Kasper Toeplitz

A self-taught composer and performer, Kasper T. Toeplitz began playing the electric bass and music in general in 1984. His early works, including the opera J'irai vers le nord, j'irai vers la nuit polaire (1989) and the orchestral work Lhow (1990), attracted attention. He was awarded several grants and state commissions, as well as the Villa Médicis hors les murs prize (1993). Composing for Sleaze Art, his orchestra of electric guitars, he integrates the computer both as a compositional means and as a real instrument. His reflections led to the creation of the BassComputer, a hybrid instrument between bass guitar and computer, and the founding, with Eryck Abecassis and Wilfried Wendling, of Kernel, a computer ensemble designed for live performance. At the crossroads of two worlds, inspired in particular by Giacinto Scelsi, Iannis Xenakis and rock bands, Kasper T. Toeplitz is particularly interested in sound oscillations and vibrations, unstructured sounds and microtonality. His works, described as "noise music", are intended for both small ensembles (NoiseVille for 5 guitars, 1995) and large orchestras (Ruine for soprano and orchestra, 1998), and sometimes include video images, light scenography and choreography* (*Capture for three dancers and real-time video, 2002). Other works include Unfinished Metal Waves for tam-tam and computer (2005); Dust Reconstruction for small ensemble including the BassComputer and electronic sounds (2007); Inoculate for wind trio, live electronics, dance and data-noise (2011).