Manos Tsangaris
German composer born 8 December 1956 in Düsseldorf.
Manos Tsangaris studied composition and theatrical music with Mauricio Kagel, and percussion with Christoph Caskel, at the Cologne Academy of Music. His works from the 1970s onwards are characterised by an emphasis on diverse performance practices, including theatrical music and sound installations, alongside chambre and orchestral music.
His music has been performed in festivals including Donaueschingen, Witten Festival of Contemporary Chambre Music, the Belgrade International Theatre Festival, Ultima, TonLagen in Dresden, and Warsaw Autumn, and in theatres and opera houses in Cologne, New York, Mannheim, Dresden, and Berlin. He has received numerous commissions from German Radio.
In 1991, he was invited by the Union of Soviet Composers to undertake a residency in Moscow. From 2002 to 2007, he was an artistic advisor for the Cologne Schauspielhaus, and in 2009, was a special guest at Villa Massimo in Rome. He was elected as a member of the Saxe Academy of the Arts in 2010, going on to become the Deputy Secretary for Music at this institution the following year. Also in 2011, he founded the Internationale Institut für Kunstermittlung [International Institute for Artistic Investigation], an organisation through which he undertook research into the “anthropology of the stage”. In 2012 and 2013, he was artist-in-residence at the Zurich University of the Arts. In 2016, he was Co-artistic Director, alongside Daniel Ott, of the Munich Theatrical Music Biennale.
Manos Tsangaris is very active as a teacher. In 2002, he taught at Ny Musikk in Oslo and Stavanger; in 2003, at the Berlin University of the Arts (UKB) Summer Academy; and in 2004, 2006, and 2008, at the Darmstadt Summer Courses. In 2008-2009, he was a guest professor at the Berlin University of the Arts. In 2009, he became a professor at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden, and in the same year, a member of the Berlin Academy of the Arts, going on to become director of the music department in the latter institution in 2012. In 2017-2018, he was a guest professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.
Manos Tsangaris’ catalogue is diverse and multi-faceted. While theatrical music comprises the bulk of his output, he has also created performance pieces and sound installations. Since 1986, he has also published poetry and anthologies. His sound installations are regularly exhibited in galleries and museums in Germany and abroad. Notably, the Kolumba Museum in Cologne and the Odense Gallery in Danemark have exhibited his work.
Awards, Grants, and Prizes
- 1991: Bernd Alois Zimmermann Grant from the City of Cologne
- 1993-1994: Akademie Schloss Solitude Grant
- 1997: Kunstpreis from the Berlin Academy of the Arts
- SWR Prize for Orchestral music, for Batsheba. Eat The History!, premiered in 2009 at the Donaueschingen Festival.
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2016
Sources
Site personnel du compositeur ; page personnelle du compositeur sur le site de l’Académie des Arts de Berlin.
- Solo (excluding voice)
- elec o.T. for bass clarinet, voices, objects, light with an unprepared person in the audience (1980), 3 mn, Peters
- So Low two-part work for contrabass clarinet and a disruptor (1981), 10 mn
- Shellbum Album for piano (1992), 18 mn
- elec Ein-Personen-Kopf-Duschen-Schreiber for super 8 film and percussion on the head (one musician) (1996), 4 mn
- in situ for trumpet (small percussion and controlled light sources) (1999), 15 mn
- elec Glockenturm for five-note chimes and light spaces (1999-2000), 17 mn
- Ansage for flute (2003), 17 mn
- elec Tmesis for viola and light (2008), 8 mn
- Viscum Album four small accordion pieces (2013), 16 mn
- Chamber music
- Blaues Kreuz for two actors (also: high wind instrument and keyboard), objects and light (1981), 12 mn
- Quartett für Diskantinstrumente (1984), 17 mn
- Fadenwerk for piano, tuba, bells and objects (two musicians) (1992), 18 mn
- elec Drei Orte for soprano saxophone, piano, drum kit and mobile loudspeaker (1998-1999), 17 mn
- stage Selbstleuchtende Landschaften (ou Fries / D' Fries) for elements moving in space (floors, pedestals, bonsai trees on wheels, etc.), adjustable ball track, light installation and instrumental trio (2002)
