Role

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Composer Performer

Birth

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1960

 

Karlheinz Essl is a contemporary Austrian composer, performer, and improviser who has made significant contributions to the field of electronic and computer music. Born on August 15, 1960, in Vienna, Austria, Essl grew up in a family of musicians. His father, Karlheinz Essl Sr., was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Gertraud Essl, was a pianist and music teacher. From an early age, Essl was exposed to classical music and began playing the piano at the age of six. Essl studied composition and music theory at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where he earned his diploma in 1986. During his studies, he was influenced by the works of avant-garde composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Cage, and Iannis Xenakis. He also became interested in electronic and computer music, which would become a major focus of his career. In the early 1990s, Essl began working with computer music software, developing his own programs for live performance and composition. He also began collaborating with other musicians and artists, including the Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas and the American composer Morton Subotnick. One of Essl's most significant works is his computer music composition "Lexikon-Sonate," which he began developing in 1992. The piece is a generative music system that uses a database of musical fragments to create an ever-changing musical composition. The performer interacts with the system in real-time, selecting and manipulating the fragments to create a unique performance each time the piece is played. "Lexikon-Sonate" has been performed around the world and has been described as a landmark work in the field of computer music. Essl has also composed a number of works for acoustic instruments, often incorporating electronic elements. One example is his "Sequitur VIII" for ensemble and live electronics, which was commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain and premiered in Paris in 2011. The piece features a complex interplay between the acoustic instruments and the electronic sounds, creating a rich and dynamic sonic landscape. In addition to his work as a composer, Essl is also an accomplished performer and improviser. He has performed his own works and collaborated with other musicians in a variety of settings, from traditional concert halls to experimental music festivals. He has also taught composition and computer music at a number of institutions, including the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and the University of California, San Diego. Essl's contributions to the field of electronic and computer music have been widely recognized. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Prix Ars Electronica in 1999 and the Austrian State Prize for Music in 2011. His works have been performed by leading ensembles and orchestras around the world, and he has been invited to give lectures and workshops at universities and music festivals throughout Europe and North America. Overall, Karlheinz Essl is a pioneering composer and performer who has pushed the boundaries of electronic and computer music. His innovative works have challenged traditional notions of composition and performance, and his contributions to the field have had a lasting impact on contemporary music.

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