Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

1957 in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

Michael Riessler is a renowned German clarinetist, composer, and improviser who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. Born on December 17, 1957, in Stuttgart, Germany, Riessler grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a classical singer. This musical environment played a significant role in shaping Riessler's musical interests and career. Riessler began playing the clarinet at the age of nine and quickly showed exceptional talent. He received his formal music education at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart, where he studied with renowned clarinetist Hans Deinzer. After completing his studies, Riessler began his professional career as a classical clarinetist, performing with various orchestras and ensembles in Germany and abroad. However, Riessler's interests soon expanded beyond classical music. He became fascinated with jazz, improvisation, and experimental music, and began exploring these genres in his own compositions and performances. In the early 1980s, he co-founded the experimental music ensemble "Xenon," which combined elements of jazz, rock, and classical music with improvisation and electronic soundscapes. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Riessler continued to push the boundaries of contemporary classical music, collaborating with a wide range of musicians and artists from different genres and backgrounds. He worked with jazz legends such as John Zorn, Anthony Braxton, and George Lewis, as well as classical composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen and Helmut Lachenmann. One of Riessler's most significant contributions to contemporary classical music is his development of the "clarinet machine," a custom-built instrument that allows him to create a wide range of sounds and textures beyond the traditional capabilities of the clarinet. The clarinet machine consists of a modified clarinet with additional keys, levers, and electronic components that allow Riessler to manipulate the sound in real-time. Riessler's innovative approach to music has earned him numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In 1992, he received the German Record Critics' Award for his album "Xenon," and in 1996, he was awarded the SWR Jazz Prize. He has also been a recipient of the German Music Council's "Jazz Prize" and the "Composition Prize" from the City of Stuttgart. In addition to his work as a performer and composer, Riessler is also a respected educator and mentor. He has taught at various music schools and universities in Germany and abroad, including the Musikhochschule Stuttgart, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, and the University of California, San Diego. Riessler's music continues to inspire and challenge audiences around the world. His unique blend of classical, jazz, and experimental music, combined with his innovative use of technology and improvisation, has made him one of the most influential and respected musicians of his generation.

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