- elec Wieso wir das alles machen for two flutes, accordion, three assistants and light (2004)
- elec Ein Protokoll (Chronos versus Bien) for clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion, cello and lights (2010)
- elec Final Match for three musicians with amplification (2011), Peters
- elec Guten Tag, wie heißen Sie... poem for horn, violin and video (2011), between 5 mn and 7 mn
- elec Glück und Vergessen for cello, piano and video per iPhone (2012), 7 mn
- Mistel Album for two cellos and percussion (2012), 16 mn
- Ausflug ins Gebirge for clarinet in B, viola, cello and double bass (2017), 21 mn, Peters
- What I See for two performers (2018), Peters
- Instrumental ensemble music
- stage Love & Diversity musical theater for small ensemble (2012), 50 mn, Peters
- Mistel I for orchestra and presenter (2014), 12 mn
- Mistel II [Gong-Mistel] for orchestra (2014), 4 mn
- Mistel III [Space-Mistel] for orchestra (2014), 5 mn
- Mistel IV [Dark Misteltoe] for orchestra and small moving light sources (2014), 5 mn
- Mistel V [LUX Mistel] for orchestra and light (2014), 7 mn
- DAS PIZZICATO MYSTERIUM for string orchestra (2016)
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- elec stage Meine sehr verehrten Dameisen und Herrenmeisen for recited text, scenic action, piano and recorded voice (1982-1983)
- elec Monde for narrator, recorded voice and small ensemble (1983), 12 mn
- elec Elephants Cry Salty Tears for narrator, objects, action, percussion and tape (1989), 18 mn
- elec Tafel 2 for house fronts, voice, narrator, mobile instrumentalists, bandwidths, mobile light sources, organ (fadenorgel), video and works (around 30 contributors) (1991), 60 mn
- elec grüns sonometric composition for three pianos, video and actor (1993)
- stage winzig musical theatre miniatures for narrator, singer, instrumentalists and actors in ensembles of different sizes or soloists (1993)
- elec stage Der Ebertplatz als junger Mann for audio players with two reciters, three noisemakers, prepared piano, contrabass clarinet, objects and tape (1994), 11 mn
- Nachtstück mit Fenster for soprano and chamber ensemble (1994), 30 mn
- elec An die Vorwelt for large ensemble, two narrators, conductor soloist and light (1996), 35 mn
- elec Tafel 3 for soprano, trumpet, objects, drums, organ (fadenorgel), light (4 musicians) (1997), 3 h
- Sieben Fenster miniatures / interludes for two voices and four instruments (1998), 25 mn
- Wittenau Blu for two sopranos, violin, shruti box, percussion and baritone (three musicians) (1998), 4 mn
- elec SCHICHTWECHSEL: Wie gehts Ihnen? spatial poem for narrator (actress), lyric soprano, ensemble, text and light projection (1999), 1 h 10 mn
- Haben Sie Zeit? for two narrators, violin, oboe, horn, harmonium and percussion (2000), 27 mn
- I n i t i u m für Ado und Elsa Müller for two reciters, organ and percussion (2000), 30 mn
- elec stage RELIEF oder Die Buchstabenrevolte spatial poem for narrator (actress), violin (soprano), horn, harmonium, sampler (soprano saxophone), silent actor, scenic installation, acoustic interventions, text projections and light sources (2000), 40 mn
- elec stage Orpheus, Zwischenspiele multi-site theater for soprano, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, small orchestra, projected letters, 15 actors, at least 50 more, organ (fadenorgel), light, three subways (2002), 1 h 30 mn
- elec Hier und Hier for two musicians, voice, moving light sources, radios and objects (2003), 8 mn
- elec 2 + 1 (Zwischenreich) for soprano, organ, percussions and lights (2004)
- elec Bitte mit Bild for soprano, piano, text screening and video (2004), 32 mn
- stage Die Döner-Schaltung musical theater miniatures for spaces with limited audiences; theater for a house for reciters, singers, instrumentalists and actors in ensembles of varying sizes or as soloists (2004)
- stage Drei Räume Theater Suite musical theater miniatures for spaces with limited audiences; theater for a house for reciters, singers, instrumentalists and actors in ensembles of varying sizes or as soloists (2004)
- Labor four compositions for soprano and ensembles, performances, living images, installations and paintings (2005)
