Karlheinz Stockhausen

1928 Born Wednesday, August 22nd in Mödrath near Cologne.
1947–51 In Cologne, studied at the State Conservatory of Music (piano, music education) and at the University of Cologne (German philology, philosophy, musicology).
Since l950 First compositions and performances of his own works.
(In the following enumeration, only a few of the more than 370 works and world premières are mentioned.)
1951 Serial Music: KREUZSPIEL (CROSS-PLAY), FOR MEL (FOR MULA), etc.
Married Doris Andreae; four children with Doris: Suja (1953), Christel (1956), Markus (1957), Majella (1961).
1952 Point Music: SPIEL (PLAY), KLAVIERSTÜCKE (PIANO PIECES), SCHLAGTRIO (PERCUSSIVE TRIO), PUNKTE (POINTS), KONTRA-PUNKTE (COUNTER-POINTS) etc.
Attended Olivier Messiaen’s courses in rhythmics and aesthetics in Paris. Experiments in the “ musique concrète” group at the French radio in Paris, and realisation of an ETUDE ( musique concrète). First synthesis of sound-spectra with electronically generated sine tones.
Since 1953 Permanent collaborator at the Studio for Electronic Music of the West German Radio in Cologne (artistic director from 1963–1977, artistic consultant until 1990). Lecturer at the annual International Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt from 1953 until 1974, and in 1996.
The first compositions of Electronic Music: Elektronische STUDIEN I und II (Electronic STUDIES I and I),
GESANG DER JÜNGLINGE (SONG OF THE YOUTHS): birth of Space Music and Aleatoric Music.
1954–56 Whilst continuing to pursue research and to compose at the WDR Studio for Electronic Music, he studied phonetics, information and communication theory with Werner Meyer-Eppler at the University of Bonn.
1954–59 Co-editor of “die Reihe”, publications on serial music (Universal Edition, Vienna).
1956 World premières of ZEIT MASZE (TIME-MEASURES) in Paris and GESANG DER JÜNGLINGE (SONG OF THE YOUTHS) in Cologne.
1957 World première of KLAVIER STÜCK XI (PIANO PIECE XI) in New York: Variable Music.
1958 Experiments in new electronic sound synthesis and spatial projections for KONTAKTE (CONTACTS).
32 “concert-lectures” at American universities. Since that time extended tours annually as conductor and interpreter of his own works (since 1959 with small groups of soloists).
World première of GRUPPEN (GROUPS) for 3 orchestras (1955– 1957) in Cologne.
1959 New Percussion Music: ZYKLUS (CYCLE), REFRAIN.
1960 World première of KONTAKTE (CONTACTS) for electronic sounds, piano and percussion in Cologne, and world première of CARRÉ for 4 orchestras and 4 choirs in Hamburg.
1962 1st part of MOMENTE (MOMENTS) world premièred in Cologne.
1963–68 Founder and artistic director of the Cologne Courses for New Music.
From 1964 Director of a group for performing Live Electronic Music: numerous compositions for this group: MIKROPHONIE I (MICROPH O NY I), PROZESSION (PROCESSION), KURZWELLEN (SHORT-WAVES) etc.
1965 Guest professor for composition at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
2nd part of MOMENTE world premièred in Donaueschingen.
World première of MIXTUR (MIXTURE) in Hamburg: Live-electronic orchestra music.
1966 In Tokyo, real ised two compositions commissioned by the Japanese Radio (NHK) Studio for Electronic Music: TELEMUSIK (TELE MUSIC) and SOLO.
1966–67 Guest professor for composition at the University of California at Davis.
1967 Married Mary Bauermeister (divorced 1972); two children with Mary: Julika (1966), Simon (1967).
World première of PROZESSION (PROCESSION) for tam-tam, viola, electronium or synthesizer, piano, microphonist, filterer and level controller (6 players) in Helsinki.
World première of HYMNEN (ANTHEMS) Electronic and Concrete Music with soloists in Cologne.
1968 World premières of KURZWELLEN (SHORT-WAVES) in Bremen, STIMMUNG (TUNING) in Paris: beginning of artistic overtone singing.
SPIRAL for a soloist (world première in Zagreb, 1969).
