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Keller, Max E. (b. March 19, 1947, Aarau). Swiss composer of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, vocal, piano, and electroacoustic works that have been performed throughout Europe and elsewhere; he is also active as a pianist.
Mr. Keller studied composition with Nicolaus A. Huber, Thomas Kessler, Helmut Lachenmann, and Hans Ulrich Lehmann, as well as German, history and musicology, on a scholarship from the Heinrich-Strobel-Stiftung.
His recent honors include the Kunstpreis of the Carl-Heinrich-Ernst-Stiftung in Winterthur (1997), the Berlin-Stipendium (1999) and an award from the state of Aargau (2001). He was also the Swiss representative to the Berlin Biennale (1985). His music has been performed in the Americas, Australia, Europe, Mongolia, and South Korea, including twice at the ISCM World Music Days (1991, Zürich; 1993, Mexico City) and once at the New Music Miami ISCM Festival (2002).
As a pianist, he played free jazz and improvised music from 1966-73, featuring the piano and electric instruments, and has again worked as an improvisational musician since 1985, most notably with Trio Ampio.
Mr. Keller has served as a music programmer at the theatre at Gleis Winterthur since 1985.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: max.e.keller@gmx.ch
Street address: Mr. Max E. Keller, Stockenerstr. 30, 8405 Winterthur, Switzerland
Telephone/fax: + 415 2232 7411
Website: http://www.max-e-keller.ch/
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: JAWS 3 (scenic musical collage), 1979; Egon – aus dem Leben eines Bankbeamten (2 act mini-opera, libretto by Hans Suter), 2 actors (any one + guitar), actress, cello, tape, 1980-81 (also version of second overture as Egonia); Fontamara (scenic cantata, text by Frans Denissen, after Ignazio Silone), 5 voices, 2 actors, mixed chorus, small orchestra (17 players), 1984-86; Swissfiction (music theatre work, text by Alex Gfeller), 4 actors, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, 4-track tape, 1990; Konfigurationen III – January 1991 (stage work; all players also speak), flute/oboe, bassoon, guitar, piano, 1991
ORCHESTRAL: Grundgesetze I (texts by Karl Marx, Oskar Schammidatus, the composer), 4 speakers, large orchestra (65 players), 1976-77; Genesis, 1979-80; Das ganze Leben (concerto), piano, orchestra, 1989-90; Mozmax, string orchestra, 1991; Pentalog, small orchestra (29 players), 1995-96; Mondlandschaft, small orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, 3 percussion), 1998-99; 25/250.orch, 2000; tenuto, battuto, fulminante, 2001
CHAMBER MUSIC: Start, any 6 or more players, 1969; Stück für Improvisatoren, any 3 or more players, 1969-70; Trio, bass clarinet, electric guitar, piano, 1970; Aktionen für 7 Musik-Macher, any 7 players, 1970; Minima, any 3-7 players, 1970; Cum processio tum missa non est, any 3 players, 1970; Musik über Musik, ensemble, 2 2-track tapes, 1971; Psychogramm, any 3 players, 1971; Streichquartett Nr. 181, string quartet, 1973; Eine kleine Werbemusik, piano, celesta (+ electronic organ), tape, 1973-74; Veränderungen, recorder, synthesizer, tape, 1977-78; Sie, any improvisational ensemble, tape, 1978 (version of tape work); Progressionen, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 1981; Konfigurationen (all players also speak), oboe, English horn, trombone, violin/viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1982 (each of its four sections may be performed separately); Remember, bass clarinet, piano, 1982; Dornenbahn, cello, 1983; Egonia, cello, tape, 1983 (version of second overture of Egon); Friedenslied eines Oboisten, oboe, 1983; Zustand I-VII, oboe, clarinet, French horn, trumpet, trombone, string quartet, percussion, 1984; Erinnerungen IV, 'Es geht ein' dunkle Wolk' herein', guitar, 1987; Karikaturen, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1987; aushalten und bewegen, accordion, 1988; Ausharren im Grauen, oboe, cello, piano, 1988; Kreisen in den Tiefen, viola, cello, double bass, 1988; Entfernung und Annäherung, saxophone, piano, percussion, 1989; senza e con, flute, 3 saxophones, French horn, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, double bass, piano, 1989
CHAMBER MUSIC: Strich-Punkt-Strich, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 celli, 1992; zerblasen, flute, oboe, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, double bass, 1992-93; Neungestalt, drumkit, 1993; Grafik, bass clarinet, 2 saxophones, piano, percussion, 1993; Heterophonie, bass clarinet, 2 saxophones, piano, percussion, 1993; Akkordsequenz, 3 saxophones, piano, percussion, 1993; Konstellationen, flute, cello, piano, 1993-94; Walk-Music, flute, guitar, violin, percussion, 1994; 2. Streichquartett, string quartet, 1995; 5 Improvisationsmodelle für Jugendliche, any 3-8 players, 1995; Ritardando, 3 bassoons, 1995; Siebensang, flute, 1995; Solitario, flute, guitar, percussion, 1996; Nononono, violin, 1996; weniger und mehr, violin, piano, accordion, 1996; les pompiers (souvenir de Berlin), 4 trombones, electric guitar, piano, live electronics, 1996; aufflackern und verlöschen, tenor saxophone, 1997; Integration I, any 3 improvisational players, string quartet, 1998; Miniatur, flute, 1998; Rotondo, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, viola, double bass, piano, accordion, percussion, 1998-99 (collaboration with Werner Bärtschi, Ulrich Gasser, Martin Sigrist, Peter Wettstein); Food, percussion, 1999; Skizzen, flute, guitar, 1999; Integration II, any 3 improvisational players, string quartet, 1999; Integration III, any 3 improvisational players, string quartet, 1999
