Ross Bolleter
Encyclopedia
Ross Bolleter is an Australian avantgarde
composer
and improviser notable for his experimentation on ruined pianos. He has been a member of The Blackeyed Susans
and he is a co-founder of the WARPS Music label.
, between 1964 to 1967. This re-awoke his interest in the music of composers such as Anton Webern
, Karlheinz Stockhausen
and Pierre Boulez
, whom he had studied as part of his course. He then went investigating non-conventional timbral and rhythmic possibilities of the prepared piano
. In the last 10 years Bolleter has explored playing with ruined pianos, that is old pianos that have been found after having been left exposed to the action of time
and weather
, thus acquiring novel and unexpected musical possibilities.
Bolleter is primarily interested in improvisation, both as a solo player and in group work. Although he has composed
some pieces formally, he feels little interest in having pieces recreated by other performers.
Ross in the distant past played piano in restaurants and bars, but for some time has worked as a piano teacher. In 2009 he was invited to participate in Tasmania's Ten Days On The Island festival, and his ruined piano installations were very successful. Ross recently published a book of poetry, and is completing another on Zen spirituality. He is divorced from his wife, but they still maintain a strong bond due to their two children.
Avantgarde Music
Avantgarde Music is an Italian record label, formed as a continuation of Obscure Plasma Records, focusing on black and doom metal artists. The label has a sub-label called Wounded Love Records, which has released albums by Dolorian and Taake....
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...
and improviser notable for his experimentation on ruined pianos. He has been a member of The Blackeyed Susans
The Blackeyed Susans
The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band, formed in Perth in 1989, based in Melbourne since 1992.-Perth 1989-1990:The original line-up consisted of David McComb on vocals and guitar, Alsy MacDonald on drums , Phil Kakulas on bass guitar , Rob Snarski on vocals and guitar, and...
and he is a co-founder of the WARPS Music label.
Career and music
Bolleter started his career by practicing improvised music with the flautist Tos Mahoney. He later went to study music, including theory, history and composition, at the University of Western AustraliaUniversity of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, between 1964 to 1967. This re-awoke his interest in the music of composers such as Anton Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
, Karlheinz 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"...
and Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
, whom he had studied as part of his course. He then went investigating non-conventional timbral and rhythmic possibilities of the prepared piano
Prepared piano
A prepared piano is a piano that has had its sound altered by placing objects between or on the strings or on the hammers or dampers....
. In the last 10 years Bolleter has explored playing with ruined pianos, that is old pianos that have been found after having been left exposed to the action of time
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
and weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
, thus acquiring novel and unexpected musical possibilities.
Bolleter is primarily interested in improvisation, both as a solo player and in group work. Although he has composed
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 :...
some pieces formally, he feels little interest in having pieces recreated by other performers.
Ross in the distant past played piano in restaurants and bars, but for some time has worked as a piano teacher. In 2009 he was invited to participate in Tasmania's Ten Days On The Island festival, and his ruined piano installations were very successful. Ross recently published a book of poetry, and is completing another on Zen spirituality. He is divorced from his wife, but they still maintain a strong bond due to their two children.
Discography
- My Nallan Void on Austral Voices (New Albion, 1990)
- The Country of Here Below Tall Poppies (1994)
- Crow Country (Pogus, 1999)
- Left Hand of the Universe (WARPS 1997)
- The Night Moves on Little Feet (WARPS 1997)
- Piano Dreaming (WARPS 2002)
- Pocket Sky (WARPS 2004)
- Spring in Iraq (with Anthony Cormican) (WARPS 2004)
- Paradise Café (Sunset Ostrich 2004)
- Secret Sandhills and satellites (Emanem, 2007)
- Five by Five DVD (WARPS)
- Intimate Sky (WARPS)
- Cafe Sophia (WARPS)
- Night Kitchen (Emanem)
Books
- Fostering Creative Improvisation at the Keyboard (1985)
- All the Iron Night - a book of poems and stories, many dealing with musical themes (Smokebush Press, West Australia, 2004)
- The Well Weathered Piano (WARPS Publications, 2005)
External links
- WARPS music , the label co-founded by Bolleter specialized in ruined pianos.
- An artistic history of Bolleter (outdated)