Musical visionary Karlheinz Stockhausen passed away at his home in Kurten, German on December 5. The cause of death is reportedly heart failure, following the recent completion of two works. He as 79.
The pioneering composer, praised by many as "one of the great visionaries of 20th century music," led an innovative and uncompromising career filled with groundbreaking achievements in electronic and avant-garde music, most notably creating what he described as "space music" as well as "serialism," which produced atonal music through manipulating music's pitch, duration and dynamics.
He's known for inspiring the far out work of everyone from Glenn Gould, the Beatles and Miles Davis to Kraftwerk and Can, who both studied with him in Germany. A prolific composer, Stockhausen wrote 362 compositions in his life, and at the time of his death, he was working on a new cycle of chamber works titled "Klang," which was to cover each hour of the day.
For a full overview on his life, click here.
The pioneering composer, praised by many as "one of the great visionaries of 20th century music," led an innovative and uncompromising career filled with groundbreaking achievements in electronic and avant-garde music, most notably creating what he described as "space music" as well as "serialism," which produced atonal music through manipulating music's pitch, duration and dynamics.
He's known for inspiring the far out work of everyone from Glenn Gould, the Beatles and Miles Davis to Kraftwerk and Can, who both studied with him in Germany. A prolific composer, Stockhausen wrote 362 compositions in his life, and at the time of his death, he was working on a new cycle of chamber works titled "Klang," which was to cover each hour of the day.
For a full overview on his life, click here.