Essl's work with computers (with emphases on algorithmic composition and generative music) and prolonged occupation with the poetics of serial music have been formative influences on his compositional thinking. Besides writing instrumental music, Karlheinz Essl also works in the field of electronic music, creating interactive realtime compositions and sound installations.
Since the early 1990s, he has developed various software environments for realtime composition which he uses for his own live performances and also in collaboration with artists from other fields, including choreographers, dancers, visual artists, and poets).[2] Essl has also carried out a number of Internet-based projects and became increasingly involved with improvisation.[3]
Essl began developing a computer-based electronic instrument called m@ze°2 in 1998. He has used it to improvise during live performances. Since 2008, he is working on Sequitur, a series of compositions for various solo instruments and live electronics. He has recently written several solo and ensemble pieces for electric guitar.
Reception
While working on commission at IRCAM in Paris (1992–1993), he was composer-in-residence at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse für Neue Musik (1990–1994). In 1997, Essl was featured at the Salzburg Festival with portrait concerts and sound installations. In 2003, he was artist-in-residence of the festival musik aktuell, and in 2004 he was presented with a series of portrait concerts at the Brucknerhaus Linz. He was the 2008–2009 composer-in-residence of the Belgium ensemble Champ d'Action.
Selected works
Helix 1.0 for string quartet (1986)
met him pike trousers for large orchestra (1987)
Rudiments for 4 snare drums (1989)
Close the Gap for 3 tenor saxophones (1989)
...et consumimur igni for 3 ensemble groups (1990)
In's Offene! flute, bass clarinet, violin and cello (1991)
Entsagung for ensemble and electronics (1993)
Lexikon-Sonate infinite realtime composition for computer-controlled piano (1992–2007)
Déviation for ensemble (1993)
absence for violin solo (1996)
à trois/seul for string trio (1998)
mise en scène for 10 instruments (1998)
more or less realtime composition for soloists and electronics (1999–2002)
upward, behind the onstreaming it mooned for string quartet (2001)
blur for flute, cello and vibraphone (2003)
Faites vos jeux! a musical card game for cellos and/or trombones (2004)
Kalimba for toy piano and playback (2005)
colorado for saxophone quartet and live-electronics (2005–2008)
Von Hirschen und Röhren sound installation for Beat Zoderer (2006–2007)
7x7 for 4 clarinets, 4 saxophones, 4 trombones or 4 electric guitars (2006–2009)
AIRBORNE open-air sound environment (2006)
Cinq for woodwind quintet (2007)
FRÄULEIN ATLANTIS generative sound and video environment for Jonathan Meese (2007)
Sequitur cycle for 14 different solo instruments and live-electronics (2008/2009)
while my guitars gently whip for 4 electric guitars (2008/2009)
Detune for oboe and large orchestra (2009)
Chemi(s)e for electric guitar and 2 ensemble groups (2009)
whatever shall be for toy piano, dreidel, music box and live-electronics (2010)
LABoratorio mixed-media performance for viola, percussions, live-electronics, dancers and video (2010/2011)
juncTions for grand piano (two players) and live-electronics (2011/2012)
Si! for tenor tuba (or trombone), live-electronics and surround sound (2012)
under wood for two amplified toy pianos (one player) and ensemble (2012)
Miles to go for 4 prepared and amplified toy pianos (2012)
STERN for electric violin and vibration speaker (2013)
Pachinko for toy piano and computer (2013)
VIRIBVS VNITIS for toy piano and harpsichord (2014)
RESONAVIT for zither, electric violin and vibration speaker (2014)
Omnia in omnibus sound/video/performance for the 650th anniversary of the University of Vienna (2014)
Autumn's leaving for pipa and live-electronics (2015)
imagination soundtrack for a paper theater piece (2015)
river_run for guzheng and live-electronics (2016)
exit*glue for trombone and electric guitar (2016)
Music software
Amazing Maze: interactive realtime composition for sampled sound particles
SEELEWASCHEN: ambient sound environment based on the sound of a bell
FontanaMixer: generative sound environment based on John Cage's Fontana Mix
WebernUhrWerk: generative music generator in memory of Anton Webern
Records
ORGANO/LOGICS: Wolfgang Kogert plays Karlheinz Essl's organ music (col legno 2023)
Gold.Berg.Werk: a radical re-interpretation of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations for piano and electronics, performed by Xenia Pestova-Bennett and Ed Bennett (Ergodos 2008)
ruderals: free improvisations for zither and electronics, with Martin Mallaun (Nachtstück Records 2014)
WAGNERIANA: Three Deconstructions on Richard Wagner (Radical Matters 2013)
whatever shall be: music for toy instruments and electronics, performed by Isabel Ettenauer (Edition Eirelav 2013)
Gold.Berg.Werk: interpretation of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations for string trio and electronics (Preiser Records 2008)
SNDTX: electronic music #3 (tlhotra #23 2008) - free download from archive.org
