updated 2 October 2020
© Manu Theobald
© Manu Theobald
Birke J. Bertelsmeier
German composer born 23 April 1981 in Hilden.
Birke J. Bertelsmeier was born in Cologne, Germany in 1981. She studied piano at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne with Pavel Giligov and composition with David Graham in Düsseldorf, then with Wolfgang Rihm at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, graduating in 2008. She went on to obtain a masters in musicology in 2009, then participated in Cursus (the IRCAM’s composition and computer music course) in 2016-2017.
Her compositions have been performed by Quatuor Arditi, Tabea Zimmermann, Christoph Eschenbach (with the Bamberger Symphoniker) and Ensemble Modern. She has been invited to festivals such as the Munich Biennale, the Wittener Tage für Neue Musik, and the Heidelberg Spring Music Festival. In 2012, she won the Schneider-Schott-Musikpreis, and received a fellowship from the International Ensemble Modern Academy. In 2015, she was awarded the Ernst von Siemens Composition Prize.
Birke J. Bertelsmeier’s work spans multiple genres, including opera (Ein falsches Märchen, 1995); musical theater (Gib mir Dein, 2017); film scores (Papiersammlung, 2011); orchestral works (Zimzum, 2015, … reichen Hall, 2010, Stück, 2010, Im Nu, 2009); chamber music, and solo pieces (WhirliGigue, 2010). In 2014, the Deutsche Oper Berlin hosted performances of two of her musical theater compositions, Querelle, based on the work of Jean Genet and composed while in residence at the Villa Massimo in 2013, and Nachtigall, based on the work of Oscar Wilde. In 2017, her work for orchestra vom blauen Himmel was premiered by the Orkestra Sinfonikoa de Bilbao in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Guernica, with adult and children’s choirs.
Birke J. Bertelsmeier teaches composition at the Beethoven-Haus in Bonnand and for the Landesmusikrat NRW, the musical council of North Rhine-Westphalia. As a fellow of the Dorothea Erxleben Program, she also taught at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hanover.
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2019
Sources
Ircam; col legno ; site de la compositrice.
- Solo (excluding voice)
- Höhlenakkorde for piano (1991)
- Vorschläge for piano (1991)
- Zug Texas for piano (1991)
- Ballade for piano (1994)
- Rebel Rag for piano (1994)
- De Veermaster for piano (2003)
- Don't forget composition for film for piano (2003)
- Somnography for piano (2003)
- Schlafwandler for piano (2004)
- Schwankendes Gleichgewicht for english horn (2006)
- Konversationsheft for piano (2008)
- ...von der anderen Seite for piano (2011)
- Studie for piano (2011)
- WhirliGigue for flute (2012)
- unstet for trumpet (2014)
- zu-neigend for trumpet (2014)
- am Rad drehen for violin (2015)
- anhänglich for piano (2015)
- Von Kopf durch Kopf zu Kopf for viola (2016)
- elec ircam Ircam cursus Box in Box for bassoon and electronics (2017), 10 mn [program note]
- Raptus for piano (2020), 6 mn
- verflochten for piano (2020), 4 mn
- Chamber music
- 2 * 3 = 9 for piano six hands (1991-1993)
- Am Südpol. Windstille for violin, cello and piano (1991-1993)
- Amseltanz for violin and piano (1991-1993)
- Eiswege for three violins (1991-1993)
- Im Schnee. Ungleiche Spuren for violin and piano (1991-1993)
- Nimm Fünf for three violins (1991-1993)
- Last Minute for piano, violin and cello (1994)
- Fragmente for violin, cello, flute and percussion (1999)
- algo crece for accordion, violin and cello (2002)
- Pamir for cello and piano (2004)
- Spiele for two pianos (2006)
- Pandämonium for harp and violin (2007)
- Privatissimae for violin, cello and piano (2007)
- per se for oboe and piano (2008)
- Quartettstück for string quartet (2008)
- Bagatelle sans atonalité for saxophone and piano (2009)
- Doppelkopf for saxophone quartet (2009)
- Friedhofsgärtner composition for film, for bass clarinet, viola and cello (2009)
- Chemineau I und II for string quartet (2010)
- Tit vor Tat for tuba, trombone and horn (2010)
- ... und andere Galanterien, verfertiget.... for trumpet and saxophone (2011)
- elec Papiersammlung silent film music for clarinet, trumpet, piano and cello (2011)
- hertzlich for six percussionists (2012)
- Trio for clarinet, accordion, viola and cello (2013)
- verso di for quintet with piano (2013)
- Amorette I und II for four pianists on two pianos (2014-2015)
- Re: Variation for quintet (2016)
- elec al di là for saxophone, trombone, accordion, cello and electronics (2017), 8 mn
- Entrata for string quartet (2017), 2 mn