Intuitive Music: AUS DEN SIEBEN TAGEN (FROM THE SEVEN DAYS), FÜR KOMMENDE ZEITEN (FOR TIMES TO COME).
1969 World première of FRESCO for 4 orchestra groups in Bonn, composition of POLE (POLES) for 2 players and EXPO for 3 players.
1970 Expo ’70 world fair in Osaka, Japan: In a spherical auditorium conceived by Stockhausen, most of his works com posed until 1970 were per formed 5! hours daily for 183 days by twenty instrumentalists and singers, there by reaching an audience of over a million listeners.
World première of POLE (POLES) for 2 players.
Cosmic Music: MANTRA, world première in Donau eschingen.
1971 Professor for composition at the State Conservatory of Music in Cologne (until 1977).
World première of HYMNEN (ANTHEMS) with orchestra, performed by the New York Philharmonic, conducted by K. Stockhausen.
Park Music STERNKLANG (STAR-SOUND), world première in Berlin.
Scenic Music TRANS for orchestra and tape, world première in Donaueschingen.
1972 Scenic Music ALPHABET for LIÈGE, AM HIMMEL WANDRE ICH (IN THE SKY I AM WALKING), YLEM.
World première of the Europe Version of MOMENTE (MOMENTS) in Bonn.
1973–74 INORI, Adorations for one or two soloists and large orchestra, world première in Donaueschingen.
1975–77 Composition of SIRlUS, Electronic Music with 4 soloists, commissioned by the German government as gift to America on the occasion of the American Bicentennial (1976): partial world première at the Albert Einstein Spacearium, Washington D.C., followed by a tour with this work in Europe, Japan, USA.
In 1977 the composition SIRIUS was finished, and was performed for the first time in its entirety in August 1977 at the newly founded Centre Sirius in Aix-en-Provence.
1976 World première of HARLEKIN (HARLEQUIN) for a dancing clarinetist, in Cologne.
1977 In Japan, composed DER JAHRESLAUF (THE COURSE OF THE YEARS) for the Imperial Gaga ku Ensem ble: premièred at the National Theatre, Tokyo.
1977 Began to compose the music drama cycle LICHT – Die sieben Tage der Woche (LIGHT – The Seven Days of the Week).
1978 World première of the quasi concert version of MICHAELs REISE UM DIE ERDE (MICHAEL’S JOUR NEY ROUND THE EARTH), Act II of THURSDAY from LIGHT, in Donaueschingen.
1979 World première of the quasi concert version of MICHAELs JUGEND (MICHAEL’S YOUTH), Act I of THURSDAY from LIGHT, in Jerusalem.
1980 World première of the quasi concert version of FESTIVAL, scene of Act III of THURSDAY from LIGHT, in Amsterdam.
1981 Staged world première of DONNERSTAG aus LICHT (THURSDAY from LIGHT), circa 4 hours, at La Scala in Milan.
World première of the quasi concert version of LUZIFERs TRAUM (LUCIFER’S DREAM), Scene 1 of SATURDAY from LIGHT, in Metz.
1982 World première of the quasi concert version of LUZFIERs ABSCHIED (LUCIFER’S FARE WELL), Scene
4 of SATURDAY from LIGHT, in Assisi on the occasion of the 800th anniversary celebration of Saint Francis’ birth.
1983 World première of the quasi concert version of KATHINKAs GESANG (KATHINKA’S CHANT), Scene 2 of SATURDAY from LIGHT, in Donaueschingen.
1984 World première of the quasi concert version of LUZIFERs TANZ (LUCIFER’S DANCE), Scene 3 of SATURDAY from LIGHT, in Ann Arbor (USA).
Staged world première of SAMSTAG aus LICHT (SATURDAY from LIGHT), circa 3 hours, at the Palazzo dello Sport produced by La Scala, Milan.
1985 New staging of DONNERSTAG aus LICHT (THURSDAY from LIGHT) at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), London. World premières of the quasi concert versions of AVE for basset-horn and alto flute in Milan and of OBERLIPPENTANZ (UPPER-LIP-DANCE) for piccolo, trumpet and ensemble
in Donaueschingen.
