Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1953

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

Jürg Frey is a Swiss composer of contemporary classical music. He was born on July 15, 1953, in Aarau, Switzerland. Frey grew up in a musical family, and his father was a conductor and composer. He began playing the piano at a young age and later studied clarinet and composition at the Conservatory of Music in Zurich. Frey's early works were influenced by the minimalist and experimental music of composers such as Morton Feldman and John Cage. He was also interested in the music of the New York School, which included composers such as Earle Brown, Christian Wolff, and Cornelius Cardew. In the 1980s, Frey became associated with the Wandelweiser Group, a loose collective of composers and performers who shared an interest in quiet, contemplative music. The group's name comes from the German word "wandel," which means "change" or "transformation." The Wandelweiser composers sought to create music that was simple, transparent, and focused on the sounds themselves, rather than on any particular musical structure or narrative. Frey's music is characterized by its spare, delicate textures and its use of silence and space. He often uses long, sustained tones and simple, repetitive patterns to create a sense of stillness and contemplation. His works are often scored for small ensembles or solo instruments, and they frequently incorporate elements of improvisation and indeterminacy. One of Frey's most well-known works is "String Quartet No. 3," which was composed in 1998. The piece is scored for two violins, viola, and cello, and it consists of a series of long, sustained tones that gradually shift and evolve over time. The quartet is notable for its use of silence and its exploration of the subtle nuances of sound and texture. Another important work by Frey is "Grizzana and other pieces 2009-2014," which was released on the Another Timbre label in 2015. The album features a collection of chamber works that were composed over a five-year period. The pieces are scored for various combinations of instruments, including clarinet, cello, piano, and percussion. The music is characterized by its spare, delicate textures and its use of silence and space. Frey has also collaborated with a number of other musicians and artists over the years. He has worked with the Ensemble Grizzana, a group of musicians who specialize in performing his music. He has also collaborated with visual artists, dancers, and poets, and his music has been featured in a number of multimedia installations and performances. In addition to his work as a composer, Frey is also a teacher and a writer. He has taught composition at the Hochschule der Künste in Bern, Switzerland, and he has written extensively about contemporary music. His writings have been published in a number of journals and books, and he has also edited several collections of essays on music. Frey's music has been performed and recorded by a number of ensembles and musicians around the world. His work has been featured at festivals such as the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Donaueschingen Festival, and the MaerzMusik Festival in Berlin. He has also received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Music Prize of the City of Zurich in 2016. In conclusion, Jürg Frey is a Swiss composer of contemporary classical music who is known for his spare, delicate textures and his use of silence and space.

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