Matthias Kaul (29 January 1949 – 1 July 2020) was a German percussionist and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

of classical music.

Life and career

Born in Hamburg, West Germany, Matthias Kaul studied percussion at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg and for five years was a member of the ensemble Hinz & Kunst in Hamburg. He performed as a guest musician with several orchestras of Northern Germany. From 1977 until 1980 he traveled through Africa in order to study the traditional music of the Xhosa, Samburu and

Maasai Maasai may refer to: * Maasai people *Maasai language * Maasai mythology * MAASAI (band) See also * Masai (disambiguation) * Massai Massai (also known as: Masai, Massey, Massi, Mah–sii, Massa, Wasse, Wassil or by the nickname "Big Foot" Mas ...

tribes. In 1983 he founded the ensemble l'art pour l'art. In 1990, Matthias Kaul with the American violinist

Malcolm Goldstein Malcolm Goldstein (born March 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York) is an Americans, American-Canadians, Canadian composer, violinist and improviser who has been active in the presentation of new music and dance since the early 1960s. ...

began performing in an improvisational duo. Matthias Kaul’s work comprises more than 100 compositions including chamber music, choral music, audio drama and opera. Since 1987, he has performed as a percussionist and glass harmonica player in various radio recordings and on festivals. Recordings of his work were published alongside those of

Alvin Lucier Alvin Augustus Lucier Jr. (May 14, 1931 – December 1, 2021) was an American composer of experimental music and sound installations that explore acoustic phenomena and auditory perception. A long-time music professor at Wesleyan University in Mi ...

John Cage John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading fi ...

Vinko Globokar Vinko Globokar (born 7 July 1934) is a French-Slovenian avant-garde composer and trombonist. Globokar's music uses unconventional and extended techniques, places great emphasis on spontaneity and creativity, and often relies on improvisation. Hi ...

and Christian Wolff. Mathias Kaul invented numerous musical instruments such as the “Matthias Kaul overtone drum” and the overtone triangle. With his wife, the flautist Astrid Schmeling, he taught a yearly composition master class for children since 1999.

Awards and recognition

* German " Echo Klassik" Award for „Haltbar gemacht“ in the category „Classical music for children“ (2012) * " Deutscher Schallplattenpreis" for „Haltbar gemacht“ (2012) * "Junge Ohren Award" for his composition master class for children in Winsen (2011) * Advancement award

music education Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as elementary or secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a research area in which scholars do origina ...

for his composition master class for children in Winsen (2009) * Nomination for the German Record Critics' Award for „Bread and Roses" (2003), „Toucher" (2004) and „Cover Versions“ (2007)

Works

Chamber music (selection)

* ''Concerto for panorama horn and ensemble'' (2015) * ''Recycling'' – for 5 percussionists (2012) * ''Stuff from Above'' – for 4 percussionists (2011) * ''Wheeled'' – for 5 percussionists with 5 bicycles (2010) * ''Bell Air'' – for 6 percussionists with 36 bells (2010) * ''Töne'' – for 6 players with 18 flowerpots (2009) * ''Salty'' – for accordion, double bass and playback (2008) * ''fremd, bestimmt'' – for 6 vocalists with voicespeakers (2008) * ''Some Changes'' – for voice, flute, guitar and percussion (2007) * ''Delikatessen'' – for 3 players in a wurst shack (2006) * ''Silence Is my Voice'' – for voice with voicespeaker playback (2005) * ''Kafkas Heidelbeeren'' - Imaginäres Vokal- und Instrumentaltheater (2005) * ''Listen this is for You'', Kona – for percussion and feedbackbottle (2004)

Opera

* ''Relax'' * ''Kafkas Heidelbeeren'' * ''Electric Bath'' – für einen Performer

Opera for children

* ''Kuckuck im Koffer'' * ''Die Menschenfresserin'' * ''Oliver Twist (2004)''

Audio drama

* ''My Snare Drum gently weeps'' (2017) * ''Fake Dimensions'' (2013) * ''Umbauter Raum'' (2013) * ''Schrammen'' (2011) * ''Audible Edibles'' (2009) * ''Some Rooms in my room'' (2006) * ''Electric Bath – für einen badenden Schlagzeuger''(2003–2004) * ''Das Buch der schönen Stimmen'' with E. Bohde (1997) * ''Fuge mit einigen Freiheiten'' with E. Bohde (1996) * ''Undine geht'' with E. Bohde (1994)

Discography

– Variations II, Eight Whiskus, Music for Two Ryoanji (Matthias Kaul: Percussion, Glas Harmonica); WERGO * Christian Wolff – Bread and Roses (Matthias Kaul: Percussion, Voice, Wheel Fiddle); WERGO *

– Nothing is Real (Matthias Kaul: Percussion, Voice, Piano); WERGO *

– Toucher (Matthias Kaul: Percussion and Voice); WERGO *

– Cage after Cage (Matthias Kaul: Percussion); WERGO

References

External links

*
L´art pour l´art
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kaul, Matthias 1949 births 2020 deaths Musicians from Hamburg Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg alumni German classical composers German male classical composers German percussionists