Johannes Fritsch
Encyclopedia
Johannes G. Fritsch was a German
composer
.
At the age of seven, Fritsch found a violin in the attic of his uncle's house in Bensheim-Auerbach, Germany
, and began lessons with a village music teacher named Knapp. When he was ten, his family moved to Cologne
, and he began studying with the principal violist in the Gürzenich Orchestra (Schürmann 1976, 20).
He studied music, sociology
, and philosophy
from 1961 to 1965 at the University
and the Staatliche Musikhochschule
in Cologne with, amongst others, Bernd Alois Zimmermann
and Gottfried Michael Koenig
. In the following years he applied himself to the most varied musical activities. Amongst other things he played viola
in the Stockhausen
-Ensemble from 1964 to 1970, and took part in the German exhibition at Expo 70, the World’s Fair in Osaka
in 1970 (Lichtenfeld 2001; Schürmann 1976, 21).
Although he had begun to compose at the age of 17, Fritsch regards as his first real composition the Duett für Bratsche (Duet for Viola), for viola and tape, which had a succès de scandale
when he performed it at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse in 1962—one newspaper review called him a kühner Kratzer (audacious scraper) (Schürmann 1976, 20).
In 1966 Fritsch received the Förderpreis (Monetary Award) of the Federal State of North Rhine–Westphalia
, and in 1971 the Prize of the Paris
Biennale. Since the 1970s there have been further awards, such as the Förderpreis of the City of Cologne, and the Robert-Schumann Prize of the City of Düsseldorf
.
In 1970 Fritsch was one of the founders of the Feedback Studio of Cologne (together with Rolf Gehlhaar
and David Johnson
), and has been since 1975 active as the chief protagonist of the "Feedback Studio Verlag," the first German composers' publishing house: He is a producer
of Compact Discs
, editor of the "Feedback Studio Papers" (one of the journals dedicated to electronic music), a publisher of scores of contemporary music, and a concert manager. In 1979, 1982, 1984, and 1986 he was with WDR manager of the World Music
Congresses in Vlotho
(Lichtenfeld 2001).
From 1984 he was Professor of Composition at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Cologne
, where his students have included Volker Staub, Caspar Johannes Walter, Juan Maria Solare
, Josef Rebbe, Branimir Krstic and many other composers & improvisors.
He died at the age of 68 on 29 April 2010 after a long illness (Anon. 2010).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
At the age of seven, Fritsch found a violin in the attic of his uncle's house in Bensheim-Auerbach, Germany
Bensheim
Bensheim is a town in the Bergstraße district in southern Hesse, Germany. Bensheim lies on the Bergstraße and at the edge of the Odenwald mountains while at the same time having an open view over the Rhine plain...
, and began lessons with a village music teacher named Knapp. When he was ten, his family moved to Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, and he began studying with the principal violist in the Gürzenich Orchestra (Schürmann 1976, 20).
He studied music, sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from 1961 to 1965 at the University
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
and the Staatliche Musikhochschule
Hochschule für Musik Köln
The Cologne University of Music is a music college in Cologne, and Germany's largest academy of music.-History:The academy was founded by Ferdinand Hiller in 1850 as Conservatorium der Musik in Coeln...
in Cologne with, amongst others, Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Bernd Alois Zimmermann was a post-WWII West German composer. He is perhaps best known for his opera Die Soldaten which is regarded as one of the most important operas of the 20th century...
and Gottfried Michael Koenig
Gottfried Michael Koenig
Gottfried Michael Koenig is a contemporary German-Dutch composer.-Biography:Koenig studied church music in Braunschweig, composition, piano, analysis and acoustics in Detmold, music representation techniques in Cologne and computer technique in Bonn. He attended and later lectured at the...
. In the following years he applied himself to the most varied musical activities. Amongst other things he played viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
in the Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
-Ensemble from 1964 to 1970, and took part in the German exhibition at Expo 70, the World’s Fair in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
in 1970 (Lichtenfeld 2001; Schürmann 1976, 21).
Although he had begun to compose at the age of 17, Fritsch regards as his first real composition the Duett für Bratsche (Duet for Viola), for viola and tape, which had a succès de scandale
Succès de scandale
Succès de scandale is French for "success from scandal", i.e. when a success derives from a scandal.It might seem contradictory that any kind of success might follow from scandal: but scandal attracts attention, and this attention is sometimes the beginning of notoriety and/or other successes...
when he performed it at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse in 1962—one newspaper review called him a kühner Kratzer (audacious scraper) (Schürmann 1976, 20).
In 1966 Fritsch received the Förderpreis (Monetary Award) of the Federal State of North Rhine–Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, and in 1971 the Prize of the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Biennale. Since the 1970s there have been further awards, such as the Förderpreis of the City of Cologne, and the Robert-Schumann Prize of the City of Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
.
In 1970 Fritsch was one of the founders of the Feedback Studio of Cologne (together with Rolf Gehlhaar
Rolf Gehlhaar
Rolf Gehlhaar in Breslau , is an American composer.Gehlhaar is the son of a German rocket scientist, who emigrated to the United States in 1953 to work at a rocket-development research centre in New Mexico...
and David Johnson
David Johnson (musician)
David C. Johnson , is an American composer, flautist, and performer of live-electronic music.David Johnson studied, among other places, at Harvard University David C. Johnson (b. 30 January 1940 in Batavia, New York), is an American composer, flautist, and performer of live-electronic music.David...
), and has been since 1975 active as the chief protagonist of the "Feedback Studio Verlag," the first German composers' publishing house: He is a producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
of Compact Discs
CDS
-Computing and electronics:* Cadence Design Systems, American Electronic Design Automation software company* Chromatography data system, software to control chromatography instruments* Cockpit display system* Compact Discs...
, editor of the "Feedback Studio Papers" (one of the journals dedicated to electronic music), a publisher of scores of contemporary music, and a concert manager. In 1979, 1982, 1984, and 1986 he was with WDR manager of the World Music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
Congresses in Vlotho
Vlotho
Vlotho is a town in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Vlotho is located along the Weser river, south of the Wiehengebirge, bordering on the Ravensberger Hügelland in the west, Lipperland in the south, and the Weserbergland in the east...
(Lichtenfeld 2001).
From 1984 he was Professor of Composition at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, where his students have included Volker Staub, Caspar Johannes Walter, Juan Maria Solare
Juan María Solare
Juan María Solare is an Argentine composer and pianist.-Education:Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Solare studied and received his diploma in piano , composition and conducting at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música Carlos López Buchardo...
, Josef Rebbe, Branimir Krstic and many other composers & improvisors.
He died at the age of 68 on 29 April 2010 after a long illness (Anon. 2010).
External links
- http://www.editionjohannesfritsch.de/
- Literature on and by Johannes Fritsch (in German) in the catalogue of the German National Library
- Johannes Fritsch The Living Composers Project, Biography, Works List
Sources
Anon. 2010. "Die Sinnlichkeit der Elektronik: Nachruf: Der Komponist Johannes Fritsch ist tot—In Darmstadt hinterlässt er viele Spuren". Echo online (3 May). (Accessed 3 May 2010)- Lichtenfeld, Monika. 2001. "Fritsch, Johannes (Georg)". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan Publishers; New York: Grove's Dictionaries.
- Schürmann, Hans G. 1976. "Lockerung von Phantasie oder Energieverläufe in der Zeit. Ein Gespräch mit Johannes Fritsch und Rolf Gehlhaar." Musica 30, no. 1 (January–February): 20–25