(b. 27 July 1941, Auerbach [Bensheim] – d. 29 April 2010, Bonn).
German composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, vocal, and electroacoustic works that have been performed throughout the world; he was also active as a violist.
Prof. Fritsch studied musicology, philosophy and sociology at the Universität zu Köln from 1961–65 and studied composition with Bernd Alois Zimmermann, as well as viola, at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne from 1961–65. In addition, he attended the Ferienkurse in Darmstadt and the Kölner Kursen für Neue Musik.
Among his honours are the Förderpreis from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (1966), the Prix de la Biennale de Paris (1971), a residency at the Villa Massimo in Rome (1976), the Förderpreis from the city of Cologne (1977), the Kammermusikpreis from the city of Braunschweig (1977), and the Robert-Schumann-Preis from the city of Düsseldorf (1981).
As a violist, he was a member of the Stockhausen Ensemble from 1964–70, with which he toured extensively and made an appearance at Expo '70 in Ōsaka in 1970.
He was also active in other positions. He co-founded with Rolf Gehlhaar and David Johnson the Feedback Studio Köln in 1970 and founded the Feedback Studio Verlag in Cologne in 1971, which posthumously became edition johannes fritsch in Bonn in 2010. He served as editor of the Feedback Papers. He served on the board of directors of the Institut für Neue Musik and Musikerziehung in Darmstadt from 1974–98 and organised the WELTMUSIK-Kongresse in Vlotho in 1979, 1982, 1984, and 1986.
He taught music theory at the Rheinische Musikschule in Cologne from 1965–70. He served as director of a class in composition and the Seminar für Neue Musik at the Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt from 1971–84, during which time he also taught media aesthetics and universal harmonics at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne. He lectured at the Ferienkurse in Darmstadt in 1974, 1984 and 1986. He taught as Professor für Komposition at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne from 1984–2006.
In addition to the works listed below, he composed incidental music for many plays from 1967–2006.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
Die Regel war Unabänderlich – Ein Requiem (ballet, choreography by Jochen Ulrich), fixed media, 1975–76
Der Große Gesang (ballet, scenario by Pablo Neruda, choreography by Jochen Ulrich), mezzo-soprano, countertenor, speaker, amplified trombone, amplified guitar, amplified percussion, fixed media, 1979–80 (also concert version)
Litanei I, actor, bass drum, fixed media, 1994
Aschenbrödel (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Robert Walser), 1989–95
Große Litanei (flutist, percussionist also speak), actor, flute, celesta, bass drum, percussion, 2 computer-controlled player pianos, live electronics, 1999
ORCHESTRAL:
Concerto da camera, amplified violin, 12 strings, 1964
Modulation 2, small orchestra (13 players), fixed media, live electronics, 1967
Konzert, trumpet, orchestra, 1975
Die Hugenotten (Konzert), cimbalom, violin, orchestra, fixed media, 1978
Kreuzgänge, 1983
Konzert, cello, orchestra, 1985
Passacaglia, symphonic band, 1993
Herbstlicht (Zwei Szenen), 1994–95
Konzertstück, 2 percussion, orchestra, 1999
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Duett für Bratsche, viola, fixed media, 1961
Madrigal triste (after Charles Baudelaire), oboe, fixed media, 1963
Nachtmusik, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 1963
1. Klaviertrio, violin, cello, piano, 1964
Partita, amplified viola, live electronics, 1965–66
Modulation 1, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 1966
Concerto battuto, percussion, ensemble (3 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, double bass), 1967
September 70 (grand quartet after Friedrich Kuhlau) (two flutists must be females, two flutists must be males), 4 flutes, piano, 1970
Sul G (Oktober 70), flute, piano, 1970
Violectra (live-electronic improvisation), viola d'amore, synthesizer, 1971
Sul B, cello (with special tuning), piano, 1972
Hochtöner, flute, viola, synthesizer, percussion, fixed media, 1974
Trio, trombone, viola, piano, ring modulator, 1977
Ode, percussion, fixed media, live electronics, 1980
Flute Klang, alto flute, live electronics, 1981
Kyo-Mu, shakuhachi (bamboo flute from Japan)/tenor recorder/alto flute, fixed media, 1982
Testament Vivier, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, piano, fixed media, 1983
Cello Duo I, 2 cellos, 1983 (also version as Viola Duo, 2 violas, 2004)
Streichquintett, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1984
Musik für Sankt Georg, double bass, organ, 10 glass chimes (instruments by Volker Staub), 10 Eisenbleche (instruments by Volker Staub), 1985
2. Klaviertrio, violin, cello, piano, 1985
Cello Duo II, 2 cellos, 1987
X '88, viola, cello, double bass, 1988
Quartett, flute, 2 pianos, percussion, 1989
Trio, bass clarinet, double bass, piano, 1990
Noël für drei Flöten, flute (+ alto flute, bass flute), 1990
Wandlung (1), alto flute, bass clarinet, 1990
