Josef Anton Riedl
Encyclopedia
Josef Anton Riedl is a German
composer
.
and in courses given by Hermann Scherchen
in Gravesano
, Riedl, influenced by Carl Orff
und Edgar Varèse, devoted himself as a composer particularly to percussion and Lautgedichte (sound poetry) (Schmidt 2001).
In 1950 he was co-founder of the German Section of the Jeunesses Musicales, together with Herbert Barth, Reiner Bredemeyer and Eckhart Rolfs (Schmidt 2001). Starting in 1952 he did pioneering work in the use of concrete and electronic sounds, joining Pierre Schaefer’s Groupe de Recherche Musicale in 1953 (Schmidt 2001). In 1955 he worked in the electronic studio of NWDR in Cologne
, and spent some time in 1959 in Scherchen’s experimental studio in Gravesano (Schmidt 2001). From 1959 until its closure in 1966 Riedl was director of the Siemens Studio for electronic music (Schmidt 2001). The concert series Neue Musik München / Klang-Aktionen initiated by Riedl in 1960 (Schmidt 2001) continues to this day. In 1967 he established the Musik/Film/Dia/Licht-Galerie group, and in 1974 in Bonn
founded the Kultur Forum, which he directed until 1982 (Schmidt 2001).
As a teacher Riedl influenced the work of musicians well-known today, such as Lorenzo Ferrero
and Michael Lentz
, for whose Bachmann Prize
–winning book Muttersterben (2001) he created the music. Lentz currently performs as saxophonist
in Riedls' ensemble.
Riedl also contributed to film music, for example to several episodes of the 13-part Die zweite Heimat—Chronik einer Jugend (1992), the second in Edgar Reitz
's Heimat
trilogy of TV miniseries
(IMDb credits).
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
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
.
Biography
Following a period of studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater MünchenHochschule für Musik und Theater München
The Hochschule für Musik und Theater München is one of the most respected traditional vocational universities in Germany specialising in music and the performing arts. The seat of the Hochschule is the former Führerbau of the NSDAP, located at Arcisstraße 12, on the eastern side of the Königsplatz...
and in courses given by Hermann Scherchen
Hermann Scherchen
Hermann Scherchen was a German conductor.-Life:Scherchen was originally a violist and played among the violas of the Bluthner Orchestra of Berlin while still in his teens...
in Gravesano
Gravesano
Gravesano is a municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Gravesano is first mentioned in 1254 as de Gravaxana....
, Riedl, influenced by Carl Orff
Carl Orff
Carl Orff was a 20th-century German composer, best known for his cantata Carmina Burana . In addition to his career as a composer, Orff developed an influential method of music education for children.-Early life:...
und Edgar Varèse, devoted himself as a composer particularly to percussion and Lautgedichte (sound poetry) (Schmidt 2001).
In 1950 he was co-founder of the German Section of the Jeunesses Musicales, together with Herbert Barth, Reiner Bredemeyer and Eckhart Rolfs (Schmidt 2001). Starting in 1952 he did pioneering work in the use of concrete and electronic sounds, joining Pierre Schaefer’s Groupe de Recherche Musicale in 1953 (Schmidt 2001). In 1955 he worked in the electronic studio of NWDR 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...
, and spent some time in 1959 in Scherchen’s experimental studio in Gravesano (Schmidt 2001). From 1959 until its closure in 1966 Riedl was director of the Siemens Studio for electronic music (Schmidt 2001). The concert series Neue Musik München / Klang-Aktionen initiated by Riedl in 1960 (Schmidt 2001) continues to this day. In 1967 he established the Musik/Film/Dia/Licht-Galerie group, and in 1974 in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
founded the Kultur Forum, which he directed until 1982 (Schmidt 2001).
As a teacher Riedl influenced the work of musicians well-known today, such as Lorenzo Ferrero
Lorenzo Ferrero
Lorenzo Ferrero is a contemporary Italian composer with a predilection for opera, a librettist, author, and book editor. He started composing at an early age and wrote over a hundred compositions thus far, including twelve operas, three ballets, and numerous orchestral, chamber music, solo...
and Michael Lentz
Michael Lentz
Michael Lentz is a German author, musician, and performer of experimental texts and sound poetry.He was the winner of the 2001 Ingeborg Bachmann Prize for his book Muttersterben....
, for whose Bachmann Prize
Ingeborg Bachmann Prize
The Festival of German-Language Literature, formerly Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, is a literary competition which takes place yearly in Klagenfurt, Austria...
–winning book Muttersterben (2001) he created the music. Lentz currently performs as saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
in Riedls' ensemble.
Riedl also contributed to film music, for example to several episodes of the 13-part Die zweite Heimat—Chronik einer Jugend (1992), the second in Edgar Reitz
Edgar Reitz
Edgar Reitz is a German filmmaker and Professor of Film at the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung in Karlsruhe.- Early life and education :...
's Heimat
Heimat (film)
Heimat is the overall title of three series of films in 30 episodes written and directed by Edgar Reitz which view life in Germany between 1919 and 2000 through the eyes of a family from the Hunsrück area of the Rhineland. Personal and domestic life is set against glimpses of wider social and...
trilogy of TV miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
(IMDb credits).