lecture:

G.M. Koenig's 'Terminus'

Sound Lecture by Kees Tazelaar

22 Mayıs 2007
  • 20:00 -23:00
  • STEIM
  • Utrechtsedwarsstraat 134, Amsterdam

"The title for my lecture is: G.M. Koenig's 'Terminus' as a point of departure."

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terminus - G.M. Koenig's 'Terminus' as a point of departure.

Koenig composed Terminus in 1962. It was his last composition to be produced in the studio of the Cologne radio. The title refers to the fact that Koenig saw no further possibilities for sound composition within the given technical situation. For me however, discovering the compositional strategies chosen for Terminus created a new perspective on the formal aspects of electronic music composition. Terminus has been one of the most influential pieces of music for everything I composed since 1996. In my lecture I will discuss some pieces made between 1996 and 2006 with many music examples. I would like to end the lecture with one complete work: Lasciar Vibrare v.5 of 34 minutes."

Kees Tazelaar (July 27, 1962) was taught at the Institute of Sonology from 1981 to 1983 (Utrecht) and from 1987 to 1989 (The Hague). He subsequently studied composition with Jan Boerman at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, graduating in 1993. Since then Tazelaar has been teaching at the Institute of Sonology. He is head of Sonology since June 2006. His output as a composer consists entirely of electronic music on multi channel tape. In addition to his autonomous works, he has contributed to music theatre projects by Dick Raaijmakers (Die glückliche Hand geöffnet, Scheuer im Haag) and Theatergroep Hollandia (Perzen, Varkensstal). In recent years he has also been occupied intensively in the restoration and reconstruction of major electronic works from the past.

In his specially equipped studio new versions have been made of compositions by Gottfried Michael Koenig (Klangfiguren II, Essay, Terminus), Jan Boerman (Kompositie 1972, Ruïne), Edgard Varèse (Poème Électronique), Iannis Xenakis (Concret P-H), György Ligeti (Pièce Électronique no.3, Artikulation), Luctor Ponse (Concerto voor Piano en Band). During the winter semester of 2005-2006, Kees Tazelaar filled the Edgard Varèse guest professorship at the Technical University of Berlin