Vladimír Hirsch
Encyclopedia
Vladimír Hirsch is a Czech avantgarde composer, integrating industrial
and dark ambient
music with modern classical
composition. Besides creating solo works, he is the founding member and leader of Skrol
, Aghiatrias
and various other projects (e.g. Zygote CZ, Luminar Ax or Tiria) . The music is marked by a dark, tense and tempestuous atmosphere.
and organ
player, he started to write romantic and classicist
pieces with elements of experimental rock
. However, he abandoned these compositions for some time and delved into experimental jazz
and rock music up until 1986, when he joined the post-punk
band Der Marabu. Simultaneously he also started to apply modern classical forms to electronic
and analog
music resulting in a more transgressive industrial style in his solo works. During this time, Der Marabu also changed their direction to a darker and more aggressive style with some Slavic
classical music undertones. After many personal changes the band finished its activity in 1996, when Hirsch established the band Skrol. Its creative principle was based on modern classical concepts with a congregation of martial industrial. Severe militant rhythms along with obstinate instrumental loops as a counterpoint to the melodic calmness are typical features of that period of Hirsch's style. Throughout their existence, Skrol recorded 5 albums, that were released between 1998 and 2009, though their public appearance stopped in 2002. With a similar but more abstract sprouting of this integrated style, aiming more towards dark ambient, is Hirsch's project, Aghiatrias, founded in 1999. Aghiatrias were active from 1999 until 2007 and for that period recorded 4 albums, in which they were moving from a sombre ambient industrial character to power electronics
, with an infiltration of modern classical composition and digital
ly manipulated instrumentation.
Vladimír Hirsch's solo work was never interrupted during his conjoint projects. He has been continuously composing an extensive collection of music, foremost a number of conceptual or thematic albums, including symphonies
, suites, concert
opuses, soundtrack
s, and many experimental compositions for his favourite instruments, organ and piano. He was influenced by various compositional techniques of the second half of 20th century, incl. serial
, atonal
, microtonal, polymodal
, spectral and others, however his style has emerged into what Hirsch delineates “integrated music,” characterized by an effort to break the borders between primarily musical and unmusical elements in composition
and instrumentation
, attempting to both equalize and enhance their expressive properties using technological manipulation. This act can be in total described as an alchemical
transmutation
of modern classical
forms with dark ambient, industrial and noise
components into a homogenous indivisible structure. It also represents metaphysical
ly the central idea of Vladimír Hirsch's concept, which consists in the collision and reconciliation of two seemingly spiritually opposite worlds inside an individual.
Vladimir Hirsch performs regularly in his native country and abroad. He has had a successful USA tour in 2001 and appeared in many European festivals.
, anxiety
to spirituality
. To his best works belong Symphony No.4 and its revisited version Graue Passion, a conceptual ambient-industrial album Underlying Scapes and the extensive dark ambient
-neoclassical
composition Contemplatio Per Nexus. All of them represent deeply immersive perception and expression of ubiquitous inner dialogue, but predominantly, the fight against the anthropocentric
and materialistic
likeness of contemporary society. This theme undeniably intermingles the majority of the composer's works.
s about music, musicians and art, including many of the lyrics found in his albums and is the graphic designer for the overwhelming majority of his solo albums and conjoint projects. Not interrelated, but interesting from Vladimír Hirsch's biography is the fact, that he graduated in 1980 Faculty of medicine of Charles University in Prague
and practiced as a physician until 1999.
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
and dark ambient
Dark ambient
Dark ambient is a subgenre of ambient music that features foreboding, ominous, or discordant overtones. Although it had its roots in the 1970s, Dark ambient emerged in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of newer, smaller, and more affordable Effects units, synthesizer and sampling technology...
music with modern classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
composition. Besides creating solo works, he is the founding member and leader of Skrol
Skrol
Skrol is a Czech avant garde martial industrial band from Prague, formed in autumn 1995.- Members :* Vladimír Hirsch - composer, keyboards , drums, vocal* Martina Sanollová - vocal, piano, electric harp, effects and...
, Aghiatrias
Aghiatrias
Aghiatrias is a Czech "integrated music" ensemble from Prague. The band consisted of composer Vladimír Hirsch and sound engineer Tom Saivon and was started in 1999 as an offshoot of their sympho-industrial band Skrol. Their music is based on an integration of contemporary classical music, dark...
and various other projects (e.g. Zygote CZ, Luminar Ax or Tiria) . The music is marked by a dark, tense and tempestuous atmosphere.
