lexikon-Sonate infinite realtime composition for computer-controlled piano (1992–2007)
- Déviation for ensemble (1993)
- absence for violin solo (1996)
- à trois/seul for string trio (1998)
- mise en scène for 10 instruments (1998)
- more or less realtime composition for soloists and electronics (1999–2002)
- upward, behind the onstreaming it mooned for string quartet (2001)
- blur for flute, cello and vibraphone (2003)
- Faites vos jeux! a musical card game for cellos and/or trombones (2004)
- Kalimba for toy piano and CD (2005)
- colorado for saxophone quartet and live-electronics (2005–2008)
- Von Hirschen und Röhren sound installation for Beat Zoderer (2006–2007)
- 7x7 for 4 clarinets, 4 saxophones, 4 trombones or 4 electric guitars (2006–2009)
- AIRBORNE open-air sound environment (2006)
- Cinq for woodwind quintet (2007)
- FRÄULEIN ATLANTIS generative sound and video environment for Jonathan Meese (2007)
- Sequitur cycle for various solo instruments and live-electronics (2008/2009)
- while my guitars gently whip for 4 electric guitars (2008/2009)
- Detune for oboe and large orchestra (2009)
- Chemi(s)e for electric guitar and 2 ensemble groups (2009)
Music Software
- Amazing Maze: interactive realtime composition for sampled sound particles
- Lexikon-Sonate: algorithmic music generator
- fLOW: ambient soundscape generator
- REplay PLAYer: generative sound file shredder
- SEELEWASCHEN: ambient sound environment based on the sound of a bell
- FontanaMixer: generative sound environment based on John Cage's Fontana Mix
- WebernUhrWerk: generative music generator in memory of Anton Webern
Records
- Gold.Berg.Werk: interpretation of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations for string trio and electronics (Preiser Records 2008)
- SNDT®X: electronic music #3 (tlhotra #23 2008) - free download from archive.org
- ©RUDE: electronic music #2 (Lotus Records 2001)
- m@ze°2: electronic music #1 (KHE 1999) - free download as mp3 from last.fm
- Rudiments: instrumental compositions 1986–1993 (TONOS 1995)
External links
- www.essl.at: official website
- myspace.com/karlheinzessl: presentation at MySpace
- Karlheinz Essl interviewed by Bruce Duffie
- "Karlheinz Essl Jr. (biography, works, resources)" (in French and English). IRCAM.
References
- ^ Music Information Center Austria
- ^ Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed. (2001) ISBN 0-333-60800-3