© Vinzenz Niedermann
Michael Pelzel
Swiss composer and organist born in 1978 in Rapperswil.
Michael Pelzel studied piano with Ivan Klansky and composition with Dieter Ammann at the Lucerne Hochschule. He went on to study music theory and composition with Georg-Friedrich Haas, Detlev Müller-Siemens, and Roland Moser, and organ with Guy Bovet at the Basel Hochschule from 2003 to 2008. From 2007 to 2009, he undertook further study of the organ with Ludger Lohmann at the Stuttgart Hochschule, and composition with Hanspeter Kyburz at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. Finally, in 2009, he studied with Wolfgang Rihm at the Karlsruhe Hochschule while also attending composition classes with Klaus Huber and György Kurtág. He participated in the Darmstadt Summer Courses in 2004, 2006, and 2008.
Currently, Michael Pelzel works as an organist in Stäfa (near Zurich), and collaborates with ensembles such as MusikFabrik, Phoenix, Ensemble Recherche, Klangforum Wien, Collegium Novum, Vortex, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Diotima Quartet, Mosaik, Linea, Neue Vocalsolisten, and the Bavarian Radio Orchestra.
In the 2010-2011 season, Pelzel’s works were performed in festivals including Ensemblia in Saarbrücken, Musica Viva in Munich, Wien Modern, Donaueschingen, and the Lucerne Festival, and at Cité de la Musique in Paris.
As an organist, Michael Pelzel has been invited to perform in cathedrals in Sydney, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Cape Town.
Awards, Grants and Prizes
- Composer promotion prize from Ernst von Siemens Stiftung, 2017 ;
- Werkbeitrag of the Canton of Saint Gallen, 2014 ;
- Stipend of the berliner künstler programm DAAD, 2014 ;
- Grant from Visby International Centre for Composers (VICC), Sweden, 2012 et 2013 ;
- Busoni-Kompositionspreis, Berlin, 2011 ;
- Stipend of the Pro Helvetia-Kulturstiftung of Switzerland for a three-months-stay in South Africa for artistic projects, 2010 ;
- Prize of the competition of Music today, Seoul, 2009 ;
- Studienpreis der Kiefer-Hablitzel Stiftung, Berne, 2007 ;
- Prize of the competition of Jurgenson Competition, Moscou, 2007 ;
- Prize of the competition of Edison Denisov, Tomsk, 2007 ;
- Werkjahr des Kulturdepartementes of the Canton de Saint Gallen, 2006 ;
- Studienpreis from Kiefer-Hablitzel Stiftung, Berne, 2006 ;
- Prize of the competition of Musica Viva, Munich, 2005 ;
- Prize of the competition of Stiftung Christoph Delz, Bâle, 2005.
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2010
Sources
Festival de Donaueschingen.
- Solo (excluding voice)
- Psalmodie volubile for solo flute (2003), Inédit
- Toccata fluida for solo organ (2004), Inédit
- Trois études-bagatelles for solo organ (2004), Inédit
- Trois bagatelles perforées for solo accordion (2008)
- elec Brushing for solo piano (2009), Inédit
- Let’s Brush 4 semiprofessional pianists on 1 piano (2009)
- ...étude-bagatelle N° IV... for organ and four assistants (2011)
- Chamber music
- Let’s Brush for four pianists on a piano (), Inédit
- ...in between for viola d'amore, clarinet and trombone (2003)
- Figures perforées for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2006), Inédit
- ...trio volubile... for flute, cello and organ (2007)
- Blue and monochrome for clarinet, saxophone and accordion (2009)
- Chant fractal for oboe and violin (2009), 10 mn, Inédit
- Corrugated passacaille for saxophone, cello and accordion (2009), Inédit
- Slivers of Sound for string quartet (2009), Inédit
- Gruis three short pieces, for trumpet and horn (2010)
- Vers le vent for string quartet (2010), Inédit
- ...vague écume des mers... for string quartet (2013)
- Instrumental ensemble music
