Matthias Ziegler
Encyclopedia
Swiss flautist Matthias Ziegler (b. Bern, Switzerland
, February 13, 1955) specializes in contemporary music for various sizes of flute (including flute
, alto flute
, bass flute
, and contrabass flute
). His original works for these instruments feature numerous extended technique
s. In order to allow for the production of a buzzing timbre
, he has installed small PET film
membranes similar to the dimo
used on the Chinese dizi on several of his instruments; he calls flutes so equipped "matusiflute." In addition, he plays quarter tone
flutes.
Ziegler is also proficient with jazz and improvised music, and frequently performs in an electroacoustic
setting. He amplifies his flutes with microphones installed directly into the instruments, and utilizes electronic loop
devices to allow him to layer sounds. About his work, he states: "All sounds (key noise, winds, tongue stops) usually neglected on the flute are amplified. There is a whole orchestra inside the flute, which allows me to play solo-polyphonic music."http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=17226 Noting a similarity in tone between his large flutes and the viola da gamba, he also performs Renaissance music
originally composed for viola da gamba.
Ziegler has toured with Andreas Vollenweider
and George Gruntz
, and performed with Pierre Favre and Mark Dresser
. In a classical context, he was formerly the solo flautist for the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.
He lives in Stäfa
, Canton of Zurich
, Switzerland
, and has toured the United States, Japan, Australia, South America, and Israel.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, February 13, 1955) specializes in contemporary music for various sizes of flute (including flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, alto flute
Alto flute
The alto flute is a type of Western concert flute, a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is the next extension downward of the C flute after the flûte d'amour. It is characterized by its distinct, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range...
, bass flute
Bass flute
The bass flute is the bass member of the flute family. It is in the key of C, pitched one octave below the concert flute. Because of the length of its tube , it is usually made with a "J" shaped head joint, which brings the embouchure hole within reach of the player...
, and contrabass flute
Contrabass flute
The contrabass flute is one of the rarer members of the flute family. It is used mostly in flute ensembles. Its range is similar to that of the regular concert flute, except that it is pitched two octaves lower; the lowest performable note is two octaves below middle C...
). His original works for these instruments feature numerous extended technique
Extended technique
Extended techniques are performance techniques used in music to describe unconventional, unorthodox, or non-traditional techniques of singing, or of playing musical instruments to obtain unusual sounds or instrumental timbres....
s. In order to allow for the production of a buzzing timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
, he has installed small PET film
PET film (biaxially oriented)
BoPET is a polyester film made from stretched polyethylene terephthalate and is used for its high tensile strength, chemical and dimensional stability, transparency, reflectivity, gas and aroma barrier properties and electrical insulation.A variety of companies manufacture boPET and other...
membranes similar to the dimo
Di mo
The dimo is a special membrane applied to the transverse Chinese flute called dizi , giving the instrument its characteristic buzzing timbre....
used on the Chinese dizi on several of his instruments; he calls flutes so equipped "matusiflute." In addition, he plays quarter tone
Quarter tone
A quarter tone , is a pitch halfway between the usual notes of a chromatic scale, an interval about half as wide as a semitone, which is half a whole tone....
flutes.
Ziegler is also proficient with jazz and improvised music, and frequently performs in an electroacoustic
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...
setting. He amplifies his flutes with microphones installed directly into the instruments, and utilizes electronic loop
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
devices to allow him to layer sounds. About his work, he states: "All sounds (key noise, winds, tongue stops) usually neglected on the flute are amplified. There is a whole orchestra inside the flute, which allows me to play solo-polyphonic music."http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=17226 Noting a similarity in tone between his large flutes and the viola da gamba, he also performs Renaissance music
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
originally composed for viola da gamba.
Ziegler has toured with Andreas Vollenweider
Andreas Vollenweider
Andreas Vollenweider is a Swiss musician. His music has been categorized as World Music, Jazz, New Age and even Classical; two of his albums were number 1 on the Billboard charts simultaneously in the categories Classical, Jazz, Pop and Crossover for more than 11 weeks. His music could be...
and George Gruntz
George Gruntz
George Gruntz is a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist and composer most noteworthy for his work with artists such as Phil Woods, Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin and Mel Lewis.From 1972 to 1994 he served as artistic director for...
, and performed with Pierre Favre and Mark Dresser
Mark Dresser
Mark Dresser is an American double bass player and composer.-Biography:He has performed and recorded with many of the luminaries of "new" jazz composition and improvisation. For ten years he performed with the Anthony Braxton Quartet, as well as diverse groups led by Ray Anderson, Tim Berne,...
. In a classical context, he was formerly the solo flautist for the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.
He lives in Stäfa
Stäfa
Stäfa is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Stäfa has an area of . Of this area, 46.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 34% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
, Canton of Zurich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and has toured the United States, Japan, Australia, South America, and Israel.
External links
- Matthias Ziegler official site
- Matthias Ziegler page from Elision Fields site
- Matthias Ziegler