Composer Stockhausen dies aged 79
David Batty and agencies
Friday December 7, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Karlheinz Stockhausen, one of the most influential composers of the 20th century, has died at the age of 79, it was announced today.The German composer, best known for his groundbreaking work in electronic music, died on Wednesday at his home in Kuerten-Kettenberg. He will be buried in the forest cemetery in Kuerten, according to the Stockhausen Foundation.
Stockhausen, who was born in the village of Modrath, near Cologne, in 1928, studied at the National Conservatory of Music and the University of Cologne. He composed 319 individual works over his lifetime, according to his official website.
The composer's widespread use of electronics throughout his work has had a significant impact on classical, avant-garde and electronic music.
His breakthrough came in 1956, with the release of Gesang der Junglinge (Song of the Youths), which blended electronic sounds with the human voice.
Four years later, he released Kontakte (Contacts), one of the first compositions to mix live instrumentation with pre-recorded material.A wide range of musicians, including Miles Davis, Frank Zappa and Bjork, have cited him as an influence.
Stockhausen was married twice and had six children.
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