1986 World première of the Soloists’ Version of MICHAELs REISE (MICHAEL’S JOURNEY) in Bremen.
World première of the quasi concert version of EVAs LIED (EVE’S SONG), scene of Act II of MONDAY from LIGHT, in Ber lin.
World première of the quasi concert version of EVAs ZAUBER (EVE’S MAGIC), Act III of MONDAY from LIGHT, in Metz.
1987 World première of Xi Version for flute in Siena.
1988 World premières of the quasi concert versions of EVAs ERSTGEBURT (EVE’S FIRST BIRTH-GIVING), Act I of MONDAY from LIGHT, and of MÄDCHENPROZESSION, BEFRUCHTUNG mit KLAVIERSTÜCK und WIEDERGEBURT (GIRLS’ PROCESSION, CONCEPTION with PIANO PIECE and RE-BIRTH), scenes of Act II of MONDAY from LIGHT, in Cologne.
Staged world première of MONTAG aus LICHT (MONDAY from LIGHT), circa 4 hours, at La Scala, Milan.
World première of WILLKOMMEN mit FRIEDENS-GRUSS (DIENSTAGS-GRUSS) / WELCOME with PEACE GREETING (TUESDAY GREETING) commissioned on the occasion of the 600th anniversary celebration of the Cologne University.
World premières of SUSANI’S ECHO for alto flute, NASENFLÜGELTANZ (WINGS-OF-THE-NOSEDANCE) for percussion and synthesizer, Xi Version for basset-horn in Paris.
1989 World premières of FLAUTINA in Vienna and KINNTANZ (CHIN-DANCE) in Salzburg.
1990 Octophonic Music INVASION – EXPLOSION.
PIETÀ for flugelhorn, soprano, octophonic electronic music.
1991 World première of the version of JAHRESLAUF (COURSE OF THE YEARS) with singers (Act I of TUESDAY from LIGHT) and the world première of the quasi concert version of INVASION–PIETÀ–EXPLOSION (scenes of Act II of TUESDAY from LIGHT) in Frankfurt am Main.
1992 First performance of DIENSTAG aus LICHT (TUESDAY from LIGHT) in its entirety (quasi concert version) with the world premières of the scenes JENSEITS – SYNTHI-FOU – ABSCHIED (BEYOND – SYNTHI-FOU – FARE WELL) at the Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon.
World première of SYNTHI-FOU (PIANO PIECE XV) for a player of electronic keyboard instruments and electronic music on the occasion of the presentation of the UNESCO Picasso Medal to Karlheinz Stockhausen in Cologne.
World première of ELUFA for basset-horn and flute (scene of Act II of FRIDAY from LIGHT) and a series of Stockhausen concerts in Weimar.
Realisation of the sound scenes of FREITAG aus LICHT (FRIDAY from LIGHT) at the WDR Studio for Electronic Music.
1993 Staged world première of DIENSTAG aus LICHT (TUESDAY from LIGHT), circa 2 hours, at the Leipzig Opera.
Series of Stockhausen concerts in Brussels, Duisburg, Florence, Sofia.
Composition of the HELIKOPTER-STREICHQUARTETT (HELICOPTER STRING QUARTET) of WEDNESDAY from LIGHT.
1994 Stockhausen symposium and performances of 30 Stockhausen works (most of them electro-acoustic) at the INVENTIONEN Festival in Berlin.
World première of OKTOPHONIE (OCTOPHONY), Electronic Music of DIENSTAG aus LICHT (TUESDAY from LIGHT), at the Cologne Triennial.
7 Stockhausen works performed at the Salzburger Festspiele.
Completion of the 144-minute Electronic Music with Sound Scenes of FREITAG aus LICHT (FRIDAY from LIGHT) at the Studio for Electronic Music of the WDR and composition of the 10 real scenes of FREITAG aus LICHT (FRIDAY from LIGHT) .
1995 Stockhausen cycle at the Easter Salzburger Festspiele.
Composition of WELT-PARLAMENT (WORLD PARLIAMENT) for a cappella choir, 1st scene of WEDNESDAY from LIGHT.
Stockhausen retrospective (11 concerts) at the Holland Festival in Amsterdam, during which the world premières took place of WELTRAUM (OUTER SPACE), Electronic Music of FREITAG aus LICHT (FRIDAY from LIGHT) and of the HELIKOPTER-STREICHQUARTETT (HELICOPTER STRING QUARTET), 3rd scene of WEDNESDAY from LIGHT.