Biography and style
Vladimír Hirsch has been composing since he was a teenager, when as a pianistPiano
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...
and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
player, he started to write romantic and classicist
Classicism
Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for classical antiquity, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. The art of classicism typically seeks to be formal and restrained: of the Discobolus Sir Kenneth Clark observed, "if we object to his restraint...
pieces with elements of experimental rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
. However, he abandoned these compositions for some time and delved into experimental jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and rock music up until 1986, when he joined the post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band Der Marabu. Simultaneously he also started to apply modern classical forms to electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
and analog
Analog recording
Analog recording is a technique used for the recording of analog signals which among many possibilities include audio frequency, analog audio and analog video information for later playback.Analog recording methods store signals as a continual wave in or on the media...
music resulting in a more transgressive industrial style in his solo works. During this time, Der Marabu also changed their direction to a darker and more aggressive style with some Slavic
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
classical music undertones. After many personal changes the band finished its activity in 1996, when Hirsch established the band Skrol. Its creative principle was based on modern classical concepts with a congregation of martial industrial. Severe militant rhythms along with obstinate instrumental loops as a counterpoint to the melodic calmness are typical features of that period of Hirsch's style. Throughout their existence, Skrol recorded 5 albums, that were released between 1998 and 2009, though their public appearance stopped in 2002. With a similar but more abstract sprouting of this integrated style, aiming more towards dark ambient, is Hirsch's project, Aghiatrias, founded in 1999. Aghiatrias were active from 1999 until 2007 and for that period recorded 4 albums, in which they were moving from a sombre ambient industrial character to power electronics
Power electronics
Power electronics is the application of solid-state electronics for the control and conversion of electric power.-Introduction:Power electronic converters can be found wherever there is a need to modify a form of electrical energy...
, with an infiltration of modern classical composition and digital
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
ly manipulated instrumentation.
Vladimír Hirsch's solo work was never interrupted during his conjoint projects. He has been continuously composing an extensive collection of music, foremost a number of conceptual or thematic albums, including symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, suites, concert
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
opuses, soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s, and many experimental compositions for his favourite instruments, organ and piano. He was influenced by various compositional techniques of the second half of 20th century, incl. serial
Serialism
In music, serialism is a method or technique of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements. Serialism began primarily with Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, though his contemporaries were also working to establish serialism as one example of...
, atonal
Atonality
Atonality in its broadest sense describes music that lacks a tonal center, or key. Atonality in this sense usually describes compositions written from about 1908 to the present day where a hierarchy of pitches focusing on a single, central tone is not used, and the notes of the chromatic scale...
, microtonal, polymodal
Polymodality
Polymodality is the feature of having multiple stimulus modalities. Examples includes free nerve endings....
, spectral and others, however his style has emerged into what Hirsch delineates “integrated music,” characterized by an effort to break the borders between primarily musical and unmusical elements in composition
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 :...
and instrumentation
Instrumentation
Instrumentation is defined as the art and science of measurement and control of process variables within a production, or manufacturing area....
, attempting to both equalize and enhance their expressive properties using technological manipulation. This act can be in total described as an alchemical
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
transmutation
Transmutation
Transmutation may refer to:*Biological transmutation, the claim that nuclear transmutation occurs within living organisms*Dimensional transmutation, a physical mechanism that transforms a pure number into a parameter with a dimension...
of modern classical
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
forms with dark ambient, industrial and noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
components into a homogenous indivisible structure. It also represents metaphysical
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
ly the central idea of Vladimír Hirsch's concept, which consists in the collision and reconciliation of two seemingly spiritually opposite worlds inside an individual.
Vladimir Hirsch performs regularly in his native country and abroad. He has had a successful USA tour in 2001 and appeared in many European festivals.
Most important works
The music crosses over from experimental manipulations to unambiguous strictness in composition which are marked by a dark and highly evocative atmosphere enriched by conceptual themes ranging from metaphysicsMetaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
, anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
to spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
. To his best works belong Symphony No.4 and its revisited version Graue Passion, a conceptual ambient-industrial album Underlying Scapes and the extensive dark ambient
Dark ambient
Dark ambient is a subgenre of ambient music that features foreboding, ominous, or discordant overtones. Although it had its roots in the 1970s, Dark ambient emerged in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of newer, smaller, and more affordable Effects units, synthesizer and sampling technology...
