Photographer: Renate Publig ©
Schuler Thomas Herwig
- Compositions
- General Information
- Education
- Activities
- Performances (Selection)
- Commissions (Selection)
- Awards
- Description of Style
- Press Reviews
- Librettist of (Composition)
- Contact, Links
Compositions
General Information
Born in Vienna on 18.01.1961; 1967-75 first piano lessons, visiting the Singschule of the City of Vienna (recorder), member of a boys' choir. 1975-80 private piano lessons, first attempts at composing, secondary school leaving certificate (specialised in communications engineering); 1980-1982 electric engineering at the Vienna University of Technology; 1984 master craftsman certificate as a radio and television engineer; 1982-85 composition studies at the University of Music under Prof. Augustin Kubicek (music theory), 1983-85 private composition studies with Prof. Robert Schollum; 1985-87 training as sound engineer, starts studying composition (graduation in 1991); 1989-90 alternative civilian service; 1980-91 technical assistant, freelance composer; since 1992 married to Danja Lukan, M.A., 1993 birth of daughter Julia Christine; 2002-05 doctorate studies on an individual music theory.
Thomas Herwig Schuler, 2006
Education
| Period | Education | Instrument | Teacher | Education Organisation | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1967 - 1975
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1975 - 1980
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private lessons from the age of seven onwards | ||||
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1975 - 1980
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Höhere Technische Lehranstalt: communications engineering, secondary school leaving certificate | ||||
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1980 - 1982
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electronic engineering | ||||
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1982 - 1991
|
composition | ||||
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1982 - 1991
|
composition | ||||
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1982 - 1991
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private composition studies | ||||
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1982 - 1985
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music theory | ||||
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1984
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master craftsman certificate as radio and television engineer | ||||
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1985 - 1987
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training as sound engineer | ||||
|
1991
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graduation composition studies | ||||
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2002 - 2005
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thesis "Fraktale Tonalität" (Fractional Tonality) - scientific presentation of an individual music theory, based on overtones | ||||
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2002 - 2005
|
thesis "Fraktale Tonalität" (Fractional Tonality) - scientific presentation of an individual music theory, based on overtones |
Activities
| Period | Activity | Organisation | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1980 - 1991
|
technical assistant (developing engineer for industrial electronics) in various construction offices for electronics | ||
|
1991 - 2002
|
teacher at the Institute for Music Theory and Harmony | ||
|
2003 - 2004
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assistant of Prof. Erich Urbanner and teacher at the Institute for Composition and Electro-acoustics | ||
|
freelance composer |
Performances (Selection)
| Period | Performance | Composition | Organisation | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1990
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1992
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|
1996
| ||||
|
Radio Orchestra Krakow |
Commissions (Selection)
| Period | Commission | Composition | Commissioner (Organisation) | Commissioner (Person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1989
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1992
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1993
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1996
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1997
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1998
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1999
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1999
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2001
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2001
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2004
|
Male Choir Cologne | |||
Awards
| Period | Award | Composition | Awarding Organisation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1986
|
Composition Contest for Choir by the University for Music and the Performing Arts Vienna, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) and Austro Mechana: prize winner | ||
|
1987
|
promotional award for Music | ||
|
1988
|
promotional award | ||
|
1988
|
promotional award for Music | ||
|
1991
|
International Composition Contest "Mozart 91": prize winner | ||
|
1992
|
state scholarship for composition | ||
|
1992
|
recognition award | ||
|
1994
|
promotional award | ||
|
2002
|
14th International IDOCO-Choir Festival: first prize at the composition contest for choir and orchestra |
Description of Style
My primary, artistic concern is the conscious creation of moments of power in music. This I achieve by consequent use of tonal means, which I expand and redefine introducing ecmelic sounds. At the same time, it is essential to me to free myself from aesthetic categories without reservations. I accomplish this in my compositions by employing unity-bound micro and polytonality, which are the result of the new possibilities of voice leading and composition technique and which I have presented scientifically backed by a thesis as a personal music theory. Polyrhythmic patterns create iridescent sound layers, a fact not excluding vital rhythm. The tonal interpretation of compositional processes of the second Viennese school makes it possible for me to create a very efficient, context-creating work method in the characterisation of my music.
Thomas Herwig Schuler, 2006
Press Reviews
17. May 1998
It has been some time since we have had such a feeling of happiness after listening to a piece of contemporary music: "... und heute löst ein Stein sich mir ..." by Viennese composer Thomas Herwig Schuler simply is a great piece of music. ...Altogether a wonderful ten minutes, [...]
Wiener Zeitung (E. Baumgartner)
19. January 1998
In between, the string quartet performed a veritable novelty - the sextet piece "Selbst.Spiel.Kreis - ein Kringelumriß", by 37-year-old Viennese Thomas Herwig Schuler. Based on the idea of an entwining grape-vine , the two string trios are not only combined to a pulsating togetherness, but are encouraged to present subtle as well as rhythmically pointed, annoying sounds, in the course of the two-part piece, which keeps steering towards different, repeatingly surprising moods.
Die Presse (Walter Dobner)
5. June 1996
Schuler is looking for a new sound world: flickering and floating sound forms result in a dynamic picture. Everything moves, a fanfare scintillates iridescently...
Kronenzeitung (O. A. Láng)
Librettist of (Composition)
Contact, Links
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