- Centralstation Vom Außen und Innen der Städte musical theater (2006)
- stage Diskrete Stücke for voices and ensemble (2007), Peters
- stage Memento (Lots Weib) musical theater (2007)
- elec stage Glück macht mutig incidental music for choir, narrator and electronics (2004-2008), 34 mn
- stage Batsheba. Eat The History! installation-opera for actors, singers, choir and orchestra (2008-2009)
- stage Schwalbe for voice, horn, percussion, foghorn, acoustic interventions, actors and moving audience (2011), Peters
- elec stage Vivarium [Reisen, Kochen, Zoo...] for movement in space, voice, instruments and light (2011), Peters
- elec stage Freigehege for orchestral groups, soloists, reciting soprano, baritone and lights (2013), Peters
- elec Mauersegler remix of audio descriptions for voice, actors, performers, horn, percussion, electronics and tram (2013), Peters
- stage Karl May, Raum der Wahrheit musical theater (2014), 60 mn
- elec EILAND (ISOLA). Das aufgehobene Ich for stations in space, vocals, contrabass clarinets and lights (2015)
- elec City Pieces (Window Piece) for singer, actor, ensemble, installation, light, video and audio guide (2016)
- HOME for actor, soprano, clarinet and piano performer (2017)
- Die Sonne hat sich inzwischen weitergedreht for voice, percussion, trees and gesture artists (2018)
- es geht voran chamber music for singer, actor, wind instruments, percussion and passers-by (2019)
- A cappella vocal music
- elec Studie for actor and light (1978), 3 mn
- elec Traktat for actress, objects and light (1979), 2 mn
- elec "ö" for three narrators, sounds and light (1980), 3 mn
- elec Stuhlgang (Meta) for two actors, objects and light (1980), 3 mn
- Schütten! for four actors (1985), between 2 mn and 4 mn
- Sudelkreuze performance for a narrator and sounds (1992), 60 mn about
- Drei Miniaturen for three female voices (1998), 8 mn
- elec Ich bin nur scheintot for chamber choir and electronics (2004-2005), 1 h 20 mn
- stage WAIT ! FOR A GROUP OF PERFORMERS (SINGERS !) for a group of singers (2016)
- Electronic music / fixed media / mechanical musical instruments
- elec Fadenorgel interactive sound installation for light and sound oscillation in a church (1998)
- elec Die Sonne so breit wie ein Menschenfuß for mobile and fixed light sources at night (2007)
- Unspecified instrumentation
- elec Molto Molto for conductor and light (1980), between 3 mn and 5 mn, Peters
- Pfähle – Hommage à Richard Long conceptual text, action, record etc. (1981)
- Köpfe for heads, installation of spaces and small ensemble (1985-1989), 50 mn
- Tafel 1 - Wiesers Werdetraum for two or three musicians at the table, walkman, radio, mobile light sources and organ (fadenorgel) (1989), 23 mn, Peters
- 3 x 1'31'' – Hommage à John Cage concept and action (1991), 4 mn 33 s
- Wünschkonzert for the ensemble L'art pour l'art in the music box (1996), 5 mn
- Kugelbahn spatial-installative composition for one person in the centre (1997)
- Drei Spiele: Instant Karma, Tempus Pefectum, Raum 1 (1998)
- stage Tafel N for an unspecified number of participants, in pairs at tables (2001), 30 mn
- Botenstoffe. Orestie multi-site theater (2006-2007)
- elec stage ABSTRACT PIECES musical theater for actors, instruments, space and light (2018)
- 2019
- es geht voran chamber music for singer, actor, wind instruments, percussion and passers-by
- 2018
- elec stage ABSTRACT PIECES musical theater for actors, instruments, space and light
- Die Sonne hat sich inzwischen weitergedreht for voice, percussion, trees and gesture artists
- What I See for two performers, Peters
- 2017
- Ausflug ins Gebirge for clarinet in B, viola, cello and double bass, 21 mn, Peters
- HOME for actor, soprano, clarinet and piano performer
- 2016
- elec City Pieces (Window Piece) for singer, actor, ensemble, installation, light, video and audio guide
- DAS PIZZICATO MYSTERIUM for string orchestra
- stage WAIT ! FOR A GROUP OF PERFORMERS (SINGERS !) for a group of singers
- 2015
- elec EILAND (ISOLA). Das aufgehobene Ich for stations in space, vocals, contrabass clarinets and lights
- 2014
- stage Karl May, Raum der Wahrheit musical theater, 60 mn
- Mistel I for orchestra and presenter, 12 mn
- Mistel II [Gong-Mistel] for orchestra, 4 mn
