updated 7 February 2012
© Susanne Diesner

Robert HP Platz

German composer and conductor born 16 August 1951 in Baden-Baden.

Robert HP Platz studied composition with Wolfgang Fortner at the Freiburg Conservatory, and conducting with Francis Travis. In 1973, he undertook further study in Cologne with Karlheinz Stockhausen.

In 1978-1979, he received a grant from the Heinrich Strobel Foundation (Südwestfunk Radio) which allowed him to travel to the United States and Paris. In 1980, he participated in a computer course for composers at Ircam. While there, he composed Chlebnicov (1980) for ensemble and fixed media; the work was subsequently premiered at the ISCM Festival in Brussels in 1981.

From 1983 to 2001, he directed the Köln Ensemble (which he also founded), for which composers such as Hosokawa, Huber, Scelsi, Stockhausen, and Xenakis wrote works. As a conductor, he has worked with ensembles and orchestras such as Ensemble Modern, Klangforum, Reihe Wien, Deutschen Symphonieorchester, WDR Radio Orchestra, the SWR Freiburg/Baden-Baden and Stuttgart Symphony Orchestras, Radio NDR Philharmonic (Hannover), Niederrheinischen Symphonikern, Luxemburg Philharmonic, and the Bayerische Staatsoper Orchestra. He has conducted more than 300 world premieres throughout Europe, the United States, and Japan, including at festivals such as Musik der Zeit (WDR), Musica, Metz Rencontres Internationales de Musique Contemporaine, Music Today in Tokyo, and the Holland, Salzburg and Donaueschingen Festivals. He is regularly invited to conduct Ensemble Alternance in Paris and Musica d’Insieme in Milan.

In 1989-1990, a grant from Künstlerhof Schreyahn gave rise to Schreyahn for soprano and chamber ensemble. In 1990, following an invitation from the Rockefeller Foundation, Platz was composer-in-residence at Villa Serbelloni. During a residency in Japan two years later, he composed up down strange charm (1996-1998), a commission of the Akiyoshidai Festival, Schömerhauses Klosterneuburg (Wien Modern), and WDR; the work was premiered in Witten.

His catalogue largely comprises chamber and scenic works, e.g., Verkommenes Ufer, a theatrical setting of a text by Heiner Müller (1983-1986). His work Pièce noire, for ensemble and fixed media (commissioned by IRCAM), was conceived as the final chapter of the large-scale scenic work Dunkles Haus, for voice and chamber ensemble (1990-1991).

Robert HP Platz imagines each of his compositions as a part of a singular, over-arching work, characterised by instrumental spatialisation and a musical syntax based on what he describes as a “polyphony of form.”

Notable in his catalogue is the cycle of chamber works, Wunderblock (2008), comprising next, Kiefer, and Sekundenstücke, and the cycle Branenwelten for solo instruments or chamber ensemble. Part of the latter cycle, sixième opus for piano and electronics, was premiered at the Éclat Festival in February 2012.

Platz has taught composition at the Maastricht Academy of Music since 1990. Additionally, he has appeared as a guest lecturer in numerous countries, and has led masterclasses in Darmstadt (1986, 1996, and 2002), Japan, Poland, the Netherlands, and the United States. He has been the Artistic Director of the Schreyahn Autumn Festival since 2000, and a member of the Wallonia Musical Research and Pedagogy Centre (CRFMW) in Liège since 2005.


© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2012

Sources

  • Site de Robert HP Platz (voir ressources documentaires) ;
  • Richard Toop, Grove Music Online, Oxford University Press.
  • Solo (excluding voice)
    • Maro for solo violin (1980), 9 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • trail Klavierstück Nr. 1 (1981), 30 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Raumform for clarinet (1981-1982), 4 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Closed Loop for guitar (1984, 2013-2014), 8 mn, Ricordi
    • elec Klavierstück Nr. 2 for piano and tape (1984), 10 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Klavierstück Nr. 3 for piano (1988), 9 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Levine's Solo for viola (1990), 2 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • L'œil du Silence for percussion (1991-1992), 5 mn, Ricordi
    • Kinderstücke for piano two or four hands, with tape or other piano (1992-1993), 12 mn
    • elec REZITAL for flute and tape (1993), 35 mn, Ricordi
    • FLEUR for tenor saxophone or bass clarinet (1996), 10 mn, Ricordi
    • Echo IV for cello (1997-1998), 6 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, for shô, or alto flute or two flutes (1997-1998, 2000-2001), 4 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, piano version (1997-1998), 4 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, accordion version (1997-1998), 4 mn, Ricordi
    • up Klavierstück Nr. 4 (1997-1998), 9 mn, Ricordi
    • november for piano (1999), 3 mn 25 s, Ricordi
    • Stunden:Buch organ study (1999), 21 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, cello version (1997-2000), 4 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, version for clarinet (1997-2000), 4 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, violin version (1997-2000), 4 mn, Ricordi
    • ikar for solo violin (2001), 2 mn, Ricordi
    • elec Carins Turm for flute and tape (2002), 9 mn, Ricordi
    • elec Leykams Turm (Turm-Echo) for glockenspiel or six groups of loudspeakers (2002), 30 mn, Ricordi
    • Danach for flute (2003), 6 mn, Ricordi
    • Schaukelpferd for flute (2003), 60 s, Ricordi
    • elec Leere Mitte for viola and tape (1994-2004), 10 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, version for harp (1997-2004), 4 mn, Ricordi
    • Jakobs Piratenlied for piano (2006), variable, Ricordi
    • Schaukelpferd piano version (2006), 60 s, Ricordi
    • Unter Segel Klavierstück 5, for piano (2007), 10 mn
    • Next for alto flute (2008), 8 mn, Ricordi
    • Branenwelten 2 for flute (2009), 15 mn, Ricordi
    • Branenwelten 5 for a percussionist (2010)
    • Luftbratsche for viola (2010), 3 mn, Ricordi
    • Stunden:Buch 2 organ study (2010), 12 mn, Ricordi
    • Weißenberg for piano or toy piano (2010), 2 mn, Ricordi
    • elec ircam Branenwelten 6 for piano and electronics (2011-2012), 15 mn [program note]
  • Chamber music
    • ZUSAMMENFINDEN for ensemble of three to five instruments (1973), Breitkopf & Härtel
    • für Rolf for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1978), 12 mn, Edition Modern
    • Text from Stille, for violin and piano (1980), 1 mn 40 s, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • QUARTETT (Zeitstrahl) for string quartet (1986), 15 mn, Ricordi Berlin
    • STEINE for two pianos (1989, 1992-1993), 5 mn, Ricordi
    • roundling for violin and piano (1991-1992), 5 mn, Ricordi
    • Dense for flute, cello and piano (1994), 5 mn, Ricordi
    • Dense/Echo I for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1994-1996), 8 mn, Ricordi [program note]
    • elec main FLEUR for tenor saxophone (or bass clarinet), percussion, piano and live electronics (1997), 10 mn, Ricordi
    • charm for violin and shô (or accordion) (1996-1998), 9 mn, Ricordi
    • down for octet (1998), 11 mn, Ricordi
    • spazio... Echo V for brass trio (1998), 3 mn, Ricordi
    • strange for bass clarinet, harp and percussion (1998), 9 mn, Ricordi
    • strange charm for bass clarinet, percussion, harp, violin and shô (or accordion) (1996-1998), 13 mn, Ricordi
    • Broken Book Skizze for string trio (1999), 5 mn, Ricordi
    • Tau for string quartet (1999), 32 mn, Ricordi
    • Turm 3 for six percussionists (2000), Inédit
    • Echo-Hüllen Danach for flute, clarinet, piano, violin, viola and cello (2002), 14 mn, Ricordi
    • Danach for flute and piano (2003), 6 mn, Ricordi
