René Wohlhauser

Biography

René Wohlhauser (born 24 March 1954) is a Swiss composer, pianist, singer, improviser, conductor and music teacher.

Life

Wohlhauser was born in Zurich. From 1975 to 1979 he studied counterpoint, harmony, music analysis, score reading, orchestration and composition with Thomas Kessler, Robert Suter, Jacques Wildberger and Jürg Wyttenbach at the City of Basel Music Academy, earning a diploma in music theory. He went on to study composition with Kazimierz Serocki, Mauricio Kagel, Herbert Brün and Heinz Holliger, and for several years studied with Klaus Huber and Brian Ferneyhough. The latter had a decisive influence on Wohlhauser's work. Wohlhauser currently teaches composition, improvisation and music theory at the Basel Music Academy. As a performer of contemporary music, he is heard all over Europe, recently mostly with his ensemble «Ensemble Polysono», as well as with soprano Christine Simolka. Wohlhauser has published several writings on music.

Music

Wohlhauser's prolific output covers many musical genres. His compositions include solo, chamber, orchestral, organ and stage works. In his early works, Wohlhauser also made use of electro-acoustic techniques. In his works, extra-musical impulses are often the starting point for a composition. References to philosophical, linguistic and scientific themes are particularly prominent. Wohlhauser is a composer who is tirelessly looking for new compositional strategies and puts established compositional systems into question. The consistent way in which he works out his compositional concepts often results in a dense and complex musical language that challenges performers as well as audiences.

Compositions

Lemuria for 2 flutes and tape (1977)
Nesut for piano solo (1977)
cemaltorz for soprano (also mezzo-soprano) and piano (1977)
Souvenirs de l’Occitanie for clarinet solo (1978)
Modulaltica für alto flute and synthesizer (1978). Also: Modulaltica-Variationen for alto flute solo (1978)
Fragmente for orchestra (1979)
flautando for 2 flutes (1980/81, rev. 1987)
Musica Assoluta e Determinata for voice and chamber orchestra (1981)
Largo elettrificato for voice and chamber orchestra with electronic sound modulation (1981)
Klavierquartett for string trio (Violin, viola, cello) and piano (1979/83-84, rev. 1987)
Schlagzeugtrio (1984/85). Additional version Sarktirko (2008) for percussion solo
CI-IC for flute and viola (1985)
Duometrie for flute and bass clarinet (1985/86)
Orgelstück for organ (1986)
Drei Stücke for piano (1986/87)
Klarinettentrio «Metamusik» for 3 clarinets in B flat (1986/87)
Adagio assai for string quartet (1982/83/85/87/88)
Atemlinie for horn solo (and tam-tam, same player) (1988)
Lumière(s) for organ (1989)
in statu mutandi for orchestra (1991–93)
vocis imago for flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin and cello (1993–95). 62 additional versions from solo to quintet.
Gedankenflucht for cello and piano (1995)
Quantenströmung for flute, viola and harp (harp trio) (1996)
Quantenströmung – version for flute, cello and piano (1996–97)
Entropía for solo cello (1997/98)
carpe diem in beschleunigter Zeit for string quartet (1998/99)
Die Auflösung der Zeit in Raum for saxophone, percussion and piano (2000–01). Additional version: Saró (2008) for solo saxophone
Meditation über die Zeit für die linke Hand am Klavier for piano (2001)
Klänge in der Zeit for piano (2000)
Manía for piano (2001/02)
Musik für Flöte solo for solo flute (2002)
Gantenbein, Musiktheater für 4 Solisten und Orchester (2002–2004), text after Max Frisch
Rachearie from the opera Gantenbein, transcription for soprano and piano (2004)
Sulawedische Lieder, songs and vocal pieces, a cycle on onomatopoetic texts by the composer for soprano (also mezzo-soprano), baritone, 1 to 2 voices and piano (2 to 5 players) (2005/06/08)
Drei andere Stücke for piano (2005/06)
mira schinak, trio for soprano, flute and piano. Based on an onomatopoetic text by the composer (2006)
mikka resna for tenor and guitar. Based on an onomatopoetic text by the composer (2006)
Studie über Zustände und Zeitprozesse for flute and piano (2007)
‘Srang for soprano, flute, clarinet and cello. Based on an onomatopoetic text by the composer (2007)
Streichtrio for string trio (2007)
Sarktirko (2008) for solo percussion
Saró (2008) for solo saxophone
Ly-Gue-Tin, eine augenzwinkernd-klingende, halbszenische Werkmonographie für Stimme(n) und Klavierklänge auf eigene lautpoetische Texte for voice(s) and piano (1988)
Sokrak for soprano, flute, clarinet, cello and piano. Based on an onomatopoetic text by the composer (2008)
Iguur – Blay – Luup, triptych for solo soprano, duet soprano-baritone, soprano and chamber ensemble. Based on an onomatopoetic text by the composer (2009). Several additional versions.
Masona for 16-voice mixed chorus. Based on onomatopoetic texts by the composer (2009–10)