HYMNEN (ANTHEMS) Electronic and Concrete Music with Soloists at the Salzburger Festspiele.
1996 World première of WELT-PARLAMENT (WORLD PARLIAMENT) for a cappella choir in Stuttgart.
World première of ORCHESTER-FINALISTEN (ORCHESTRA FINALISTS) for orchestra and electronic music, 2nd scene of WEDNESDAY from LIGHT, at the Holland Festival in Amsterdam.
Staged world première of FREITAG aus LICHT (FRIDAY from LIGHT): FREITAGS-GRUSS (FRIDAY GREETING), circa 68! min., FREITAG-VERSUCHUNG (FRIDAY TEMPTATION) – Acts I and II, ca. 146 min., FREITAGS-ABSCHIED (FRIDAY FAREWELL), circa 78 min., at the Leipzig Opera.
Composer in honour of the European Cultural Capital Copenhagen with 8 Stockhausen concerts. World première of LIBRA for bass clarinet and electronic music in Copenhagen.
Stockhausen Festival in Palermo, Italy, with 7 concerts of his electronic music.
5 Stockhausen concerts in Huddersfield, England, including the world première of BIJOU for alto flute, bass clarinet and tape.
1997 6 concerts of Stockhausen works during the Cologne Triennial, including the world première of the ELEKTRONISCHEN MUSIK mit TONSZENEN vom FREITAG aus LICHT (ELECTRONIC MUSIC with SOUND SCENES of FRIDAY from LIGHT) at the Philharmonic Hall in Cologne.
World première of LITANEI 97 for choir and conductor during the festival European Church Music 1997 in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
World première of the ROTARY Wood wind Quintet at Schloß Dyck near Jüchen-Aldenhoven.
World première of CAPRICORN for bass and electronic music during International Music Weeks in Orléans.
Composition of MICHAE LION (4th scene of WEDNESDAY from LIGHT) for choir, bass singer with short-wave receiver, flute, basset-horn, trumpet, trombone, synthesizer player, tape, 2 dancers, and sound projectionist.
1998 Performances of INORI Adorations for 2 soloists and orchestra on January 16th at the Herkuslessaal, Munich, with the Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio, conduct ed by K. Stockhausen; on January 24th at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam with the Radio Chamber Orchestra conducted by Péter Eötvös; on April 25th and 26th at the Cité de la Musique in Paris with the Ensemble Intercontemporain conducted by David Robertson.
Stockhausen Space Music: 3 different programmes of his electronic music at the planetarium of the Cité des Sciences in Paris.
Cycle of 8 Stockhausen concerts in Paris performed by the Ensemble Intercontemporain at IRCAM and the Cité de la Musique (including 4 performances of GRUPPEN (GROUPS) for 3 orchestras conducted by Pierre Boulez, Péter Eötvös and David Robertson).
World première of the integral version of VORTRAG ÜBER HU (LECTURE ON HU) by Kathinka Pasveer on April 5th at the Audimax of the Darmstadt Technical University.
World première of MICHAELION (Scene 4 of WEDNESDAY from LIGHT), performed twice on July 26th at the Prinzregenten Theater in Munich in the concert series Musica Viva (Bavarian Radio).
1998 (cont.)

From August 2nd through 9th the first annual Stockhausen Courses Kuerten took place. 130 participants (performers, composers, musicologists and auditors) from 22 different countries attended seminars, public dress rehearsals and 9 different Stockhausen concerts.
On September 25th, 27th and 29th MOMENTE (MOMENTS) Version 1998 was performed in Cologne,
Zürich and Paris (solo soprano Angela Tunstall, choir of the West German Radio, musikFabrik, conductor Rupert Huber, sound projectionist K. Stockhausen).
International Stockhausen Symposium at the Cologne University from November 11th through 14th: daily public lectures and discussions about Stockhausen’s works by musicologists from Germany, France, the United States, Russia, Japan and Switzerland. Concerts every evening including the world première of the BASSETSU-TRIO for basset-horn, trumpet and trombone.
