Symposium and Concerts: Christian Wolff on his 80th Birthday

Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Germany

Composer and classicist Christian Wolff will be celebrating his 80th birthday in 2014. The musicology department Institut für Musikwissenschaft at Munich’s Ludwig-Maximilian University wishes to take this opportunity to present – with the support of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation – a symposium and accompanying concert by way of an introduction to Wolff’s music. This “gentle giant” of the music of our times will himself take part in the conference that also aims to provide a review on the development and problems of the musical avantgarde since the Second World War. For over half a century now Wolff has impacted the development of the compositional language(s) of the avantgarde, and has indeed shaped thought on the possibilities of music – as a spiritual power and non-violent medium of aesthetic and social transformation. Nevertheless, there have been few opportunities in Europe to get to know Wolff’s work and ideas since the composer lived in the USA after his parents fled in the early 30s. The symposium now wishes to help change this: over three days lectures, concerts and a roundtable discussion will be held. Furthermore, a composition commission is to be issued to Wolff which will be performed for the first time by amateur performers (students of aesthetics) as part of the symposium. 

October 17–19 or 24–26, 2014 
LMU Munich, Lichthof/HGB and Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany 

Further Information: 
www.musikwissenschaft.uni-muenchen.de