- rundheraus for string trio and percussion (2017), 2 mn
- Kiste three studies for accordion and viola (2019), 16 mn
- Ouroboros for violin and piano (2019), 16 mn
- zapzarap for mandolin, guitar and harp (2019), 12 mn
- Instrumental ensemble music
- Kolibri for strings (1987-1991)
- Ragtime for large orchestra (1994)
- Widerhall for two pianos, percussion, clarinet, violin and cello (2001)
- Trio in the woods for piano, violin, cello, horn, bassoon, clarinet, oboe and flute (2002)
- 3 Sätze für Bläseroktett for flute, clarinet, two bassoons, two trumpets and two trombones (2006)
- Hypolepse for thirteen wind instruments (2006)
- Unlucky Number for thirteen violas (2006)
- Werk for clarinet, harp and four cellos (2006)
- ...dringlich... for chamber orchestra (2007)
- si tu l'dis for large wind orchestra (2008)
- Studie for flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin and cello (2008)
- Im Nu for orchestra (2009)
- Kurz vor'm for ensemble (2009)
- ... reichen Hall for orchestra (2010)
- Stück for baroque orchestra (2010)
- Der Mann, der sich ins Märchen trommelte for flute, clarinet, piano, harp, percussion and cello (2012)
- folklich for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, bugle, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass (2012)
- hineidunke for glasses and string quartet (2012)
- nichtsdestotrotz for ensemble (2012)
- Giromaniaco for large group (2013)
- ! for ensemble (2015)
- Stub'nmusi for oboe, two clarinets, bassoon, two horns, zither and two percussions (2015)
- Zimzum for orchestra (2015)
- innerlich Musik for ten percussions or more (2016)
- Kennst Du das for ensemble (2018), 8 mn
- Suite (erster Satz) for ensemble (2018), 4 mn
- gebissen for orchestra (2019)
- tidbit for ensemble (2019)
- Verwaschen (dritter Satz Suite) for ensemble (2020), 5 mn
- Concertant music
- Concertino for piano and orchestra (1998)
- Resonanzen for piano and orchestra (2002)
- elec de ente for bassoon, large ensemble and electronics (2019)
- Amorette III for four pianists and ensemble (2020), 7 mn
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- stage Ein falsches Märchen opera (1995)
- Selma Oratorium Selma Meerbaum Eisinger poem for soprano, choir and ensemble (2001)
- Der Tanz for mezzo-soprano, oboe, clarinet and bassoon (2003)
- Leise Lieder for mezzo-soprano, violin, viola and cello (2003)
- Tapetenblume for mezzo-soprano, violin, viola, cello, oboe, clarinet and bassoon (2003)
- A Route of Evanescence for mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, harp, viola, cello (2007)
- Trinklied for baritone and percussion (2008)
- Trinklied second version for baritone and two percussions (2008)
- Allerleirauh vier lieder for low female voice, two clarinets and piano (2011)
- Nacht for female voice, string quartet and double bass (2013)
- Seblonarie for female voice, double bass and piano (2013)
- TIC for bass, trumpet, trombone, two percussions, electric guitar, piano and cello (2016)
- A.M. for soprano and string quartet (2017), 4 mn
- Re: vor'm for choir, baroque orchestra, four soloists and organ (2017), 23 mn
- vom blauen Himmel for choir, children's choir, orchestra, two soloists and organ (2017), 27 mn
- Sunnuntag for ensemble and six singers (2019), 7 mn
- stage Wiesendingstag musical theater for children (2020), 1 h 10 mn
- A cappella vocal music
- Hausmeisterständchen for children's choir (1991)
- sehnlich for women's choir (2009)
- Vokalise - du mit mir, mit mir und dir for twelve singers (2020), 7 mn
- Unspecified instrumentation
- stage Nachtigall musical theater (2013-2014)
- stage Querelle musical theater (2013-2014)
- stage Gib mir Dein musical theater (2017), 26 mn
Catalog sources and details
Compositions pour films
- *Esiod 2015 *(Clemens von Wedemeyer, 2016)
- Sonntag (Robert, Hamacher, 2010)
- 2020
- Amorette III for four pianists and ensemble, 7 mn
- Raptus for piano, 6 mn
- Verwaschen (dritter Satz Suite) for ensemble, 5 mn
- Vokalise - du mit mir, mit mir und dir for twelve singers, 7 mn
- stage Wiesendingstag musical theater for children, 1 h 10 mn
- verflochten for piano, 4 mn
- 2019
- 2018
- Kennst Du das for ensemble, 8 mn
- Suite (erster Satz) for ensemble, 4 mn
- 2017
- A.M. for soprano and string quartet, 4 mn
- elec ircam Ircam cursus Box in Box for bassoon and electronics, 10 mn [program note]
- Entrata for string quartet, 2 mn
- stage Gib mir Dein musical theater, 26 mn
- Re: vor'm for choir, baroque orchestra, four soloists and organ, 23 mn
- elec al di là for saxophone, trombone, accordion, cello and electronics, 8 mn
- rundheraus for string trio and percussion, 2 mn