1999 From July 12th to 25th, 130 participants from 23 countries attended the Stockhausen Courses Kuerten 1999. In 6 faculty concerts and 3 participants’ concerts, nine programmes with works by Stockhausen were performed with the world première of KLAVIERSTÜCK XVI (PIANO PIECE XVI) on July 21st.
World première of LICHTER – WASSER (SONNTAGS-GRUSS) / LIGHTS – WATERS (SUNDAY GREETING)
for soprano, tenor, and orchestra with synthesizer on October 16th, with a second performance on October 17th at the Baar Sporthalle in Donaueschingen during the Donaueschinger Musiktage (Southwest German Radio).
2000 The third annual Stockhausen Courses Kuerten took place from July 29th to August 6th with more than 130 composers, interpreters, musicologists and music lovers from 24 different countries (all 5 continents) attending the composition and interpretation seminars, 7 faculty concerts and 3 participants’ concerts.
In the faculty concerts the works KOMET als KLAVIERSTÜCK XVII (COMET as PIANO PIECE XVII) for a synthesizer player and tape, COMET Version for a percussionist and tape, and 3x REFRAIN 2000 had their world premières.
Composition of ENGEL-PROZESSIONEN (ANGEL PROCESSIONS), 2nd scene of SONNTAG aus LICHT (SUNDAY from LIGHT), for a cappella choir, commissioned by the Dutch Radio Choir, Hilver sum.
2001 The fourth annual Stockhausen Courses Kuerten took place from August 4th through August 12th, with over 130 participants attending from 25 different countries. In addition to the composition and interpretation seminars, there were 7 faculty concerts and 3 participants’ concerts. The works LUZFIERs ZORN (LUCIFER’S FURY), DER KINDERFÄNGER (THE PIED PIPER), TANZE LUZEFA (DANCE LUCE FA!),
and SUKAT were world premièred during the faculty concerts.
Composition of HOCH-ZEITEN (German word with double meaning: MARRIAGES and HIGH-TIMES) for 5 cho ral groups and 5 orchestral groups performing simultaneously and synchronously in two different concert halls with reciprocal, transmitted inserts of each other’s music. This is the final scene of SONNTAG aus LICHT (SUNDAY from LIGHT), commisioned by the Festival de Música de Canarias.
October: Stockhausen Festival at the Barbican Centre in London.
November: Quasi concert performances of FREITAG aus LICHT (FRIDAY from LIGHT) in Stuttgart, Metz (France) and Amsterdam.
Stockhausen’s opera MONTAG aus LICHT (MONDAY from LIGHT) was broadcast by the SWR (South-west German Radio) on October 21st 2001 as 1st broadcast of the 7-part broadcast series of LICHT (LIGHT) moderated by Karlheinz Stockhausen together with Dr. Reinhard Ermen.
2002 The fifth annual Stockhausen Courses Kuerten took place from July 27th through August 4th. Once again, over 130 participants from 24 different countries attended. In addition to the composition and interpretation seminars, there were 9 faculty concerts and 3 participants’ concerts. The works EUROPAGRUSS (EUROPE GREETING) for winds and synthesizers, and STOP and START for 6 instrumental groups had their world premières during the courses.
Composition of DÜFTE – ZEICHEN (SCENTS – SIGNS) for 7 vocalists, boy’s voice, and synthesizer, a commission of the Salzburg Festival 2003.
The world première of ENGEL-PROZESSIONEN (ANGEL PROCESSIONS) for a cappella choir (2nd scene of SUNDAY from LIGHT) took place on November 9th 2002 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, performed by the large choir of the Dutch radio. The German première followed on November 13th during the Berlin Festival.
Stockhausen’s opera DIENSTAG aus LICHT (TUESDAY from LIGHT) was broadcast by the SWR (Southwest German Radio) on October 20th as 2nd broadcast of the 7-part broadcast series of LICHT (LIGHT) moderated by Karlheinz Stockhausen together with Dr. Reinhard Ermen.
2003 World première of HOCH-ZEITEN (HIGH-TIMES) for choir and orchestra on February 2nd in Las Palmas, performed by the choir and symphony orchestra of the West German Radio. The German première followed on February 14th in Cologne at the Philharmonic Hall and large broadcasting auditorium of the WDR simultaneously.