    • Spitalfields-Trio for string trio (2002-2003), 4 mn, Ricordi
    • L'art-pour-l'art-Turm for alto flute, guitar and percussion (2004), variable, Ricordi
    • Von Anderswo for viola and harp (2007), 18 mn, Ricordi
    • Kiefer for bass clarinet and percussion (2007-2008), 8 mn, Ricordi
    • Kiefer Sekundstücke for bass clarinet, percussion and string trio (2008), 8 mn, Ricordi
    • Sekundenstücke for string trio (2008), 8 mn, Ricordi
    • strings (Echo VII) for string quartet (2008), 20 mn, Ricordi
    • Wunderblock (2008), 9 mn, Ricordi
    • Branenwelten 3 for reed trio (2009), 15 mn, Ricordi
    • Branenwelten 4 for brass trio (2009), 15 mn, Ricordi
  • Instrumental ensemble music
    • Branenwelten for flute, wood trio, brass trio, piano and strings (2009), Ricordi
    • TOP group of works, work in progress (2005)
    • KA for ensemble (1973-1975), 21 mn, Edition Modern
    • elec SCHWELLE for large orchestra and tape (1973-1978), 1 h 3 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • rapport for ensemble (1979), 18 mn, Edition Modern
    • elec Chlebnicov for ensemble and tape (1979-1980), 30 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • elec from fear of thunder, dreams... for ensemble and tape (1987-1988), 13 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • elec ircam Pièce noire Dunkles Haus finale for ensemble and tape (1989), 14 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • tôku/NAH for two wind orchestras (1994), 16 mn
    • Turm for orchestra (1995-1996), 1 s, Ricordi
    • WEITER for orchestra (1995-1996), 10 mn, Ricordi
    • up down for ensemble (1997-1998), 12 mn, Ricordi
    • up down strange charm for ensemble (1996-1998), 15 mn
    • elec über „charm“ (Echo VI) for two ensembles and tape (2000), 18 mn, Ricordi
    • Hülle 1 aus TOP, for fourteen instrumentalists in five groups (2001), 15 mn, Ricordi
    • Brücke Open-Air-Musik for wind ensemble in five groups of one to three instruments each (2002), 20 mn, Ricordi
    • Branenwelten 1 for solo strings or string ensemble (2009), 15 mn, Ricordi
    • Hülle 2 aus TOP, for clarinet, piano and string trio (2008-2009)
    • Blau, See for orchestra (2010), 4 mn, Ricordi
  • Concertant music
    • Flötenstück for alto flute and ensemble (1982), 10 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Echo II for violin, piano and ensemble (1995), 8 mn, Ricordi
    • nerv II for violin, piano and winds (1995-1996), 13 mn, Ricordi
    • elec main FLEUR (Echo III) for bass clarinet/tenor saxophone, ensemble and live electronics (1998), 11 mn, Ricordi
    • elec Horizont Architektur Kern from TOP, for violin, orchestra and tape (2005-2006), 22 mn, Ricordi
    • bulk for alto flute and orchestra (2009), 20 mn, Ricordi
  • Vocal music and instrument(s)
    • elec Maro & Stille for soprano and solo violin, choir, ensemble and tape (1980), 15 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • elec stage Verkommenes Ufer two-part stage composition (1983-1986), 1 h 40 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Schreyahn Zeitinstallation, for soprano, cello, flute, trumpet, two pianos and winds (1990), 25 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • elec Dunkles Haus eleven-phase chamber opera (1990-1991), 1 h 15 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • RELAIS (L'œil) ATILA roundling for baritone, percussion, violin, piano and orchestra (or ensemble) (1991-1992), 23 mn, Ricordi
    • Grenzgänge Steine for soprano, two pianos and orchestra (1989, 1992-1993), 27 mn, Ricordi
    • Liebeslieder for baritone, mezzo-soprano and orchestra (2004), 20 mn, Ricordi
    • elec stage Lilith war scene for baritone, viola, narrator, percussion and tape (2010, 2004-2005), 10 mn, Ricordi
    • elec Vorbei for soprano, trumpet (or clarinet), piano, percussion, cello and tape (2005), 3 mn, Ricordi
    • Boutaden for voice and flute (2007), 18 mn, Ricordi
    • Unter Segel Boutaden Hülle 2 for countertenor or mezzo-soprano and six instrumentalists (2007), 19 mn, Ricordi
  • A cappella vocal music
    • ATILA for solo voice (1991-1992), 6 mn, Ricordi
    • das Nashorn for choir, children's music (1994), Inédit
    • elec stage Lilith war scene, solo version for baritone and tape (2004-2005, 2010), 10 mn, Ricordi
  • Electronic music / fixed media / mechanical musical instruments
  • Unspecified instrumentation
