Georg Katzer
Encyclopedia
Georg Katzer is a German composer. He was one of the pioneers of electronic new music
in the German Democratic Republic
(East Germany or GDR).
, music theory, and composition with (amongst others) Rudolf Wagner-Régeny and Ruth Zechlin at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik
in East Berlin
. From 1957 to 1958 he studied in Prague
with Karel Janáček. From 1961 to 1963 he was a postgraduate student of Hanns Eisler
and Leo Spies at the German Academy of the Arts
in Berlin (Klingberg 2001). In 1963 he became a freelance composer and musician.
From 1976– to 1977 he worked in electronic-music studios in Bratislava and Paris. In 1978 Katzer was elected to membership in the Academy of the Arts in East Berlin
(Klingberg 2001). In 1982 he founded the Studio for Electroacoustical Music affiliated with the Music Department of the Academy of the Arts (the first studio of this kind in the GDR), whose artistic director he remained until 2005.
In 1987 he was appointed Professor and subsequently taught a masterclass in composition at the Academy of the Arts.
From 1988 to 1991 he was President of the German Section of the C.I.M.E. (International Council for Electroacoustical Music) and from 1990 to 2001 was a presiding member of the Deutscher Musikrat (German Music Council, a member of the International Music Council
).
Katzer now lives in Zeuthen
near Berlin.
Katzer’s compositions include works for chamber ensembles, orchestral works, solo concertos, operas, ballets, puppet plays, and oratorios. His work also encompasses electroacoustical pieces, music for radio drama
s, multimedia projects, and projects involving improvised music.
Translated from the German Wikipedia
Electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music originated in Western art music during its modern era following the incorporation of electric sound production into compositional practice. The initial developments in electroacoustic music composition during the mid-20th century are associated with the activities of composers...
in the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(East Germany or GDR).
Biography
From 1954 to 1960 Katzer studied pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, music theory, and composition with (amongst others) Rudolf Wagner-Régeny and Ruth Zechlin at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik
Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler
The " in Berlin, Germany is one of the leading music conservatories in Europe. It was established in East Berlin in 1950 as the ' because the older was in West Berlin...
in East Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. From 1957 to 1958 he studied in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
with Karel Janáček. From 1961 to 1963 he was a postgraduate student of Hanns Eisler
Hanns Eisler
Hanns Eisler was an Austrian composer.-Family background:Eisler was born in Leipzig where his Jewish father, Rudolf Eisler, was a professor of philosophy...
and Leo Spies at the German Academy of the Arts
Akademie der Künste
The Akademie der Künste, Berlin is an arts institution in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 1696 by Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg as the Prussian Academy of Arts, an academic institution where members could meet and discuss and share ideas...
in Berlin (Klingberg 2001). In 1963 he became a freelance composer and musician.
From 1976– to 1977 he worked in electronic-music studios in Bratislava and Paris. In 1978 Katzer was elected to membership in the Academy of the Arts in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
(Klingberg 2001). In 1982 he founded the Studio for Electroacoustical Music affiliated with the Music Department of the Academy of the Arts (the first studio of this kind in the GDR), whose artistic director he remained until 2005.
In 1987 he was appointed Professor and subsequently taught a masterclass in composition at the Academy of the Arts.
From 1988 to 1991 he was President of the German Section of the C.I.M.E. (International Council for Electroacoustical Music) and from 1990 to 2001 was a presiding member of the Deutscher Musikrat (German Music Council, a member of the International Music Council
International Music Council
The International Music Council was created in 1949 as UNESCO's advisory body on matters of music. It is based at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, France, where it functions as an independent international non-governmental organization...
).
Katzer now lives in Zeuthen
Zeuthen
Zeuthen may refer to:*Zeuthen, a town in Brandenburg, Germany*Hieronymus Georg Zeuthen, Danish mathematician*Zeuthen Strategy in Game theory...
near Berlin.
Katzer’s compositions include works for chamber ensembles, orchestral works, solo concertos, operas, ballets, puppet plays, and oratorios. His work also encompasses electroacoustical pieces, music for radio drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
s, multimedia projects, and projects involving improvised music.
Translated from the German Wikipedia
Compositions
- String Quartet No. 1 (1965)
- Die Igeltreppe for speaker and 13 instruments, text by Sarah Kirsch (1973)
- Das Land Bum-Bum, opera (1973)
- Schwarze Vögel, ballet (1975)
- Szene für Kammerensemble, instrumental theater (1975)
- Bevor Ariadne kommt, for tape (1976)
- Concerto for Harpsichord and Wind Quintet (1978)
- Ein neuer Sommernachtstraum, ballet (1979)
- Aide-memoire, for tape (1983)
- Gastmahl oder über die Liebe, opera, libretto by Gerhard Müller (1987)
- Antigone oder die Stadt, opera, libretto by Gerhard Müller (1989)
- Mein 1989, radio composition (1990)
- Ich bin ein anderer, Hörspiel after Arthur RimbaudArthur RimbaudJean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud was a French poet. Born in Charleville, Ardennes, he produced his best known works while still in his late teens—Victor Hugo described him at the time as "an infant Shakespeare"—and he gave up creative writing altogether before the age of 21. As part of the decadent...
(1990) - L'homme machine, multimedia scenic Aktion (2000)
- Medea in Korinth, oratorical scenes, libretto by Christa Wolf (after Medea: Stimmen). Premièred on 6 September 2002, at the Berlin Konzerthaus.
- Fukujamas Kiste, for tape (2002)