Johannes Fritsch (1941- )
The
broad range of Johannes Fritsch's activities as a performer, theorist
and producer of music were already discernible in his years at the
university and Musikhochschule in Cologne. His musicological studies
were complemented by philosophy and sociology, his composition classes
under Bernd Alois Zimmermann by lessons on the viola, in which he took
his performance degree. A major influence on his future development was
his close association with Karlheinz Stockhausen, in whose ensemble he
played viola from 1964 to 1970. Since the 1960s Fritsch has not
only made numerous concert tours, recordings and radio broadcasts as an
instrumentalist but has also developed remarkably as a teacher. In 1971
he was appointed head of the new music seminar at the Darmstadt Academy
of Music, and he also teaches harmony and "media aesthetics" at the
Musikhochschule in Cologne. In order to work independently of the
musical establishment he founded, with Rolf Gehlhaar and David Johnson,
the Cologne Feedback Studio in 1971, and one year later the like-named
publishing house, the "first German publishing house operated for and
by composers". Trained in one of the centres of German avant-garde
music, Fritsch turned at the outset of his career to electronic music
as a perfectly natural and even pivotal medium. Works with prerecorded
tape or live electronic instruments - usually in combination with a
chamber ensemble - or completely electronic pieces can be found at
all stages of his career, and a considerable part of his work in the
Feedback Studio has been devoted to developing new electronic
instruments or equipping public auditoriums with autommic and
semi-automatic sound-producing devices. Yet his output is particularly
conspicuous not only for the almost equal importance of electronic and
traditional sound-producing devices, but also for the large number of
his stage pieces and film scores, betokening an undogmatic view of his
art and a readiness to escape the hermeticism of art music. Fritsch's
open-mindedness toward music is even more apparent in the content of
his works. Many of them have an unmistakable collage-like character
deriving from his multi-form combination of materials deriving from
completely different sources: European and non-European music,
compositions past and present, artistic sonorities and natural sounds
up to and including everyday noise. His incorporation of "public
sounds" in particular - especially in the orchestral work "Akroasis" of
1966-1968 and in "Modulation IV" of 1968 - underscores his intention to
liberate his works from their isolation as abstract aesthetic objects
by confronting them with the sound of their real environment and hence
with the inexhaustible external source of all musical imagination.- ANABlog
COMPOSITIONS Fritsch Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Duett für Bratsche, viola and tape (1961)
Bestandteile des Vorüber, soprano, bassoon, bs cl, horn, tromb, bs tromb, bass tuba, 3 double basses (1962)
Nachtmusik, violin, viola, cello and double bass (1963)
Madrigal triste (after Charles Baudelaire), oboe and tape (1963)
Filigranfalter, high voice (countertenor) and 12 strings (1963)
Concerto da camera, amplified violin and 12 strings (1964)
Fabula rasa, 4-track tape (1964)
Klaviertrio (Piano Trio) No. 1 (1964)
Ikonen, 3 pianos (1964)
Partita, viola, contact microphones, magnetophones, filters and regulators (4 players) (1965-66)
Modulation 1, violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano (1966)
Concerto battuto, percussion, 3 string trios and double bass (1967)
Modulation 2, 13 instruments, live electronics and tape (1967)
Akroasis, jazzband, 2 singers, barrel organ, music box, news anchor, large orchestra and live electronics (1966-68)
Modulation IV, 4-track tape (1968)
Klavierstück (1), piano (1969)