-neoclassical
Neoclassical (Dark Wave)
Neoclassical Dark Wave refers to a music genre within the Dark Wave movement. It is characterized by the use of ethereal atmosphere and angelic female voices but also adds strong influences from classical music. Neoclassical Dark Wave is distinct from the academic art music form known as...
composition Contemplatio Per Nexus. All of them represent deeply immersive perception and expression of ubiquitous inner dialogue, but predominantly, the fight against the anthropocentric
Anthropocentrism
Anthropocentrism describes the tendency for human beings to regard themselves as the central and most significant entities in the universe, or the assessment of reality through an exclusively human perspective....
and materialistic
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
likeness of contemporary society. This theme undeniably intermingles the majority of the composer's works.
- Synthetics - Themes, op. 17, experimental electronic work, 1987
- Symphony no. 1 in E, Op. 20; symphony for synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s. 1988-1989 - The Ambits Of Material World; experimental organ composition, 1990
- 7 Parts Of Desolation, op. 29; piano cycle, 1986–1991
- Aion, op. 33; composition for organ, water harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
and ambience recordingsAmbience (sound recording)In filmmaking, ambience consists of the sounds of a given location or space. It is the opposite of "silence." This term is often confused with presence....
, 1992 - Simplicity Of Heresy, op. 37; suite for integrated ensembleMusical ensembleA musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, 1996 - Nenia, op. 40; experimental organ composition, 1996
- Musik für die Metamorphose, op. 45; stage play soundtrack, 1997
- Symphony no. 2 „Defensa“, op. 47; symphony for synthesizers, 1997
- Concert industriel pour orgue, op. 49; concerto for organ, percussions and integrated ensemble, 1997-8
- Casual Crime, op. 51; new arrangements of jazz compositions 1977-1998
- Symphony no. 3 „Brands Of Tyranny, op. 52; symphony for integrated orchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, organ, percussions and vocals, 1998-9 - Sense Geometry, op. 54; experimental electronic work, 1998
- Dances & Marches, op. 57; suite for organ, piano and integrated ensemble, 1998-2005
- Exorcisms, op. 61; suite for integrated ensemble, 1999-2000
- Trigonal Sonata, op. 62; sonata for two pianos and digital technique, 1999-2000
- Missa armata, op. 64; industrial massMass (music)The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
for integrated ensemble, 1999-2004 - Elegy, op. 65; experimental composition for piano and gas organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, 2000 - Symphony no. 4, “Descent From The Cross”, op. 67; symphony for integrated orchestra, soloists and choir; 2001
- De regionibus liminis, op. 68, ambient-industrial electronic work; 2003
- Endoanathymia, op. 70, composition for integrated techniques, 2003–2004
- Les scènes ardentes, op. 72; album of compositions for integrated techniques, 2004
- Nonterra, op. 73; suite for integrated techniques, 2005
- Torment Of Naissance, op. 79, suite for integrated techniques, 2007
- Contemplatio per nexus, op. 77; composition for integrated techniques, accomplished 2008
- Tobruk, op. 82, conceptual album, originally soundtrack, 2008
- Epidemic Mind, op.81, experimental electronic work, 2008
- Graue Passion, op. 67b, revisited version of Symphony no.4, 2009
- Markéta, the daughter of Lazar", op. 85, stage play soundtrack, 2009–2010
Albums
- Synthetics - Themes, MC, D.M.R. 1987, (reedition CDr, CatchArrow Recordings 1999)
- Organ Pieces, MC, D.M.R. 1991, (reedition CDr, CatchArrow Recordings 2001)
- Cruci-Fiction (Der Marabu)”, MC, D,M,R,, 1994, (reedition CDr, CatchArrow Recordings 2000)
- There´s No Human Triumph”, CDr, CatchArrow Recordings, 1996
- AllOf Us Will Fall Away” (Der Marabu), CDr, CatchArrow Recordings, 1996
- Casual Crime, CDr, CatchArrow Recordings, 1998
- Martyria (Skrol), 10´´, Loki Foundation (Power & Steel), 1999
- Heretical Antiphony (Skrol), CD, M.D.Propaganda, 1999
- Dreams Of Awakening, CD, CatchArrow Recordings, 1999
- Field Mass, (Aghiatrias) CDr, CatchArrow Recordings, 1999
- Geometrie nevědomí (Zygote), CDr, CatchArrow Recordings, 2000
- Insomnia Dei (Skrol), CD, RRRecordsRRRecordsRRRecords is a used and new record shop. RRRecords is distinguished as being the first American record label to specifically publish underground noise music in the early 1980s, and published the first American vinyl by Merzbow, Masonna, The Hanatarash, Violent Onsen Geisha, and many more artists...