The sixth annual Stockhausen Courses Kuerten took place from August 9th–17th 2003. Circa 140 participants from 26 different countries attended. In addition to the composition and interpretation seminars, there were 9 faculty concerts and 3 participants’ concerts. World premières of RECHTER AUGENBRAUENTANZ (RIGHT-EYEBROW-DANCE) for clarinets, bass clarinet(s), percussionist and synthesizer player and YPSILON Version for basset-horn.
New composition: LICHT-BILDER (LIGHT-PICTURES), 3rd scene of SUNDAY from LIGHT, for bassethorn, flute with ring-modulation, tenor, trumpet with ring-modulation, synthesizer. Performance of the HELIKOPTER-STREICHQUARTETT (HELICOPTER STRING QUARTET) on August 22nd (Stockhausen’s 75th birthday), MANTRA on August 26th, and the world première of DÜFTE – ZEICHEN (SCENTS – SIGNS), 4th scene of SUNDAY from LIGHT, on August 29th in Salzburg during the Salzburg Festival.
Cycle of 11 Stockhausen works during the MUSICA Festival in Strasbourg.
Two performances of INORI during the Berliner Festspielen and at the Konzerthaus in Dortmund.
Stockhausen’s opera MITTWOCH aus LICHT (WEDNESDAY from LIGHT) was broadcast in two parts by the SWR (South West German Radio) on Oct. 23rd and 30th as 3rd broadcast of the 7-part broadcast series of LICHT (LIGHT) moderated by Karlheinz Stockhausen together with Dr. Reinhard Ermen.
2004 Stockhausen opened the Sonic Arts Research Centre in Belfast and received an Honorary Doctorate from Queens University in Belfast. On this occasion, 3 concerts of his electronic music were performed at Whitla Hall, during which the world première of MITTWOCHS-GRUSS (WEDNESDAY GREETING) Electronic Music took place.
Performance of GESANG DER JÜNGLINGE (SONG OF THE YOUTHS) and other works on April 1st in the Milan Cathedral.
The seventh annual Stockhausen Courses Kürten took place from July 31st to August 8th during which the following works had their world première: QUITT (EVEN) for 3 players: alto flute, clarinet, piccolotrumpet;
TIERKREIS (ZODIAC) Version 2003 for tenor and synthesizer; SONNTAGs-ABSCHIED (SUNDAY FAREWELL) for 5 synthesizers; VIBRA-ELUFA for vibraphone; BASSETSU for basset-horn.
On October 16th the world première took place of LICHT-BILDER (LIGHT-PICTURES), 3rd scene of SUNDAY from LIGHT, for basset-horn, flute with ring modulation, tenor, trumpet with ring modulation, synthesizer. Thus the work on LICHT, which began in 1977, was concluded.
Stockhausen began to work on KLANG, The 24 Hours of the Day.
Stockhausen’s opera DONNERSTAG aus LICHT (THURSDAY from LIGHT) was broadcast by the SWR (Southwest German Radio) on Oct. 24th as 4th broadcast of the 7-part broadcast series of LICHT (LIGHT) moderated by Karlheinz Stockhausen together with Dr. Reinhard Ermen.
“Musical Dialogue Stockhausen – Bach” with 4 concerts at the Schloß Neuhardenberg from Oktober 29th to 31st.
Settimana Stockhausen from November 6th to 13th with 6 concerts in Bologna, Modena und Reggio Emilia.
World première of FÜNF STERNZEICHEN (FIVE STAR SIGNS) for orchestra on November 28th in Bad Brückenau.
2005 Performances of Stockhausen’s Electronic Music from April 27th–30th in Glasgow and Edinburgh during the Triptych Festival.
World première of the First Hour of KLANG (SOUND), The 24 Hours of the Day: HIMMELFAHRT (ASCENSION) for organ, tenor and soprano on May 5th in the Milan Cathedral.
Lecture on LICHT-BILDER and 3 concerts from June 23rd – 26th during the Tokyo Summer Festival.
The eighth Stockhausen Courses Kürten took place from July 30th to August 8th, with nine concerts including the world premières of KLAVIERSTÜCK (PIANO PIECE XVIII) and MITTWOCH-FORMEL (WEDNESDAY FORMULA) for three percussionists.