September 70 (grand quartet after Friedrich Kuhlau), 4 flutes (2 female performers, 2 male performers) and piano (1970)
Sul G (Oktober 70), flute and piano (1970)
Violectra (live electronic improvisation), viola d’amore and synthesizer (1971)
Lied, voice (+ piano), live electronics (1969-70)
Schnitte, tape (1971)
Radiostück 1, tape (1971)
Sul B, cello (specially tuned) and piano (1972)
Augenblicke, film score (1972)
Übersetzung von Emotion in Proportion, organ (1973)
Musica mundana, tape (1973)
Hochtöner, flute, viola, percussion, synthesizer and tape (1974)
Konzert, trumpet and orchestra (1975)
Die Regel war Unabänderlich – Ein Requiem, ballet, tape (1975-76)
Mattina romana (Originaltonstudie), tape (1976)
Von anderen Planeten, speaker, shakuhachi and orchestra (1976)
Run Tits, tape (1977)
Trio, viola, trombone, piano and ring modulator (1977)
Die Hugenotten (Konzert), violin, cimbalom, orchestra and tape (1978)
Klavierstück 2, prepared piano (1978; arr. for 2 pianos as Klavierstück 22, 1990)
Goethes Wilhelm Meister, film score (1978)
Skyline, film score (1978)
Der Grosse Gesang, ballet,speaker, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, gtr, trombone, amp perc, tape (1979-80)
Ode, percussion, electronics and tape (1980)
Flute Klang, alto flutea and delay system (1981)
Versöhnung, chorus, alto flute, bass clarinet, double bass and percussion (1981)
Kyo-Mu, shakuhachi/alto flute/tenor recorder and tape (1982)
Fragmente über den Tod, speaker, soprano, viola, cello and piano (1982)
Laudate Dominum, 5 voices and string quintet ad libitum (1982)
Epigraph (ein Grabstein für Igor Strawinsky), 5 voices and bass drum (1982)
Kreuzgänge, orchestra (1983)
Cello Duo (1983)
Testament Vivier, wind quintet, piano and tape (1983)
Der rote Ahorn, speaker and percussion (1983)
String Quintet (1984)
Konzert, cello, orchestra (1985)
Musik für Sankt Georg, double bass, 10 glass chimes, 10 Eisenbleche (instruments by Volker Staub) and organ (1985)
Klaviertrio (Piano Trio) No. 2 (1985)
Cello Duo II (1987)
De profundis, soprano, countertenor, alto flute, bass clarinet, 2 trombones, 2 perc, cello, double bass and organ (1987)
Nagori, shamisen, voices (1987)
X ’88, viola, cello and double bass (1988)
Hohes Lied, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, alto flute, A-clarinet, trombone, 3 tree trunks (1988)
Quartett, flute, 2 pianos and percussion (1989)
Trio, bass clarinet, double bass and piano (1990)
Noël für 3 Flöten, large flute (+ G-alto flute, bass flute) (1990)
Wandlung (1), alto flute and bass clarinet (1990)
Quintett, alto flute, bass clarinet, viola, cello and piano (1991)
Wolfsklänge, violin, piano, 2 cellos and tape (1991)
Wandlung (2), bass and alto flute (1991)
Yesterday, piano (1991)
Das Bittersüsse Büchlein, oboe, accordion and double bass (1992)
Damals (text by Samuel Beckett), speaker (on tape) and organ (1992)
Trio vom Ende, bass, alto flute and percussion (1992)
Klavierstück 3, piano (1992)
Passacaglia, large symphonic wind band (1993)
Play VII, 12-24 wooden flutes, 2 anklungs and zither (1993)
Trio, saxophone, guitar, double bass and electronics (1993)
Litanei, actor, bass drum, tape (1994)
VIII ’94, alto flute and temple bell (1994)
Prediger 3, 4, 4-part women’s/boy’s chorus (1994)
Aschenbrödel, opera (1989-95)
Herbstlicht, orchestra (1994-95)
Magnificat, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, bass, alto fl, bs cl, va, vc, db, perc (1995)
Trio, clarinet and 2 cellos (1996)
Modulay für Ugly Culture, saxophone, guitar and double bass (1996)
RM’96, alto flute, cello, piano and ring modulator (1996)
Nachthelle, viola, cello, double bass and analog synthesizer (1997)
Transformationen, 8-10 double basses (1997)
Fremdes Lied, bass clarinet (+ soprano saxophone) and hurdy-gurdy (1997)
Quintett, alto flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello and harp (1998)
