Background
STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz was born on August 22, 1928 in Moedrath bei Koln. Son of Simon Stockhausen and Gertrud Stupp.
STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz was born on August 22, 1928 in Moedrath bei Koln. Son of Simon Stockhausen and Gertrud Stupp.
Student, Musikhochschule, Cologne, Germany, 1947—1951. Student acoustical science, University Bonn, 1954—1956. Studied with Werner Meyer-Eppler, Olivier Messiaen.
Doctor of Philosophy (honorary), Free University, 1996. Doctor of Philosophy (honorary), Queen's University, 2004.
throughout the world since 1958; Founder, composition classes in Kolner Kurse fur Neue Musik 1963-1968; f. ensemble for live electronic music since 1964; exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon for interpretation of own works since 1968; Institute World Fair Expo 70. Osaka; Professor, for Composition Staatliche Hochschule fur Musik, Cologne 77; Chore fur Doris 1950, Drei Lieder (alto voice and chamber orchestra) 1950, Choral (chorus) 1950, Sonatine (violin and piano) Kreuzspiel 1951, Formel (orchestra) 1951, Etude (musique concrete) Schlagtrio 1952, Spiel (orchestra) 1952, Punkte (orchestra) 1952 (new version 1962), Klavierstucke I-IV 1952-1953, Kontra-Punkte (ten instruments) 53, Elektronische Studien 1953-1954, Klavierstucke V-X 1954-1961, Zeitmasze (five woodwind) 1955-1956, Gruppen (three orchestras) 1955-1957, Klavierstiick XI 1956, Gesang der Junglinge (electronic) 1955-1956, Zyklus (percussionist) 1959, Refrain (three players) 1959, Carre (four orchestras and four choruses) 1959-1960, Kontakte (piano, percussion and/or electronic sounds) 1959-1960, Originate (musical theatre) 1961, Momente (soprano, four choral groups and 13 instrumentalists) 1962-1964, Plus Minus 1963, Mikrophonie 1 (tam-tam, two microphones, two filters and potentiometers) 1964. Mixtur (orchestra, four sine-generators and ring-modulators) 1964, Mikrophonie II (choir, Hammond organ and four ring-modulators) 1965, Stop (orchestra) 1965, Telemusik (electronic music) 1966, Solo (melodic instrument and feed-back) 1966, Adieu (wand quintet) 1966, Hymnen (electronic and concrete music with or without soloists) 1966-1967, Prozession (tam-tam, viola, electronium, piano, filters and potentiometers) 1967, Ensemble (process planning) 1967, Kuravellen (six players) 1968, Stimmung (six vocalists) 1968, Aus den sieben Tagen (fifteen compositions of intuitive music) 1968, Musik fur ein Haus (process planning) 1968, Spiral (soloist) Doctor K-Sextett 1969, Fresco (four orchestral groups) 1969, Hymnen Dritte Region (hymns with orchestra) 1969, Pole (two players/singers) 1970, Expo (three players/singers) 1970, Mantra (two pianists) 1970, Stemklang (park music for 5 groups instrumentalists/singers), Translator (orchestra) 1971, Fur kommende Zeiten (17 texts of intuitive music) 1968-1970, Alphabet for Liege (13 musical pictures for soloists and duos) 1972, “Am Himmel wandre ich” (12 American Indian songs) 1972, Ylem (19 or more players) 1972, "Atmen gibt das Leben” (choir with orchestra or tape) 1974, Inori (Adorations for soloists and orchestra) 1973-1974, Herbstmusik (4 players) 1974, Musik im Bauch (six percussionists and music boxes) 1975, Tierkreis (12 melodies of the star-signs) 1975, Harlekin (clarinet) 1975, The Little Harlequin (clarinet) 1975, Sirius (electronic music and trumpet, bass-clarinet, soprano and bass) 1975-1977, Amour (5 pieces for clarinet or flute) 1976, Jubilaum (for orchestra) 1977, In Freundschaft 1977, LICHT, die sieben Tage der Woche (for solo voices/instruments, dancers, choir, orchestra, ballet, electronic and concrete music) since 1977, an operatic cycle that includes Donnerstag 1981, Samstag 1984, Montag 1988, and other scenes for a combination of forces; over 100 records. Worked with Olivier Messiaen and with the “Musique Concrete” Group in Paris 1952-1953. With Westdeutscher Rundfunk Electronic Music Studio, Cologne since 1953, Artistic Director since 1963. First composition of purely electronic music (Studie 1 for sinewaves) 1953.
Co-editor Die Reihe (Universal Education) 1954-1959. Dozent for composition and analysis at the Institute Summer School for New Music, Darmstadt 1955-1974. Concert tours throughout the world since 1958.
Founder, composition classes in Kolner Kurse fur Neue Musik 1963-1968. F. ensemble for live electronic music since 1964. Exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon for interpretation of own works since 1968.
Institute World Fair Expo 70. Osaka; Professor, for Composition Staatliche Hochschule fur Musik, Cologne 77.
Composer: Kreuzspiel for six players, 1951. Spiel for orchestra, 1952. Eleven Piano Pieces, 1952-1956.Punkte for orchestra, 1952. Kontrapunkte for ten instruments, 1952-1953. Gruppen for 3 orchestras, 1955-1957.Zeitmasze, 1955-1956. Gesang der Jünglinge, 1956. Zyklus, Refrain, Carré for 4 choirs and 4 orchestras, 1959.Kontakte for electronic sounds, piano and percussion, 1959-1960. Momente for 4 choirs, 13 instruments, solo-soprano, 1962-2007. Also numerous works for solo instruments.Originale, museum theatre, 1961. Plus-Minus, 1963. Mixture for orchestra and electronic modulators, 1964.Mikrophonie I, 1964, Telemusik, 1966, Hymnen, 1967, Stimmung, 1968, Mantra, 1970 (Edison prize, Holland, 1996), Trans, 1971, Inori, 1974, Cadenzas, 1978, Light The 7 Days of the Week, 1977-2003, Invisible Choirs, 1979, Donnerstag aus Licht, 1981, Samstag aus Licht, 1984, Montag aus Licht, 1988, Dienstag aus Licht, 1993, Freitag aus Licht, 1996, Mittwoch aus Licht, 1998, Sonntag aus Licht, 2003, Klang The 24 Hours of the Day, 2004. Composer over 350 compositions. Over 100 recordings of works.Author: Towards a Cosmic Music, 1989, Texte zur Musik (10 vols. ). Subject of numerous books and articles.
Foremost exponent of electronic music. Fellow Royal Irish Academy Music (honorary). Member Royal Swedish Academy, Academy Arts Berlin, Philharmonic Academy Rome, American Academy and Institute Arts and Letters, European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Royal Academy Music (honorary), American Academy Arts and Sciences (honorary), National Academy St. Cecelia (honorary), German Society for Electro-Acoustic Music (honorary), Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts (associate), Free Academy Arts, Academy Royale.
Married Doris Andreae, 1951. Children: Suja, Christel, Markus, Majella. Married Mary Bauermeister, 1967.
Children: Julika, Simon.