CHAMBER MUSIC: Dialogfelder, double bass, percussion, 2000; insieme, a coppie, indipendente, 4 percussion, 2000; Sans cesse, oboe, bassoon, French horn, trombone, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2001; Farbenfahrten, violin, viola, cello, 2001; Zwillinge, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), trombone, cello, piano, 2001; Schnitt-Muster, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, 2002; Unione e tremolo, viola, cello, 2002; Le croce, ensemble, 2002; Inseln, viola, cello, 2002; Wie ein Kanon, 4 clarinets ad libitum, 4 double basses, 2002; 3. Streichquartett, string quartet, 2003; Changements, tuba, piano, percussion, live electronics, 2003; Verschmelzungen, recorder, piano, 2003; calmo e furioso, clarinet, double bass, accordion, 2003; Kalkül und Emotion, 4 saxophones, string quartet, 2004
CHORAL: Es ist kalt, youth/female chorus, 1993
VOCAL: Gesänge (texts by Wolfgang Beutin, Fitzgerald Kusz, Bertolt Brecht), voice, cello, percussion, 1975-76; Sicher sein..., speaker, tape, 1976 (version of tape work); Gesänge II (text by Erich Fried), soprano, flute (+ alto flute), clarinet, cello, piano, 1977; Grundgesetze III, 2 speakers, tape, 1977 (version of tape work); Sie, speaker, tape, 1978 (version of tape work); Zum 1. August (text by the composer), soprano, flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 1978; Hymnen, speaker, tape, 1979 (version of tape work; also version for 2 speakers, tape, 1979); Gesänge III, 'Die Lautlosigkeit der Ameisen' (text by Jürg Weibel), soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, string quartet, double bass, 1981; Sehr verehrter Herr Direktor, voice, piano, tape, 1982; Hände, soprano, bass, percussion, 1982-83; Konfigurationen II (texts by Franz Hohler, Hansjörg Schneider, Jürg Schmied, Sascha Anderson, the composer, textes trouvés), alto, flute, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, cello, piano, percussion, 1989; Zuflucht, alto, piano, 1990; Gesänge IV – 10 Gedichte von Kurt Marti, soprano, flute, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, cello, piano, 1992; Moralinski (text by Adrian Sollberger), voice, saxophone, piano, percussion, 1994; Deformationen (texts by the composer, Eduardo Galeano), soprano, flute, guitar, 1998; Fern(seh) – Mitleid, soprano, violin, 2001; Vom Grunde (text by Barbara Köhler), baritone, piano, 2003; Uf Ärde (meditation on the Swiss folksong s Vreneli ab em Guggisberg), baritone, 2003; Löwen Löwen (text by Klaus Merz), soprano, violin, 2004
PIANO: Dreiklang, 1976; Erinnerungen II, 1980; Erinnerungen III, 1986; Achuapa/Nicaragua, piano (+ voice), 1986; Vier Klavierstücke, 1993 (each of its sections may be performed separately); Kobold, 1998; agieren und reagieren, piano, live electronics, 1998-99; Three lines (hommage à Johann Sebastian Bach), 2000 (collaboration with Werner Bärtschi, Martin Sigrist)
ORGAN: Erinnerungen V, 1988
HARPSICHORD: Repetitionen I-V, 1980
ELECTROACOUSTIC: Sicher sein..., tape, 1976 (also version for speaker, tape); Grundgesetze III, tape, 1977 (also version for 2 speakers, tape); Sie, tape, 1978 (also versions for speaker, tape; any improvisational ensemble, tape); Hymnen, tape, 1979 (also versions for speaker, tape; 2 speakers, tape); Erinnerungen I, tape, 1980; Puls und Trigger, tape, 1984; trotz-dem, tape, 1988
DISCOGRAPHY
Sicher sein... (second version). (SMI: 001, 1977) (LP)
Repetitionen I-V. Martin Derungs, harpsichord (pläne: 88 633, 1988) (LP)
Dornenbahn; Friedenslied eines Oboisten; Zustand I-VII; Achuapa/Nicaragua; Konfigurationen II. Béatrice Mathez Wüthrich, alto; Gerhard Erber, voice, piano; Burkhard Glaetzner, oboe; David Riniker, cello; Dominik Blum/ensemble für neue musik zürich; Bernhard Wulff/Radio-Sinfonieorchester Basel (Col Legno: AU 31801, 1990)
zerblasen; Erinnerungen IV, 'Es geht ein' dunkle Wolk' herein'; Gesänge IV – 10 Gedichte von Kurt Marti; Neungestalt; aushalten und bewegen. Martina Bovet, soprano; Christoph Jäggin, guitar; Teodoro Anzellotti, accordion; Christoph Brunner, drumkit; Ensemble Aventure; Ensemble Opera Nova (Jecklin Edition: JS 310, 1995)
Pentalog. Howard Griffiths/Sinfonietta Wetzikon (Grammont: CTS-M 54, 1997)
Sie (original version). Hans Suter, speaker (Cybele: 960.104/LC 3738, 2001)
Rotondo. Christian Hommel/Ensemble Aventure (Schweizer Tonkünstlerverein: STV/ASM 016, 2002)
Mondlandschaft; Dialogfelder; Progressionen; agieren und reagieren; Deformationen; 2. Streichquartett. Eiko Morikawa, soprano; Sarah Hornsby, flute; Daniel Göritz, guitar; Johannes Nied, double bass; Susanne Stelzenbach, piano; Victoria Ifrim, percussion; Schlesisches Streichquartett; Gruppo Musica Insieme di Cremona; David Zinman/Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich (Grammont: CTS-M 84, 2003)
(Last updated on May 16, 2005)