Quintett, alto flute, bass clarinet, viola, cello, piano, 1991
Wolfsklänge, violin, 2 cellos, piano, fixed media, 1991
Das Bittersüße Büchlein, oboe, double bass, accordion, 1992
Play VII, 12–24 wooden flutes, zither, 2 angklung (sets of bamboo tubes from Indonesia), 1993
Trio, saxophone, guitar, double bass, live electronics, 1993
VIII '94, alto flute, temple bell, 1994
Trio, clarinet, 2 cellos, 1996
Modulay für Ugly Culture, saxophone, guitar, double bass, 1996
RM'96, alto flute, cello, piano, ring modulator, 1996
Nachthelle, viola, cello, double bass, synthesizer, 1997
Transformationen, 8–10 double basses, 1997
Fremdes Lied, bass clarinet (+ soprano saxophone), hurdy-gurdy, 1997
Quintett, alto flute, bass clarinet, harp, violin, cello, 1998
Ess am Tiez, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 1998
Infra, any low sounds, synthesizer ad libitum, 1998
Haïkaï, 2 bass clarinets, percussion, fixed media, 1998
Piazza Celestina, celesta, 1999 (also version for harpsichord)
Streichquintett, 2 violins, viola, 2 cellos, 1999
Monophonie-Varianten, any 3/4 winds, 1999
Zeit, clock, 2000
12'99–01'00, trombone, percussion, 2000
Quintet, English horn, clarinet, double bass, piano, percussion, 2000
Sonett, violin, piano, 2000
Tubæ, 2 bass tubas, 2000
Kernspin, percussion, fixed media, 2000
Osteophonie, 4 percussion, 2001
Quintett, alto flute, bass clarinet, viola, cello, piano, 2003
Ciacona, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, 2 organs, glass harmonica, 2004
Fistula mortale, bone flute/recorder/piccolo, 2005 (also version as Fistulæ mortale, 2 bone flutes/recorders/piccolos, 2005–06)
Streichtrio, violin, viola, cello, 2006
Acht Spuren im Spiegel, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), French horn, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, fixed media, 2006
Tromba marina, alphorn ad libitum/2 alphorns ad libitum, tromba marina, 2006
CHORAL:
Versöhnung (text by Rose Ausländer), mixed chorus, alto flute, bass clarinet, double bass, percussion, 1981
Laudate Dominum, 5 mixed voices, ensemble ad libitum (2 violins, viola, cello, double bass), 1982
Epigraph (ein Grabstein für Igor Strawinsky), 5 mixed voices, bass drum, 1982
Nagori, mixed chorus, shamisen (3-string lute from Japan), 1987
Prediger 3, 4, 4 female voices/4 boys' voices, 1994
Yokohama, 4 mixed voices, alto flute (+ piccolo), trombone, 2 percussion, live electronics, 2001
VOCAL:
Bestandteile des Vorüber (text by Max Bense), soprano, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trombone, bass trombone, bass tuba, 3 double basses, 1962
Filigranfalter, countertenor, 12 strings, 1963
Akroasis, 2 voices, news reader, barrel organ, music box, jazz band, large orchestra, live electronics, 1966–68
Lied, voice (+ piano), live electronics, 1969–70
Von anderen Planeten (text by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry), speaker, shakuhachi, orchestra, 1976
Der Große Gesang (text by Pablo Neruda), mezzo-soprano, countertenor, speaker, amplified trombone, amplified guitar, amplified percussion, fixed media, 1979–80 (concert version of stage work)
Fragmente über den Tod (text by Miguel Ángel Bustos), soprano, speaker, viola, cello, piano, 1982
Der Rote Ahorn (texts from fairy tales from China), speaker, percussion, 1983
De profundis, soprano, countertenor, alto flute, bass clarinet, 2 trombones, cello, double bass, organ, 2 percussion, 1987
Hohes Lied, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, alto flute, A-clarinet, trombone, 3 tree trunks, 1988 (also version for mezzo-soprano, countertenor, A-clarinet, organ, 3 tree trunks, 1988)
Wandlung (2), bass, alto flute, 1991
Trio vom Ende (text by Samuel Beckett), bass, alto flute, percussion, 1992
Magnificat, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, bass, alto flute, bass clarinet, viola, cello, double bass, percussion, 1995
Traum (vier Lieder, text by Federico García Lorca), soprano, speaker, English horn, French horn, cello, piano, 1998
Litanei II (performer also speaks), flute/percussion, 1999 (also version [both performers also speak] for flute, percussion, 1999)
III. '99, soprano, percussion, 1999
PIANO:
Ikonen, 3 pianos, 1964
1. Klavierstück, 1969
Klavierstück 2, prepared piano, 1978 (also version as Klavierstück 22, 2 pianos, 1990)
Yesterday, 1991
Klavierstück 3, 1992
Klavierstück IV, 1998
ORGAN:
Übersetzung von Emotion in Proportion, 1973 (collaboration with Rudolf Knubel)
Im Dunkel dem werdenden Herzen, 1974, revised 2006
Damals (text by Samuel Beckett), organ, fixed media, 1992
IX'99X, 1999
HARPSICHORD:
Piazza Celestina, 1999 (version of work for celesta)
ELECTROACOUSTIC:
Fabula rasa, fixed media (4 tracks), 1964
Modulation IV, fixed media (4 tracks), 1968
Schnitte, fixed media, 1971
Radiostück 1 (text by Armand Gatti), fixed media, 1971
Musica mundana, fixed media, 1973
Mattina romana (Originaltonstudie), fixed media, 1976
Run Tits, fixed media, 1977
FILM SCORE (DIRECTOR):
Augenblicke, 1972 (Ottomar Domnick)
TV PRODUCTIONS (DIRECTOR):
Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, 1978 (Michael Mrakitsch)
Skyline, 1978 (Volker Landsberg)