Wolfgang Mitterer


Wolfgang Mitterer is an Austrian composer and musician.

Biography

Wolfgang Mitterer studied with Otto Bruckner in Graz in 1977, and then from 1978 to 1983 at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna he studied organ with Herbert Tachezi and composition with Heinrich Gattermeyer before working for a year at the studio for electroacoustic music in Stockholm in 1983. This was followed by scholarships to Rome in 1988 and Berlin from 1995 to 1996. In 1991 Mitterer founded the Olongapo label.
Mitterer is considered to be one of the most important contemporary Austrian composers and a pioneer in the field of electroacoustic music. He currently does a lot of work together with other artists, frequently with international improvisation and jazz musicians such as Wolfgang Puschnig, Wolfgang Reisinger, Linda Sharrock, Klaus Dickbauer, Sainkho Namtchylak, Tscho Theissing, Tom Cora, Ernst Reijseger, Hozan Yamamoto, Roscoe Mitchell, Georg Breinschmid, David Liebman, David Moss, Max Nagl, Achim Tang, Patrick Pulsinger, Christof Kurzmann, Christian Fennesz, Marc Ducret, Franz Koglmann, Louis Sclavis, Harry Pepl and others.
In addition Mitterer has appeared as an organist, interpreting works by Bach, Messiaen and Ligeti among others. He has played in off locations such as in a quarry and in a disused fortification complex in Tyrol. He has also been involved in the Donaueschingen Festival, the steirischer herbst and the Darmstädter Ferienkurse. Alongside sound installations and numerous electronic collages Wolfgang Mitterer has also written chamber music, scenic works, also operas, a piano concerto and music for orchestra and organ. In addition he has worked on experimental films, radio plays and theatres, has written live accompaniments to silent movies, but also music for the shows of a fashion designer.
Wolfgang Mitterer has lectured at the Vienna University of Music as well as at the Darmstadt International Summer Courses for New Music. He is a supervisory board member of Austro Mechana.

Artistic works

Wolfgang Mitterer works and composes in the field of collective improvisation music, plays the organ and electronic instruments. The space-relatedness, which he frequently emphasises in his titles, gave works such as "Waldmusik", "silbersandmusik", "Turmbau zu Babel", "horizontal noise", "vertical silence" and "Labyrinth 6–11" a particular character. Sometimes up to 4000 people worked on these; in addition many traditional sounds such as brass bands and choral societies were used. These projects ultimately emerged from Wolfgang Mitterer's recordings in the most diverse musical genres and through joint appearances with representatives of the DJ scene and concerts, also through reinterpretations of classical works from Bach, to Schubert.
Wolfgang Mitterer also works on scenic and dramatic productions, the texts of which he partly collects and adapts himself, such as in "Ka und der Pavian", based on the Egyptian Book of the Dead and in "Massacre", based on religious murders from the 16th century after Christopher Marlowe or the lieder cycle "Im Sturm", based on the lieder of Franz Schubert. In 2004 his performance with dancers, Labyrinth for soprano and electronics, was performed at the Semper Depot of Vienna, by the group DANS.KIAS, choreographed by Saskia Hölbling, and Katia Plaschka, soprano.

Awards (selection)

Projects/Works

Für VC und Klav Fractals 13 Fractals 3 Fractals 9 Ostinato Senza Cauda Composto Larifari Charivari Danza Saltata Idee Fixe Idefix Farce Nichts Bewegungen Uluru 1 Uluru 2 Selbstähnlich Facile String Quartet Do not Touch it Just an Idea of Something Surfaces 1–5 Fisis Networds 1–5 Waldmusik Turmbau zu Babel Modemusik 1 Modemusik 2 Off Limits Broken Consort Dirty Tones More Dirty Tones Free Flow Reluctant Games Ab und zu Das Schattengedächtnis Amusie Contracis Und träumte seltsam Angelos Taktspende With Usura Radio Fractal Beat Music Ka und der Pavian Silbersandmusik Vertical Silence White Foam Konzert für Klavier, Orchester und Elektronik Horizontal Noise Espirando Kadout Massacre Crushrooms Labyrinth 1+2 Coloured Noise Im Sturm Labyrinth 3 Das tapfere Schneiderlein Inwendig losgelöst Labyrinth 4 Mit einem lachenden Auge Go Next Kleines Requiem Stück Nr.2 Äpfel und Birnen Orgelmusik Oboe Grand jeu Krummhorn Vox acuta Schlagstück Regentoccata Toccata ohne sorge Stop playing Piber 2003 TränenblindSeltsam unruhigSonori Ive 1 Fractals 5 Oitasitros Obsoderso Holladijodldijo Ive Sortisatio Histrio Tastatura Cantus Fractus Burleska Mixture Homage a Bonbonidodonidonido 5 Stücke für Orgel und 7-Kanalband Balancement www.bwv.orgSurfaces 1–5Fast Actions for Small OrgeanRealtimesinfony Mir wird schlecht Violettes Gras Mimemata Funeral March Lied auf einem Ton Lied eines einsamen Mit dem Regen in die Impac Drullen Olongapo Fractals 2 Roxy Materials: Slow Motion 1 Quiet MomentsLangsam mahlen Reiseis Sopop Astrologia Mundi Fractals 11 Pat Brothers Hirn mit Ei Call Boys Inc. Namtchylak/Mitterer Mitchell/Reisinger/Mitchell Matador 1 The Four Seasons Two Days Till Tomorrow Lied Mikado Transitions 1 Tenebre I:R:S: Carbon Copy Carbon Copy und Alex DeutschBadminton Some Like it Soft Running Boxes Box Blocks Greiz Zeit vergeht Ottenstein Waldreichs TVKM Drunk Nit weiter geht Chargaff Trilogie Falter 1500 circa Nosferatu GT Carl Mayer Oktober Northern Light Pictures Nu 17 und 4 Der Erzbischof ist da Der Irre Lenz Guernika Xanadu Koltes Nemo Nemo Loquetur Glöckner von Belgrad Theatermusik 4 Theatermusik 5 Musik zur Ursonate Ciao Mama Battuto Kirschgarten Nachtflug 2 Eur.oper Nullmelodie Krok Null Bytes Brain Lady Killer Viruskonferenz Splitter Rafael Sanchez readsOnce Upon a Time in the West Indigenous people Goldrausch Schrödingers Katze Casanova Matador Santo Subito Nacht der Wünsche
  • ''Blackwater Redux''

Discography

;Published by col legnoKonzert für Klavier und Orchester Mixture 5 Das tapfere Schneiderlein Im Sturm Sopop Music for checking e-mails
  • Beethoven: 9in1
;Published by KAIROS MusicColoured Noise
;Published by HatHutRecordsRadio Fractal / Beat Music
;Published by moers musicObsoderso Pat Brothers Call Boys Inc. I
;Published by LondonHALLAmusie
;Published by wanadooMasters of Zen Yamamoto/Mitterer
;Limited edition; published on his own label, OlongapoGrand jeuReluctant GamesViolettes GrasMimemataMatadorTurmbau zu BabelCall Boys Inc. IITwo Days till tomorrowDirty TonesI.R.S.Carbon Copy
  • ''Piber 2003''

Literature (selection)

; Lexicon entries
; Other texts
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