- Mistel III [Space-Mistel] for orchestra, 5 mn
- Mistel IV [Dark Misteltoe] for orchestra and small moving light sources, 5 mn
- Mistel V [LUX Mistel] for orchestra and light, 7 mn
- 2013
- elec stage Freigehege for orchestral groups, soloists, reciting soprano, baritone and lights, Peters
- elec Mauersegler remix of audio descriptions for voice, actors, performers, horn, percussion, electronics and tram, Peters
- Viscum Album four small accordion pieces, 16 mn
- 2012
- elec Glück und Vergessen for cello, piano and video per iPhone, 7 mn
- stage Love & Diversity musical theater for small ensemble, 50 mn, Peters
- Mistel Album for two cellos and percussion, 16 mn
- 2011
- elec Final Match for three musicians with amplification, Peters
- elec Guten Tag, wie heißen Sie... poem for horn, violin and video, between 5 mn and 7 mn
- stage Schwalbe for voice, horn, percussion, foghorn, acoustic interventions, actors and moving audience, Peters
- elec stage Vivarium [Reisen, Kochen, Zoo...] for movement in space, voice, instruments and light, Peters
- 2010
- elec Ein Protokoll (Chronos versus Bien) for clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion, cello and lights
- 2009
- stage Batsheba. Eat The History! installation-opera for actors, singers, choir and orchestra
- 2008
- elec stage Glück macht mutig incidental music for choir, narrator and electronics, 34 mn
- elec Tmesis for viola and light, 8 mn
- 2007
- Botenstoffe. Orestie multi-site theater
- elec Die Sonne so breit wie ein Menschenfuß for mobile and fixed light sources at night
- stage Diskrete Stücke for voices and ensemble, Peters
- stage Memento (Lots Weib) musical theater
- 2006
- Centralstation Vom Außen und Innen der Städte musical theater
- 2005
- elec Ich bin nur scheintot for chamber choir and electronics, 1 h 20 mn
- Labor four compositions for soprano and ensembles, performances, living images, installations and paintings
- 2004
- elec 2 + 1 (Zwischenreich) for soprano, organ, percussions and lights
- elec Bitte mit Bild for soprano, piano, text screening and video, 32 mn
- stage Die Döner-Schaltung musical theater miniatures for spaces with limited audiences; theater for a house for reciters, singers, instrumentalists and actors in ensembles of varying sizes or as soloists
- stage Drei Räume Theater Suite musical theater miniatures for spaces with limited audiences; theater for a house for reciters, singers, instrumentalists and actors in ensembles of varying sizes or as soloists
- elec Wieso wir das alles machen for two flutes, accordion, three assistants and light
- 2003
- Ansage for flute, 17 mn
- elec Hier und Hier for two musicians, voice, moving light sources, radios and objects, 8 mn
- 2002
- elec stage Orpheus, Zwischenspiele multi-site theater for soprano, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, small orchestra, projected letters, 15 actors, at least 50 more, organ (fadenorgel), light, three subways, 1 h 30 mn
- stage Selbstleuchtende Landschaften (ou Fries / D' Fries) for elements moving in space (floors, pedestals, bonsai trees on wheels, etc.), adjustable ball track, light installation and instrumental trio
- 2001
- stage Tafel N for an unspecified number of participants, in pairs at tables, 30 mn
- 2000
- elec Glockenturm for five-note chimes and light spaces, 17 mn
- Haben Sie Zeit? for two narrators, violin, oboe, horn, harmonium and percussion, 27 mn
- I n i t i u m für Ado und Elsa Müller for two reciters, organ and percussion, 30 mn
- elec stage RELIEF oder Die Buchstabenrevolte spatial poem for narrator (actress), violin (soprano), horn, harmonium, sampler (soprano saxophone), silent actor, scenic installation, acoustic interventions, text projections and light sources, 40 mn
- 1999
- elec Drei Orte for soprano saxophone, piano, drum kit and mobile loudspeaker, 17 mn
- elec SCHICHTWECHSEL: Wie gehts Ihnen? spatial poem for narrator (actress), lyric soprano, ensemble, text and light projection, 1 h 10 mn
- in situ for trumpet (small percussion and controlled light sources), 15 mn
- 1998
- Drei Miniaturen for three female voices, 8 mn
- Drei Spiele: Instant Karma, Tempus Pefectum, Raum 1
- elec Fadenorgel interactive sound installation for light and sound oscillation in a church
