Müller Thomas David Hausmatt 20, Urberg
D-79875 Dachsberg
Deutschland
Genre: Classical Music
Professional activity: Composers
Biography
* 18. 05. 1953.
1974 - Studied church music at the 'Akademie für Schul- und Kirchenmusik Luzern' (Academy for School and Church Music in Lucerne) received his piano teachers diploma from the Lucerne Conservatory under Bernhard Billeter.
1976 - Commenced a short study under H.U. Lehmann.
1977 until 1979 - Studied composition under Helmut Lachenmann and attended courses in electro-acoustic music under L. Kupkovic at the 'Musikhochschule Hannover' (Hannover School of Music).
1981 until 1983 - Studied under Klaus Huber at the 'Musikhochschule in Freiburg im Breisgau' (music school in Freiburg im Breisgau).
1980 until 1983 - Studied for his theory teacher's diploma under Jacques Wildberger at Basel Conservatory.
He received a number of financial awards and decorations:
1992 and 1997 sabbatical years awarded by the city of Zurich.
1993 - Conrad Ferdinand Meyer prize.
1988 until 1997 - Member of the concept group 'Schiefrund' with Hans-Niklas Kuhn and Peter Sonderegger. Hans-Niklas Kuhn is a representative of new music and Peter Sonderegger a representative of ancient music. This group deals with contemporary influences from intellectual history and related aesthetical fields, basically thinking and craftsmanship. The experiences Thomas Müller received from this work were enlightening and influential.
Work list
Ragavardhana Simhavikridita (1974)
Instrumentation: for piano
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
Tractus, quoqueversus (1977)
Instrumentation: for organ (eight organists and assistants)
The organ represents here a gigantic Morse encoder, which is connected to a respiratory machine. An experiment with primary expressive form. Action score.
A reworking of three 'Ländler' by Franz Schubert, in which there remains a kind of transfigured hindsight, but the false evocation rotates in a circle.
Das schönste Lied - Szenische Musik für 3- bis 8-jährige Kinder (1984/2001)
Instrumentation: for orator, flute, bassoon and natural / every day materials
Duration: ad lib. Manuscript
Gehen, Fragment (1989)
Instrumentation: for violin, violoncello and clarinet
The first in a series of instrumental cycles where variations in the interplay and the resulting formal processes are subjects of the composition. Unusual playing techniques.
Instrumentation: for female vocals (mezzo-soprano), two violins, viola, violoncello, piano and percussion
a) Version with string quartet (1989)b) Version for string orchestra (2000 / 2001)
Duration: 30' 00" Manuscript
Gehen. 45 Forward and Backward Movements (1990)
Instrumentation: for violin (or violoncello) solo
Nine parts divided into forty-five segments, all of which can be combined to any individual formal process. The whole is almost exclusively in the first register whereas the bowing is differentiated. Unusual playing techniques are involved. Can be performed from an intermediate to virtuosic level.
Concerning the solo pieces: The (as much as possible) playful creation of a comprehensible entity from precisely notated fragments is left entirely to the interpreter and to the moment of play. It is hoped that the transitional merging instants will behave as a reflex of the whole.
Instrumentation: for two mixed choirs and soprano solo
Texts: Giuseppe Ungaretti
The quartets can be performed as solos. Standard vocal techniques. One section contains altered vocal effects. Demanding to perform.
Sponsored by the SME Lucerne.
First movement ('Simultan') takes various forms of time articulation and ensemble playing as its theme (duration ad Lib.). The second movement ('Treffen in Prag') poses the question: Is singing possible? (approx. duration 15'). Third movement ('Gehen') looks at the problem of playing together in time (duration ad Lib.). The first and second movements can be played independently, the third movement only together with the first.
Instrumentation: for violin, violoncello, piano, trombone and orator ad libitum
Texts: Thomas Bernhard
The compilation of the score depends entirely on the interpreter. It can be made up of an eclectic mix or identical pieces from the instrumental cycle ‘Gehen’ and combined with text snippets from ‘Gehen’ by Thomas Bernhard.
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
Zwei Sequenzen: Stehstelle / Gehstelle (1993)
Instrumentation: for violin, violoncello, clarinet, three trombones and piano
Both sequences are attempts at reaching emptiness, and consequently to liberate space through non-speech and anti-speech methods respectively. The performers perform and as it were 'speak' on scrap metal texts taken from Thomas Bernhard's 'Gehen'.
From very easy to easy / intermediate progressing to intermediate and back again. The piano piece is to be freely interpolated (also when repeated) solo and / or colla parte. ‘Ansfelder Skizze’ refers to Bruckner’s theme in the VII. Symphony, first movement.
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello and piano
Elementary rhythm and sonority; little bass - uses Schubert's 'Ave Maria' as its structural reservoir. Very little instrumental alienation but it does alienate the usual techniques. Simple music, not particularly simple to play. The interplay (with conductor) is traditional.
An informal reference to Schubert's version in the 'Winterreise'. Action notation. Once read the performance is of a medium level of difficulty. Tools: Steel slide for guitar and a lead bar of app. 3 x 15 cm.
A mobile composition requiring a virtuosic performance. Uses unusual instruments such as three steel drums, a deep G gong, kalimba and cheng cheng. Not obligatory.
Erste Etappe in Richtung farbiger Eindrücke (1999)
Instrumentation: for three bass recorders
Part I Partly very simple rhythm, but rich in blowing and fingering techniques. Concept notation.
Part II In space notation based on 'piangete, ochi miei lassi' by Sigismondo d'India. Intermediate level of difficulty. Circular breathing ad lbitum.
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, violin, violoncello, piano, percussion and live electronic
Texts: Arthur Rimbaud
The central theme is the floor maze in the entrance area of Chartres Cathedral - with all it's geometric/geomantic properties.
Solo saxophone in parts, other instrumental parts are of intermediate difficulty. Electronic can be realised as samples.
Duration: 25' 00" (oder länger) Manuscript
Ornament - Epitaph - Ornament (2007)
Instrumentation: for 2 pianos
Duration: 20' 00"-25' 00" Manuscript
Verstellung (2009)
Instrumentation: for 2 violins
Duration: 12' 00"-15' 00" Manuscript
Geburtstagsgruss mit Hi-Hat-Schaukel (2010)
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, percussion and piano