    • uns/euch for variable instrumentation (1973), 12 mn, Edition Modern
    • elec Linné silent installation for flowers and video projection (2001), 4 mn
  • 2012
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
    • elec stage Lilith war scene for baritone, viola, narrator, percussion and tape, 10 mn, Ricordi
    • elec stage Lilith war scene, solo version for baritone and tape, 10 mn, Ricordi
    • elec Vorbei for soprano, trumpet (or clarinet), piano, percussion, cello and tape, 3 mn, Ricordi
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
    • Hülle 1 aus TOP, for fourteen instrumentalists in five groups, 15 mn, Ricordi
    • elec Linné silent installation for flowers and video projection, 4 mn
    • ikar for solo violin, 2 mn, Ricordi
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998
    • Echo IV for cello, 6 mn, Ricordi
    • charm for violin and shô (or accordion), 9 mn, Ricordi
    • down for octet, 11 mn, Ricordi
    • elec main FLEUR (Echo III) for bass clarinet/tenor saxophone, ensemble and live electronics, 11 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, for shô, or alto flute or two flutes, 4 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, piano version, 4 mn, Ricordi
    • senko-hana-bi In Yoshitake’s garden, accordion version, 4 mn, Ricordi
    • spazio... Echo V for brass trio, 3 mn, Ricordi
    • strange for bass clarinet, harp and percussion, 9 mn, Ricordi
    • strange charm for bass clarinet, percussion, harp, violin and shô (or accordion), 13 mn, Ricordi
    • up Klavierstück Nr. 4, 9 mn, Ricordi
    • up down for ensemble, 12 mn, Ricordi
    • up down strange charm for ensemble, 15 mn
  • 1997
    • elec main FLEUR for tenor saxophone (or bass clarinet), percussion, piano and live electronics, 10 mn, Ricordi
  • 1996
    • elec Andere Räume for percussion and magnetic tape, 30 mn, Ricordi
    • Dense/Echo I for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, 8 mn, Ricordi [program note]
    • FLEUR for tenor saxophone or bass clarinet, 10 mn, Ricordi
    • Turm for orchestra, 1 s, Ricordi
    • WEITER for orchestra, 10 mn, Ricordi
    • nerv II for violin, piano and winds, 13 mn, Ricordi
  • 1995
  • 1994
    • Dense for flute, cello and piano, 5 mn, Ricordi
    • das Nashorn for choir, children's music, Inédit
    • tôku/NAH for two wind orchestras, 16 mn
  • 1993
    • Grenzgänge Steine for soprano, two pianos and orchestra, 27 mn, Ricordi
    • Kinderstücke for piano two or four hands, with tape or other piano, 12 mn
    • elec REZITAL for flute and tape, 35 mn, Ricordi
  • 1992
  • 1991
    • elec Dunkles Haus eleven-phase chamber opera, 1 h 15 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
  • 1990
    • Levine's Solo for viola, 2 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Schreyahn Zeitinstallation, for soprano, cello, flute, trumpet, two pianos and winds, 25 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
  • 1989
    • elec ircam Pièce noire Dunkles Haus finale for ensemble and tape, 14 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • STEINE for two pianos, 5 mn, Ricordi
  • 1988
  • 1986
  • 1984
  • 1983
  • 1982
    • Flötenstück for alto flute and ensemble, 10 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Raumform for clarinet, 4 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
  • 1981
    • trail Klavierstück Nr. 1, 30 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
  • 1980
    • elec Chlebnicov for ensemble and tape, 30 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Maro for solo violin, 9 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • elec Maro & Stille for soprano and solo violin, choir, ensemble and tape, 15 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • Text from Stille, for violin and piano, 1 mn 40 s, Breitkopf & Härtel
  • 1979
    • rapport for ensemble, 18 mn, Edition Modern
  • 1978
    • elec SCHWELLE for large orchestra and tape, 1 h 3 mn, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • für Rolf for oboe, clarinet and bassoon, 12 mn, Edition Modern
  • 1975
    • KA for ensemble, 21 mn, Edition Modern
  • 1973
    • ZUSAMMENFINDEN for ensemble of three to five instruments, Breitkopf & Härtel
    • uns/euch for variable instrumentation, 12 mn, Edition Modern
  • Date de composition inconnue
    • Branenwelten for flute, wood trio, brass trio, piano and strings, Ricordi
    • TOP group of works, work in progress