- Sieben Fenster miniatures / interludes for two voices and four instruments, 25 mn
- Wittenau Blu for two sopranos, violin, shruti box, percussion and baritone (three musicians), 4 mn
- 1997
- 1996
- elec An die Vorwelt for large ensemble, two narrators, conductor soloist and light, 35 mn
- elec Ein-Personen-Kopf-Duschen-Schreiber for super 8 film and percussion on the head (one musician), 4 mn
- Wünschkonzert for the ensemble L'art pour l'art in the music box, 5 mn
- 1994
- elec stage Der Ebertplatz als junger Mann for audio players with two reciters, three noisemakers, prepared piano, contrabass clarinet, objects and tape, 11 mn
- Nachtstück mit Fenster for soprano and chamber ensemble, 30 mn
- 1993
- 1992
- Fadenwerk for piano, tuba, bells and objects (two musicians), 18 mn
- Shellbum Album for piano, 18 mn
- Sudelkreuze performance for a narrator and sounds, 60 mn about
- 1991
- 3 x 1'31'' – Hommage à John Cage concept and action, 4 mn 33 s
- elec Tafel 2 for house fronts, voice, narrator, mobile instrumentalists, bandwidths, mobile light sources, organ (fadenorgel), video and works (around 30 contributors), 60 mn
- 1989
- elec Elephants Cry Salty Tears for narrator, objects, action, percussion and tape, 18 mn
- Köpfe for heads, installation of spaces and small ensemble, 50 mn
- Tafel 1 - Wiesers Werdetraum for two or three musicians at the table, walkman, radio, mobile light sources and organ (fadenorgel), 23 mn, Peters
- 1985
- Schütten! for four actors, between 2 mn and 4 mn
- 1984
- 1983
- elec stage Meine sehr verehrten Dameisen und Herrenmeisen for recited text, scenic action, piano and recorded voice
- elec Monde for narrator, recorded voice and small ensemble, 12 mn
- 1981
- Blaues Kreuz for two actors (also: high wind instrument and keyboard), objects and light, 12 mn
- Pfähle – Hommage à Richard Long conceptual text, action, record etc.
- So Low two-part work for contrabass clarinet and a disruptor, 10 mn
- 1980
- elec "ö" for three narrators, sounds and light, 3 mn
- elec Molto Molto for conductor and light, between 3 mn and 5 mn, Peters
- elec Stuhlgang (Meta) for two actors, objects and light, 3 mn
- elec o.T. for bass clarinet, voices, objects, light with an unprepared person in the audience, 3 mn, Peters
- 1979
- elec Traktat for actress, objects and light, 2 mn
- 1978
- elec Studie for actor and light, 3 mn
Bibliographie
- Jörn Peter HIEKEL, « Erhellende Passagen : zum Stationentheater von Manos Tsangaris, dans Musik & Ästhetik, Heft 52, 2009, p. 48-60.
- Raoul MÖRCHEN, « Das mediale Theater von Manos Tsangaris », dans MusikTexte, n° 91, 2001, p. 45-50.
- Raoul MÖRCHEN, Manos TSANGARIS, « Täglich’Brot : Manos Tsangaris im Gespräch über Dichten, Zeichnen und Trommeln », dans MusikTexte, n° 91, 2001, p. 61-66.
- Monica PASIECZNIK, « Scenic Anthropology », dans Dissonance, n° 121, 2013, p. 7-10.
- Michael STRUCK-SCHLOEN, « Gegen die Rituale : drei Versuche über den Komponisten Manos Tsangaris », dans Positionen, n° 38, 1999, p. 6-9.
- Ulrich TADDAY(éd.), « Manos Tsangaris »*,* Musik-Konzepte, Sonderband,Edition Text+Kritik, 2015.
- Manos TSANGARIS, « Was ist überhaupt eine Frage? Monolog », dans MusikTexte, n° 91, 2001, p. 57-60.
Discographie
- Manos TSANGARIS, Batsheba. Eat The History!, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, Johanna Winkel : soprano, Elvira Bill : alto, Julian Podger : tenor, Andreas Wolf : baryton, Anja Laïs, Kate Strong, Olga Wäscher, Markus Boysen, Sylvain Cambreling : acteurs, Christoph Grund : orgue, Sylvain Cambreling, Denis Comtet : direction, dans « Donaueschinger Musiktage 2009 - vol. 3 », 1 cd Neos, 2009, NEOS 11053.
- Manos TSANGARIS, Relief oder die Buchstabenrevolte, Petra Torky : voix, Freya Ritts-Kirby : voix et violon, Pi-hsien Chen : harmonium, Franck Ollu : cor, Simon Stockhausen : saxophone sorano et Martin Schmitz : acteur, dans « Donaueschinger Musiktage 2000 », 1 cd Col Legno, 2001, WWE20201.
- Manos TSANGARIS, Drüm 1 ; Drüm 2, Manos Tsangaris, dans « Elephant’s Easy Moonwalk Through The Night », 1 cd Exaudio, 1990, 4990 S.
Liens Internet
- Site personnel du compositeur : http://www.tsangaris.de/
- Internationale Institut für Kunstermittlung : http://www.iike.de/
(liens vérifiés en juillet 2019).