6 concerts of electronic music from August 26th–28th at the West Coast Festival of NUMUSIC 2005 in Stavanger, Norway.
On October 21st and October 22nd, Stockhausen gave the lecture Composer and Interpreter and a concert of Electronic Music at the FRIEZE ART FAIR in London.
Two concerts of Electronic Music at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon on November 12th and 13th during the Portuguese Contemporary Music Festival.
On October 21st and 22nd, Stockhausen gave the lecture Composer and Interpreter and a concert of his Electronic Music during the FRIEZE ART FAIR in London.
Stockhausen’s opera FREITAG aus LICHT (FRIDAY from LIGHT) was broadcast in two parts by the SWR (Southwest German Radio) on October 23rd and 30th as 5th broadcast of the 7-part broadcast
series of LICHT (LICHT) moderated by Karlheinz Stockhausen together with Dr. Reinhard Ermen.
Two concerts of Stockhausen’s Electronic Music at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon on November 12th and 13th during the Portuguese Contemporary Music Festival.
New compositions: KLANG (SOUND), Second Hour: FREUDE (JOY) for 2 harps; KLANG, Third Hour: NATÜRLICHE DAUERN (NATURAL DURATIONS) for piano; KLANG, Fourth Hour: HIMMELS-TÜR (HEAVEN’S DOOR) for a percussionist and a little girl.
Beginning of the preparations for printing two versions of the score of MOMENTE (1962 to 1964; finished in 1969) for solo soprano, 4 choir groups and 13 instrumentalists: the original score and the Europe Version 1972.
2006 January–March: meetings and experiments with a carpenter and lumber yards for the construction of a Heaven’s Door for KLANG, Fourth Hour: HIMMELS-TÜR for a percussionist and a little girl.
World première of KLANG, Third Hour: NATÜRLICHE DAUERN 1 for piano on February 23rd in New York.
Dutch première of HOCH-ZEITEN for orchestra on March 10th at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
Stockhausen Festival of Electronic Music in Bari, Italy.
World première of KLANG, Second Hour: FREUDE for 2 harps, on June 7th in the Milan Cathedral.
World première of KLANG, Fourth Hour: HIMMELS-TÜR for a percussionist and a little girl on June 13th at the Teatro Rossini in Lugo, Italy.
Ninth annual Stockhausen Courses and Concerts Kürten from July 8th–16th with nine concerts including the world premières of KLANG, First Hour: HIMMELFAHRT Version for synthesizer, soprano, tenor on July 9th and KLANG, 3rd Hour: NATÜRLICHE DAUERN 2–15 for piano on July 12th. The German premières of KLANG, 2nd Hour: FREUDE for 2 harps and of KLANG, 4th Hour: HIMMELS-TÜR for a percussionist and a little girl also took place. Again, ca. 140 participants from 26 different countries attended (31 composers, 40 interpreters, 13 musicologists, ca. 50 auditors).
World première of MIXTUR 2003 (MIXTURE 2003) for orchestra (5 instrumental groups, 4 sine-wave generator players, 4 sound mixers with 4 ring modulators, sound projectionist) took place on August 30th at the Salzburg Festival performed by the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, conducted by Wolfgang Lischke with technical support from the Experimental Studio for Acoustic Art, Freiburg.
Stockhausen’s opera SAMSTAG aus LICHT (SATURDAY from LIGHT) was broadcast in two parts by the SWR (Southwest German Radio) on October 1st and 8th as 6th broadcast of the 7-part broadcast series of LICHT moderated by Karlheinz Stockhausen together with Dr. Reinhard Ermen.
On October 7th and 8th Stockhausen realised the work 24 TÜRIN at Sound Studio N in Cologne for CD E86‰ of the Stockhausen Complete Edition. According to him, the noble words spoken by him in TÜRIN are intended to keep the HIMMELS-TÜR open.
Initiation of a special edition of CD releases of lectures (Text-CDs), given by Stockhausen since 1952.
Continuation of the preparations for printing the scores of MOMENTE.