- Par la brume flottante for ensemble (2004), Inédit
- Danses oniriques for ensemble (2005), Inédit
- ...along 101... for ensemble (2008), 12 mn, Inédit [program note]
- Chatoiements à l’air for chamber orchestra (2012)
- Sempiternal lock-in for ensemble (2012-2013), between 12 mn and 35 mn
- Sculture di suono in memoriam Giacinto Scelsi, for ensemble (2014)
- Concertant music
- Méandre inondé for clarinet and orchestra (2005), Inédit
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- Dreamland for choir and orchestra (2008), Inédit
- Haikus for soprano, flute, cello, percussion and piano (2009), Inédit
- Mélodie fractal for bass voice, organ, horn, trumpet and trombone (2009), 6 mn, Inédit [program note]
- Piano Operation for soprano, oboe, cello and piano (2009)
- Haikus for soprano, flute, cello, piano and percussion (2010)
- Erlkönig for baritone, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2012)
- Electronic music / fixed media / mechanical musical instruments
- elec ...sentiers tortueux... electronic music (2007)
- 2014
- Sculture di suono in memoriam Giacinto Scelsi, for ensemble
- 2013
- ...vague écume des mers... for string quartet
- Sempiternal lock-in for ensemble, between 12 mn and 35 mn
- 2012
- Chatoiements à l’air for chamber orchestra
- Erlkönig for baritone, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano
- 2011
- ...étude-bagatelle N° IV... for organ and four assistants
- 2010
- Gruis three short pieces, for trumpet and horn
- Haikus for soprano, flute, cello, piano and percussion
- Vers le vent for string quartet, Inédit
- 2009
- Blue and monochrome for clarinet, saxophone and accordion
- elec Brushing for solo piano, Inédit
- Chant fractal for oboe and violin, 10 mn, Inédit
- Corrugated passacaille for saxophone, cello and accordion, Inédit
- Haikus for soprano, flute, cello, percussion and piano, Inédit
- Let’s Brush 4 semiprofessional pianists on 1 piano
- Mélodie fractal for bass voice, organ, horn, trumpet and trombone, 6 mn, Inédit [program note]
- Piano Operation for soprano, oboe, cello and piano
- Slivers of Sound for string quartet, Inédit
- 2008
- ...along 101... for ensemble, 12 mn, Inédit [program note]
- Dreamland for choir and orchestra, Inédit
- Trois bagatelles perforées for solo accordion
- 2007
- elec ...sentiers tortueux... electronic music
- ...trio volubile... for flute, cello and organ
- 2006
- Figures perforées for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, Inédit
- 2005
- Danses oniriques for ensemble, Inédit
- Méandre inondé for clarinet and orchestra, Inédit
- 2004
- Par la brume flottante for ensemble, Inédit
- Toccata fluida for solo organ, Inédit
- Trois études-bagatelles for solo organ, Inédit
- 2003
- ...in between for viola d'amore, clarinet and trombone
- Psalmodie volubile for solo flute, Inédit
- Date de composition inconnue
- Let’s Brush for four pianists on a piano, Inédit
Liens Internet
- Site du compositeur : www.michaelpelzel.ch
- Portrait de Michael Pelzel par Markus Böggemann pour la Ernst von Siemens Stiftung, 2017.
(liens vérifiés en septembre 2022).
Discographie
- Michael PELZEL, Mysterious Anjuna Bell ; Carnaticaphobia ; Gravity’s Rainbow ; “Alf”-Sonata ; Danse Diobolique, dans « Gravity’s Rainbow », 1 CD Kairos, 2019, 0018001KAI.
- Michael PELZEL, … Vague Écume Des Mers … ; Dance Of The Magic Waterbells ; Dance Machine ; Cosmic Swoosh ; …Danses Oniriques… ; …Par la Brume Flottante…, dans « Michael Pelzel », 1 CD Musiques Suisses, 2016, MGB CTS-M 149.
- Michael PELZEL, Sempiternal Lock-In ; Sculture Di Suono In Memoriam Giacinto Scelsi ; …Along 101… ; …Sentiers Tortueux…, dans « Sempiternal Lock-In », 1 CD Wergo, 2015, WER 6415 2.