Ess am Tiez, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet and bassoon (1998)
Infra, low sounds, SPX 900 ad libitum (1998)
Haikai, 2 bass clarinets, percussion and tape (1998)
Traum, speaker, soprano, English horn, French horn, cello and piano (1998)
Klavierstück IV, piano (1998)
Grosse Litanei, actor, bs drm, fl (+ speaking), perc (+ speaking), celesta, 2 computer-self-playing pfs, live electronics (1999)
Konzertstück, 2 percussion and orchestra (1999)
Piazza Celestina, celesta (1999)
String Quintet, 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos (1999)
Monophonie-Varianten, 3 or 4 wind instruments (1999)
Litanei II, flute (+ speaking)/percussion (+ speaking) (1999)
III. ’99, soprano and percussion (1999)
IX’99X, organ (1999)
Zeit, clock (2000)
12’99-01’00, trombone and percussion (2000)
Quintet, English horn, B-flat clarinet, double bass, piano and percussion (2000)
Sonett, violin and piano (2000)
Tubae, 2 bass tubas (2000)
Kernspin, percussion and tape (2000)
WORKS BY GENRE Fritsch Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Die Regel war Unabänderlich – Ein Requiem, ballet, tape (1975-76)
Der Grosse Gesang, ballet,speaker, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, gtr, trombone, amp perc, tape (1979-80)
Litanei, actor, bass drum, tape (1994)
Aschenbrödel, opera (1989-95)
Grosse Litanei, actor, bs drm, fl (+ speaking), perc (+ speaking), celesta, 2 computer-self-playing pfs, live electronics (1999)
Orchestra
Kreuzgänge, orchestra (1983)
Herbstlicht, orchestra (1994-95)
Band
Passacaglia, large symphonic wind band (1993)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Concerto da camera, amplified violin and 12 strings (1964)
Konzert, trumpet and orchestra (1975)
Konzert, cello, orchestra (1985)
Konzertstück, 2 percussion and orchestra (1999)
Choral
Versöhnung, chorus, alto flute, bass clarinet, double bass and percussion (1981)
Laudate Dominum, 5 voices and string quintet ad libitum (1982)
Epigraph (ein Grabstein für Igor Strawinsky), 5 voices and bass drum (1982)
Nagori, shamisen, voices (1987)
Prediger 3, 4, 4-part women’s/boy’s chorus (1994)
Chamber
Nachtmusik, violin, viola, cello and double bass (1963)
Klaviertrio (Piano Trio) No. 1 (1964)
Modulation 1, violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano (1966)
Concerto battuto, percussion, 3 string trios and double bass (1967)
September 70 (grand quartet after Friedrich Kuhlau), 4 flutes (2 female performers, 2 male performers) and piano (1970)
Sul G (Oktober 70), flute and piano (1970)
Violectra (live electronic improvisation), viola d’amore and synthesizer (1971)
Sul B, cello (specially tuned) and piano (1972)
Cello Duo (1983)
String Quintet (1984)
Musik für Sankt Georg, double bass, 10 glass chimes, 10 Eisenbleche (instruments by Volker Staub) and organ (1985)
Klaviertrio (Piano Trio) No. 2 (1985)
Cello Duo II (1987)
X ’88, viola, cello and double bass (1988)
Quartett, flute, 2 pianos and percussion (1989)
Trio, bass clarinet, double bass and piano (1990)
Noël für 3 Flöten, large flute (+ G-alto flute, bass flute) (1990)
Wandlung (1), alto flute and bass clarinet (1990)
Quintett, alto flute, bass clarinet, viola, cello and piano (1991)
Das Bittersüsse Büchlein, oboe, accordion and double bass (1992)
Play VII, 12-24 wooden flutes, 2 anklungs and zither (1993)
VIII ’94, alto flute and temple bell (1994)
Trio, clarinet and 2 cellos (1996)
Modulay für Ugly Culture, saxophone, guitar and double bass (1996)
Nachthelle, viola, cello, double bass and analog synthesizer (1997)
Transformationen, 8-10 double basses (1997)
Fremdes Lied, bass clarinet (+ soprano saxophone) and hurdy-gurdy (1997)
Quintett, alto flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello and harp (1998)
Ess am Tiez, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet and bassoon (1998)