New compositions: KLANG, Thirteenth Hour: COSMIC PULSES Electronic Music; KLANG, Fifth Hour: HARMONIEN (HARMONIES) for bass clarinet and HARMONIEN for flute; KLANG, Sixth Hour: SCHÖNHEIT (BEAUTY) for bass clarinet, flute and trumpet.
2007 Realisation of KLANG, Thirteenth Hour: COSMIC PULSES Electronic Music, spatialisation of the 24 layers and the mix-down from 192 tracks to 24 or 8 tracks of COSMIC PULSES for performances, and mix-down from 24 to 2 tracks for CD E91‰ of the Stockhausen Complete Edition.
Dutch première of KLANG, Second Hour: FREUDE for 2 harps on April 21st at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
World première of KLANG, Thirteenth Hour: COSMIC PULSES Electronic Music on May 7th at the Sala Sinopoli of the Parco dell Musica auditorium in Rome. In the same program, the Italian première of MITTWOCHS-GRUSS (WEDNESDAY GREETING) Electronic Music took place.
Stockhausen Festival of his Electronic Music in Macerata, Italy.
World première of the choreography by Angelin Preljocaj of the 5-track SONNTAGS-ABSCHIED (SUNDAY FAREWELL) on June 1st during the Ruhrfestspiele in Recklinghausen.
Tenth annual Stockhausen Courses and Concerts Kürten from July 7th–15th with ten concerts including the world premières of KLANG, Fifth Hour: HARMONIEN (HARMONIES) for bass clarinet on July 11th and HARMONIEN for flute on July 13th. In addition, the German première of KLANG, Thirteenth Hour: COSMIC PULSES Electronic Music took place. 140 participants from 32 different countries attended (44 composers, 42 interpreters, 16 musicologists, ca. 40 auditors). The concerts were attended daily by about 400 listeners. Among the 39 Stockhausen works which were performed, six composition were Electronic Music. In his closing talk, Stockhausen repeated the 2007 motto for the courses: Learning out of enthusiasm, and said that he was happy about the wonderful, cheerful, harmonious atmosphere during the courses. The fact that people from 32 countries enthusiastically study works of his new music, was a good counterbalance for today’s world.
World première of KLANG, Third Hour: NATÜRLICHE DAUERN 16–24 for piano, performed during the closing concert of the festivities on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian on July 17th in Lisbon.
Stockhausen’s opera SONNTAG aus LICHT (SUNDAY from LIGHT) was broadcast in two parts by the SWR (Southwest German Radio) on September 23rd and 30th as the 7th and final broadcast of the 7-part broadcast series of LICHT moderated by Karlheinz Stockhausen together with Dr. Reinhold Ermen.
New compositions: FÜNF WEITERE STERNZEICHEN (FIVE MORE STAR SIGNS) for orchestra; TAURUS for bassoon.
New compositions from KLANG, The 24 Hours of the Day – 7th Hour: BALANCE for bass clarinet, English horn, flute; 8th Hour: GLÜCK (BLISS) for bassoon, English horn, oboe; 9th Hour: HOFFNUNG (HOPE) for cello, viola, violin; 10th Hour: GLANZ (BRILLIANCE) for bassoon, viola, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, oboe, tuba; 11th Hour: TREUE (FIDELITY) for bass clarinet, basset-horn, E flat clarinet; 12th Hour: ERWACHEN (AWAKENING) for cello, trumpet, soprano saxophone; 14th, Hour: HAVONA for bass and electronic music; 15th Hour: ORVONTON for baritone and electronic music; 16th Hour: UVERSA for basset-horn and electronic music; 17th Hour: NEBADON for horn and electronic music; 18th Hour: JERUSEM for tenor and electronic music; 19th Hour: URANTIA for soprano and electronic music; 20th Hour: EDENTIA for soprano saxophone and electronic music; 21st Hour: PARADIES (PARADISE) for flute and electronic music. Printing and delivery of the original score and of the Europe Version 1972 of MOMENTE for solosoprano, 4 choir groups and 13 instrumentalists in November and December.
December 4th: Stockhausen finished composing FÜNF WEITERE STERNZEICHEN for orchestra.
Wednesday, December 5th: Stockhausen’s ASCENSION through the HEAVEN’S DOOR into PARADISE.