- vom blauen Himmel for choir, children's choir, orchestra, two soloists and organ, 27 mn
- 2016
- Re: Variation for quintet
- TIC for bass, trumpet, trombone, two percussions, electric guitar, piano and cello
- Von Kopf durch Kopf zu Kopf for viola
- innerlich Musik for ten percussions or more
- 2015
- ! for ensemble
- Amorette I und II for four pianists on two pianos
- Stub'nmusi for oboe, two clarinets, bassoon, two horns, zither and two percussions
- Zimzum for orchestra
- am Rad drehen for violin
- anhänglich for piano
- 2014
- stage Nachtigall musical theater
- stage Querelle musical theater
- unstet for trumpet
- zu-neigend for trumpet
- 2013
- Giromaniaco for large group
- Nacht for female voice, string quartet and double bass
- Seblonarie for female voice, double bass and piano
- Trio for clarinet, accordion, viola and cello
- verso di for quintet with piano
- 2012
- Der Mann, der sich ins Märchen trommelte for flute, clarinet, piano, harp, percussion and cello
- WhirliGigue for flute
- folklich for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, bugle, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass
- hertzlich for six percussionists
- hineidunke for glasses and string quartet
- nichtsdestotrotz for ensemble
- 2011
- ... und andere Galanterien, verfertiget.... for trumpet and saxophone
- ...von der anderen Seite for piano
- Allerleirauh vier lieder for low female voice, two clarinets and piano
- elec Papiersammlung silent film music for clarinet, trumpet, piano and cello
- Studie for piano
- 2010
- ... reichen Hall for orchestra
- Chemineau I und II for string quartet
- Stück for baroque orchestra
- Tit vor Tat for tuba, trombone and horn
- 2009
- Bagatelle sans atonalité for saxophone and piano
- Doppelkopf for saxophone quartet
- Friedhofsgärtner composition for film, for bass clarinet, viola and cello
- Im Nu for orchestra
- Kurz vor'm for ensemble
- sehnlich for women's choir
- 2008
- Konversationsheft for piano
- Quartettstück for string quartet
- Studie for flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin and cello
- Trinklied for baritone and percussion
- Trinklied second version for baritone and two percussions
- per se for oboe and piano
- si tu l'dis for large wind orchestra
- 2007
- ...dringlich... for chamber orchestra
- A Route of Evanescence for mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, harp, viola, cello
- Pandämonium for harp and violin
- Privatissimae for violin, cello and piano
- 2006
- 3 Sätze für Bläseroktett for flute, clarinet, two bassoons, two trumpets and two trombones
- Hypolepse for thirteen wind instruments
- Schwankendes Gleichgewicht for english horn
- Spiele for two pianos
- Unlucky Number for thirteen violas
- Werk for clarinet, harp and four cellos
- 2004
- Pamir for cello and piano
- Schlafwandler for piano
- 2003
- De Veermaster for piano
- Der Tanz for mezzo-soprano, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Don't forget composition for film for piano
- Leise Lieder for mezzo-soprano, violin, viola and cello
- Somnography for piano
- Tapetenblume for mezzo-soprano, violin, viola, cello, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- 2002
- Resonanzen for piano and orchestra
- Trio in the woods for piano, violin, cello, horn, bassoon, clarinet, oboe and flute
- algo crece for accordion, violin and cello
- 2001
- Selma Oratorium Selma Meerbaum Eisinger poem for soprano, choir and ensemble
- Widerhall for two pianos, percussion, clarinet, violin and cello
- 1999
- Fragmente for violin, cello, flute and percussion
- 1998
- Concertino for piano and orchestra
- 1995
- stage Ein falsches Märchen opera
- 1994
- Ballade for piano
- Last Minute for piano, violin and cello
- Ragtime for large orchestra
- Rebel Rag for piano
- 1993
- 2 * 3 = 9 for piano six hands
- Am Südpol. Windstille for violin, cello and piano
- Amseltanz for violin and piano
- Eiswege for three violins
- Im Schnee. Ungleiche Spuren for violin and piano
- Nimm Fünf for three violins
- 1991
- Hausmeisterständchen for children's choir
- Höhlenakkorde for piano
- Kolibri for strings
- Vorschläge for piano
- Zug Texas for piano
Catalog source(s)
Compositions pour films
- *Esiod 2015 *(Clemens von Wedemeyer, 2016)
- Sonntag (Robert, Hamacher, 2010)
Liens Internet
- Site de la compositrice : http://www.birkebertelsmeier.com/
(lien vérifié en septembre 2019).
Discographie
- Birke J. BERTELSMEIER, GIROMANIACO ; hineidunke ; Quartettstück ; folklich ; WhirliGigue ; Amorette I ; Amorette II ; Zimsum, dans « folklich », 1 cd col legno, 2015, WWE 1CD 40414.