Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1943 in Dresden, Germany

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

Jörg Herchet was a German composer and music theorist who was born on August 22, 1940, in Berlin, Germany. He was raised in a family of musicians, and his father was a composer and conductor. Herchet began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and composition with his father. He later studied at the Berlin University of the Arts, where he received a degree in composition. Herchet's early works were influenced by the serialism of Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern. However, he soon began to develop his own unique style, which was characterized by a focus on microtonality and the use of non-traditional tuning systems. Herchet was particularly interested in the use of just intonation, which is a tuning system based on the ratios of small whole numbers. One of Herchet's most significant works is his "Klavierstücke in Vierteltönen" (Piano Pieces in Quarter-Tones), which he composed in 1974. The work consists of five pieces for piano, each of which is written in a different quarter-tone tuning system. The piece is notable for its use of microtonality, which creates a unique and otherworldly sound. Herchet's interest in microtonality and non-traditional tuning systems led him to develop his own tuning system, which he called the "Herchet Tuning System." This system is based on the use of prime numbers and is designed to create a harmonic structure that is more complex than traditional tuning systems. In addition to his work as a composer, Herchet was also a respected music theorist. He wrote extensively on the use of microtonality and non-traditional tuning systems in music, and his writings have been influential in the development of contemporary music. Herchet's later works continued to explore the use of microtonality and non-traditional tuning systems. One of his most significant works from this period is his "Klangschatten - mein Saitenspiel" (Sound Shadows - My String Game), which he composed in 1995. The work is a cycle of pieces for string quartet, each of which is written in a different tuning system. The piece is notable for its use of just intonation and its exploration of the harmonic possibilities of non-traditional tuning systems. Herchet's music has been performed by some of the world's leading ensembles, including the Arditti Quartet, the Ensemble Modern, and the Berlin Philharmonic. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 1999. Jörg Herchet passed away on December 28, 2018, at the age of 78. His legacy as a composer and music theorist continues to influence contemporary music, particularly in the areas of microtonality and non-traditional tuning systems.

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