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Hauschka is a critically acclaimed Düsseldorf-based electronic music artist.

Background

Hauschka is the alias of Düsseldorf–based pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann. His work is based upon an exploration of the possibilities of the prepared piano - a playfully disruptive intervention into the preconceived idea of the piano as a pure-toned, perfected instrument waiting for a gifted virtuoso to play on it. Instead, Volker explores and influences the outcome of his playing by getting right down inside the instrument - clamping wedges of leather, felt or rubber between the strings; preparing the hammers with aluminium paper or rough films; placing crown corks on the strings, weaving guitar strings around the piano's guts, or pasting them down with gaffa tape. These little modifications throw up an array of rustling, drumming, shivering, scraping, resonating sounds which either provide the focus / drive for a piece or hook the ear into an intriguing, slightly unusual frame.

Hauschka's sound borrows as much from John Cage's same-titled prepared piano works and the historic predecessors of Les Six – namely Erik Satie. Some view this as reviving an avant-tradition and breathing a little 'lighter' contemporary air into the form without reducing it to insubstantial appropriation or a hollow-ish 'pop' gesture of quotation.

In 2004 his first full album for FatCat Room to Expand was released to critical praise.

Discography

Albums

• Substantial (2004)
• The prepared piano (2005)
• Room to Expand (2007)
• Ferndorf (2008)

Links

• www.hauschka-net.de

• www.myspace.com/hauschka

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