, 2001 - Epidaemia Vanitatis (Aghiatrias), CD, Integrated Music Records, 2002
- Symphony no.2 & 3, CDr, CatchArrow Recordings, 2003
- Regions Of Limen (Aghiatrias), Epidemie Records, 2004
- Fragments, thèmes et images scéniques, CDr, CatchArrow Recordings, 2005
- Dances & Marches For The Orphan Age (Skrol), CD, Dagaz Music, 2005
- Sense Geometry, CD, Ars Benevola MaterArs Benevola MaterArs Benevola Mater is an Italian independent record label, born in order to release and promote music, created by artists of different cultural origin with special sight on Central Europe territory . Its spiritual father, founder and owner is Mauro Casagrande...
, 2006 - Ethos (Aghiatrias), Epidemie Records, 2006
- Torment Of Naissance, CDr, Integrated Music Records, 2007
- Concert industriel pour orgue, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2007
- Epidemic Mind, CDr, Integrated Music Records, 2008
- Symphony No.4 Descent From The Cross, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2008
- Tobruk, CDr, CatchArrow Recordings, 2008
- Exorcisms, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2008
- Nonterra, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2008
- Les scènes ardentes, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2009
- Contemplatio per nexus, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2009
- New Laws, New Orders (Skrol), CD, Twilight Records, 2009
- Graue Passion, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2009
- Underlying Scapes, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2009
- The Assent to Paradoxon, 8 CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2010 (collection of works)
- Cryptosynaxis, DVD, Integrated Music Records, 2010
- Markéta, the daughter of Lazar, CDr, Integrated Music Records, 2010
- Luminar Ax (Luminar Ax), digital release, LBA Records, 2011
- Endoanathymia, CDr, Integrated Music Records, 2011
Appears on
- Thorak (Ewigkeit ), Skrol, CD, VAWS, 1998
- Ten Years Of Madness - Behind The Iron Curtain (Fall A Prey), Skrol, 2CD, Achtung Baby!, 2000
- A Rainy November Day In Wroclaw (Syncrasia), Aghiatrias, CD, Ars Benevola Mater, 2004
- Glass Anvil II. (Hermeneutic Crc.4), CDr, Zvukovina, 2009
- Why I Remember (Nenia), Hypnotic Dirge Records, 2 CDr, 2009
- Icy Breath On Burning Flesh - Douche Froide Series Vol. I (Exegete #2), CD, Douche Froide, 2010
- Peak the Source Vol.1 [suRRism-Phonoethics sPE_0100] Surrism-PhonoethicsSurrism-PhonoethicsSurrism-Phonoethics is a Frankfurt, Germany based non-profit netlabel specializing in Experimental music. Some of their releases could be classified as Electronic art music/Electronic music, industrial or experimental music with sub-genres like Electro-Acoustic, Improvisation & Cut-Up.Their...
, digital, 2011
Other activities
Vladimír Hirsch has also written a good amount of articles and essayEssay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s about music, musicians and art, including many of the lyrics found in his albums and is the graphic designer for the overwhelming majority of his solo albums and conjoint projects. Not interrelated, but interesting from Vladimír Hirsch's biography is the fact, that he graduated in 1980 Faculty of medicine of Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
and practiced as a physician until 1999.
Sources
- Official website
- Ars Benevola Mater / Label webpage
- All Music Guide
- Composers database
- Discogs
- Reviews
- MusicBrainz
- Last FM
- Internet Archive
In books
Composers of contemporary classical music (Skladatelé soudobé vážné hudby - in Czech): Vladimír Hirsch, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Zdenk Blažek, Francis Poulenc, Iannis Xenakis, Alfred Schnittke (Czech Edition), Books LLC, ISBN-10: 1232847011.See also
- SkrolSkrolSkrol is a Czech avant garde martial industrial band from Prague, formed in autumn 1995.- Members :* Vladimír Hirsch - composer, keyboards , drums, vocal* Martina Sanollová - vocal, piano, electric harp, effects and...
- AghiatriasAghiatriasAghiatrias is a Czech "integrated music" ensemble from Prague. The band consisted of composer Vladimír Hirsch and sound engineer Tom Saivon and was started in 1999 as an offshoot of their sympho-industrial band Skrol. Their music is based on an integration of contemporary classical music, dark...