Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

1941

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

Klaus Hinrich Stahmer was a German composer born on August 2, 1951, in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a church musician and his mother a pianist. Stahmer started playing the piano at a young age and showed a keen interest in music composition. Stahmer studied music composition at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover, Germany, where he was taught by the renowned composer Isang Yun. He also studied with other notable composers such as György Ligeti, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Mauricio Kagel. Stahmer's early works were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s and 1970s, which was characterized by experimental techniques and unconventional sounds. His compositions often featured electronic music, tape recordings, and unconventional instruments. One of Stahmer's most notable works from this period is "Klangfelder" (Sound Fields), a piece for orchestra and tape that was premiered in 1976. The piece features a combination of traditional orchestral instruments and electronic sounds, creating a unique and innovative sound. In the 1980s, Stahmer's music became more tonal and melodic, with a focus on harmony and structure. He began to incorporate elements of traditional classical music into his compositions, while still maintaining his experimental approach. One of Stahmer's most famous works from this period is "Lichtungen" (Clearings), a piece for orchestra and choir that was premiered in 1985. The piece is based on poems by the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke and features a combination of traditional choral music and experimental techniques. Stahmer continued to compose throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with a focus on chamber music and vocal music. He often collaborated with poets and writers, setting their texts to music in his compositions. One of Stahmer's most notable works from this period is "Die Nachtigall" (The Nightingale), a song cycle for soprano and piano that was premiered in 1999. The piece is based on poems by the German poet Christian Morgenstern and features a combination of traditional vocal music and experimental techniques. Stahmer's music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the German Music Publishers' Association Prize and the Berlin Art Prize. Stahmer passed away on December 26, 2020, at the age of 69. His legacy as a composer and innovator in the field of classical music lives on through his many compositions and recordings.

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