Philipp Wachsmann
Born Uganda, 1944; violin, viola and electronics.
Phillip Wachsmann came to free improvisation from a predominantly classical
background, particularly via the contemporary experiments of "indeterminacy,
graphic and prose-based scores, conceptualism and electroacoustics, listening
to Webern, Partch, Ives, Berio and Varèse, reading 'Die Reihe' and interrogating
the rhythmic, harmonic and melodic preoccupations of Western art music. Starting
in 1969, Wachsmann was a member of Yggdrasil, an ensemble performing works by
Cage, Cardew, Feldman, Ashley and others and in this group he used contact mikes
on the violin and made his own electronic instruments, ring modulators and routing
devices. Ironically, his studies with Nadia Boulanger in Paris (1969-1970) pushed
him hard in the direction of free music. He recalls: 'Despite her neoclassical
orientation, her insistence that composition is about the imagination of performance
and its realisation, the live moment, and her stunning ability to make this
happen was a powerful influence on me, steering towards 'performance' and therefore
'improvisation'.'"
Wachsmann moved from Yggdrasil to Chamberpot - recorded on Bead 2 - and shortly
thereafter appeared on Tony Oxley's influential February papers, forward looking
in the virtual 'industrial' orientation of some of the tracks, years before
this became an accepted genre; the two musicians have continued to work together,
in various groupings but notably in the percussionist's Celebration Orchestra.
Phillip Wachsmann has also performed and/or recorded with: Derek Bailey's Company,
e.g. on the recording Epiphanies; Georg Graewe; Barry Guy; Iskra 1903; King
Übü Orchestrü; London Jazz Composers' Orchestra; Evan Parker,
particularly as part of the Evan Parker Electronic Project; Quintet Moderne;
Fred Van Hove's ML DD 4; Rüdiger Carl's COWWS (now CPWWS) Quintet; and
Lines, with Martin Blume, Jim Denley, Axel Dörner and Marcio Mattos. He
also plays as a solo musician.
Philipp appears on the following SOFA-releases
- Philipp Wachsmann / Charlotte Hug / Ivar Grydeland / Ingar Zach
«Wazahugy» (violin, electronics)