Site Internet

Discographie

  • Robert HP PLATZ, Drei Boutaden, dans « Halt’s Maul und mach was », Denis Lakey : contreténor et Anne Horstmann : flûte, 1 cd cpo, 2011.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, Levine’s Solo, dans « Works for viola », Maurizio Barbetti, 1 cd Music Worx, 2009, PHM 940 9268.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, trail (Klavierstück Nr. 1);Klavierstück Nr. 2;Klavierstück Nr. 3;up (Klavierstück Nr. 4);*Unter Segel (*Klavierstück Nr. 5);WDR, Deutschlandfunk, Rolf Hind : piano, 1 cd NEOS, 2008, 10715.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, up down strange charm ; Broken Book Skizze, WDR, Radio France, HR, Klangforum Wien, direction : Emilio Pomarico, RCA74321 73594 2.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, Broken Book Skizze, dans « In Nomine - The Witten In Nomine Broken Consort Book », ensemble recherche, 2 cd Kairos, SWR, NDR, 2004, 0012442KAI.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, Echo II ; nerv II ; Turm ; Weiter, « Donaueschinger Musiktage 1996 », Irvine Arditti : violon, Kristi Becker : piano, Orchestre de chambre de la Radio néerlandaise, direction : Peter Eötvös, Orchestre symphonique de la SWF Baden-Baden et Freiburg, direction : Robert Casteels, 3 cd SWR, col legno WWE 3CD 20008. 
  • Robert HP PLATZ, Dunkles Haus, WDR, Maria Husmann : soprano, Michael Busch : baryton, Udo Zickwolf : acteur, Marstall-Ensemble, direction : Robert HP Platz, 1 cd Thorofon, 1996, CTH 2170.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, Grenzgänge STEINE, Kristi Becker, Pi Hsien Chen : pianos, Brenda Mitchell : soprano, Kölner Rundfunksinfonieorchester, direction : Hans Vonk, 1 cd WDR, Koch/Schwann 3-5037-4.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, Flötenstück ; from fear of thunder, dreams… ; Maro & Stille ; Raumform ; Requiem ; Verkommenes Ufer, Carin Levine : flûte, Thomas Oesterdiekhoff : percussion, Kristi Becker : piano, Peter Bromig : cor, Christine Whittlesey : soprano, Irvine Arditti : violon, Michael Riessler : clarinette, Schola Cantorum, Ensemble Köln, direction : Robert HP Platz, 1 cd WDR, Radio Bremen, Wergo, 1993, WER 6521-2.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, Flötenstück, dans « Konzert Für Arno Schmidt », avec des œuvres de Mauricio Kagel, Hans Joachim Hespos, Volker Heyn, Ensemble Köln, 1 cd Thorofon, 1991.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, Maro, Irvine Arditti, dans « Zeitgenössische Musik In Der Bundesrepublik Deutschland 10 1970 - 1980 », WDR, 3 LP Harmonia Mundi, 1983, DMR 1028-30.

Bibliographie

  • Juan ALLENDE-BLIN, « Eine Musik, die ständig unterwegs ist. Chlebnikov von Robert HP Platz », MusikTexte n° 17, 1986, p. 14-16.
  • Christoph von BLUMRÖDER, « Nicht einfach, aber neu… zu Robert H.P. Platz », Neuland, n° 1, 1980, p. 94-95.
  • Eckhardt van den HOOGEN, « Raumform: Formpolyphonie von Robert H.P. Platz », Neuland, n° 5, 1985, p. 220-225.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, « Journal de bord de Top », Dissonance, n° 78, décembre 2002, p. 12-21
  • Robert HP PLATZ, « Schriften zur Musik 1979–93 », Feedback Papers, n° 39, 1993.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, « More than Just Notes: Psychoacoustics and Composition », Leonardo Music Journal, n° 5, 1995, p. 23-28.
  • Robert HP PLATZ, TOP-Skizzentagebuch, Sarrebruck, Pfau, 2010.
  • Richard TOOP, « Immer weiter », Musik & Ästhetik, n° 6, 1998, p. 61–76.