Hans Otte, the composer, had a deep artistic and personal friendship with John Cage and was instrumental in bringing American musicians like Conlon Nancarrow, Terry Riley, and Steve Reich to European audiences.
Composer Biography
As head of classical music at Radio Bremen, Hans Otte founded the 'pro musica nova' festival, which introduced many 20th-century composers, including Karlheinz Stockhausen and Olivier Messiaen, to Germany.
Performer Biography
Pianist Ralph van Raat studied piano at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and Musicology at the University of Amsterdam, concluding both studies with distinction.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Hans Otte, the composer, intended 'The Book of Sounds' to help listeners rediscover themselves through sound and silence, and to experience the piano as an instrument of rich timbre and resonance.
Compositional Technique
Some movements of Otte's 'The Book of Sounds' use only white keys and church modes, while others employ black keys for highly chromatic, Messiaen-like harmonies.
Composer Biography
Hans Otte, the composer, studied piano with Walter Gieseking, a pianist known for his interpretations of Debussy and Ravel, which deepened Otte's connection to tradition and sound color.
Composer Biography
Hans Otte, the composer, was a piano and organ prodigy who studied composition with Paul Hindemith and organ with Fernando Germani at Yale University after World War II.
You might also enjoy...
Silvestrov: Kitsch-Musik
Helen Hopekirk: The Seal-woman's Sea-joy
Tveitt: Piano Music, Vol. 1
Gershwin: Three Preludes: II. Andante con moto e poco rubato
Kitsch-Musik/III. Allegretto
Kodály: 7 Piano Pieces & Dances of Marosszék (Version for Piano)
Otte: Das Buch der Klänge
Szymanowski: 9 Preludes, Op. 1: No. 2 in D Minor. Andante con moto
Hauer: Atonale Musik, Op. 20
Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2: II. Danza de la Moza Danosa