Piazza Celestina, celesta (1999)
String Quintet, 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos (1999)
Monophonie-Varianten, 3 or 4 wind instruments (1999)
Zeit, clock (2000)
12’99-01’00, trombone and percussion (2000)
Quintet, English horn, B-flat clarinet, double bass, piano and percussion (2000)
Sonett, violin and piano (2000)
Tubae, 2 bass tubas (2000)
Piano/Organ
Ikonen, 3 pianos (1964)
Klavierstück (1), piano (1969)
Übersetzung von Emotion in Proportion, organ (1973)
Klavierstück 2, prepared piano (1978; arr. for 2 pianos as Klavierstück 22, 1990)
Yesterday, piano (1991)
Klavierstück 3, piano (1992)
Klavierstück IV, piano (1998)
IX’99X, organ (1999)
Vocal
Bestandteile des Vorüber, soprano, bassoon, bs cl, horn, tromb, bs tromb, bass tuba, 3 double basses (1962)
Filigranfalter, high voice (countertenor) and 12 strings (1963)
Von anderen Planeten, speaker, shakuhachi and orchestra (1976)
Fragmente über den Tod, speaker, soprano, viola, cello and piano (1982)
Der rote Ahorn, speaker and percussion (1983)
De profundis, soprano, countertenor, alto flute, bass clarinet, 2 trombones, 2 perc, cello, double bass and organ (1987)
Hohes Lied, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, alto flute, A-clarinet, trombone, 3 tree trunks (1988)
Wandlung (2), bass and alto flute (1991)
Trio vom Ende, bass, alto flute and percussion (1992)
Magnificat, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, bass, alto fl, bs cl, va, vc, db, perc (1995)
Traum, speaker, soprano, English horn, French horn, cello and piano (1998)
Litanei II, flute (+ speaking)/percussion (+ speaking) (1999)
III. ’99, soprano and percussion (1999)
Incidental/Film
Augenblicke, film score (1972)
Goethes Wilhelm Meister, film score (1978)
Skyline, film score (1978)
Electronic
Duett für Bratsche, viola and tape (1961)
Madrigal triste (after Charles Baudelaire), oboe and tape (1963)
Fabula rasa, 4-track tape (1964)
Partita, viola, contact microphones, magnetophones, filters and regulators (4 players) (1965-66)
Modulation 2, 13 instruments, live electronics and tape (1967)
Akroasis, jazzband, 2 singers, barrel organ, music box, news anchor, large orchestra and live electronics (1966-68)
Modulation IV, 4-track tape (1968)
Lied, voice (+ piano), live electronics (1969-70)
Schnitte, tape (1971)
Radiostück 1, tape (1971)
Musica mundana, tape (1973)
Hochtöner, flute, viola, percussion, synthesizer and tape (1974)
Mattina romana (Originaltonstudie), tape (1976)
Run Tits, tape (1977)
Trio, viola, trombone, piano and ring modulator (1977)
Die Hugenotten (Konzert), violin, cimbalom, orchestra and tape (1978)
Der Grosse Gesang, speaker, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, gtr, tromb, ampl perc and tape (1979-80) [arrangement of ballet]
Ode, percussion, electronics and tape (1980)
Flute Klang, alto flutea and delay system (1981)
Kyo-Mu, shakuhachi/alto flute/tenor recorder and tape (1982)
Testament Vivier, wind quintet, piano and tape (1983)
Wolfsklänge, violin, piano, 2 cellos and tape (1991)
Damals (text by Samuel Beckett), speaker (on tape) and organ (1992)
Trio, saxophone, guitar, double bass and electronics (1993)
RM’96, alto flute, cello, piano and ring modulator (1996)
Infra, low sounds, SPX 900 ad libitum (1998)
Haikai, 2 bass clarinets, percussion and tape (1998)
Kernspin, percussion and tape (2000)
FRITSCH LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Composer website
Fritsch @ Wikipedia
Fritsch @ ANABlog
Fritsch @ Ars Electronica
Fritsch @ dic.academic.ru
Fritsch @ Feedback Studio Verlag
Fritsch @ home.swipenet.se
Fritsch @ The Living Composer Project
Fritsch @ spock.com
Streaming Audio
Fritsch @ last.fm
Recordings
Fritsch @ ArkivMusic
Fritsch @ ClassicsOnline
Fritsch @ Discogs
Fritsch @ home.swipenet.se
Fritsch @ YouTube
[none at the moment]
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