Works


Follow links for details about the works, sounds & texts

Music Theatre / Theatrical Ecologies


ZELTEN am verschwundenen Ufer (September 2022)

A performative ecology, indoor and outdoor – 70′
Music, soundwalk, texts, installations, conceived, composed and produced by Pia Palme with the ensemble airborne extended (Caroline Mayrhofer, Elena Gabbrielli, Tina Žerdin, Sonja Leipold), Manuel Alacaraz Clemente, Thomas Gorbach, Elisabeth Flunger. Premiered at Zacherlfabrik Wien 10.09.2022.

More about the piece under   >>>

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ON A FORMER ISLAND (April 2022)

A theatrical ecology – 60′
with Pia Palme, Elie Halonen, Satu Hakamäki, Siiri Viljakka, Mari Zhiginas, Tuomas Laitinen. Initiated by Palme, Storyboard by Halonen/Hakamäki/Palme/Laitinen. Performed at and developed for the Sibelius Museum Turku, Finland. All artists were Fellows at the Saari Residence 2022. Premiere 26.04.2022.

More about the piece  >>>

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Wechselwirkung (November 2020)
A Montage for the Anthropoce
ne

A music theatre piece for singer, dancer, electronics and instrumental ensemble, with a paper installation – 60’

World premiere 13.11.2020
Produced in cooperation with Wien Modern 33

by Pia Palme, Paola Bianchi, Juliet Fraser, Irene Lehmann, Christina Fischer-Lessiak − an artistic research collaboration group as part of the project On the fragility of sounds

Pia Palme – concept, composition, text, bass recorder
Paola Bianchi − choreography, dance
Irene Lehmann − dramaturgy
Juliet Fraser – soprano, dance
Christina Fischer-Lessiak – artistic assistance, research
with Ensemble Phace, Lars Mlekusch – conductor

More about the piece,
read the libretto and see a trailer under
https://www.fragilityofsounds.org/wechselwirkung/ 

Funded by the FWF Austrian Science Fund.
The FWF PEEK [AR 537] project On the fragility of sounds is hosted by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Centre for Gender Studies

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MATTETOLINE #3 (December 2019)
eine Umschreitung

A piece for mezzo-soprano, percussion, bass recorder, electronics & video – 60′

With an installation and texts, compositions and improvisations by Pia Palme, and spoken text arrangements by Annette Schönmüller.

Annette Schönmüller, mezzo soprano
Manuel Alcaraz-Clemente, percussion
Pia Palme, bass recorder and spoken voice
Christina Fischer-Lessiak, production, lighting

More about the piece under
http://www.fragilityofsounds.org/mattetoline-2019/

Composed and produced for the project On the fragility of sounds, with support by Wien Kultur City of Vienna, SKE austro mechana, funded by the FWF Austrian Science Fund.

The FWF PEEK [AR 537] project On the fragility of sounds was hosted by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Centre for Gender Studies.

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DUSK SONGS #2 (June 2019)

A piece for for mezzo, ensemble, bass recorder, video, electronics & spoken text – 60′

More about the piece under
http://www.fragilityofsounds.org/dusk-songs-2/

Pia Palme, concept, composition, text, video
Anna Clare Hauf, mezzo
Ensemble Airborne Extended
Molly McDolan and Ana Inés Feola, oboe da caccia
Christina Fischer-Lessiak, production, research
UA June 2019 @Mumuth Graz

Composed and produced for the project On the fragility of sounds, with support by the SKE austro mechana, funded by the FWF Austrian Science Fund.

The FWF PEEK [AR 537] project On the fragility of sounds was hosted by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Centre for Gender Studies

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DUSK SONGS #1 (April 2019)
oder lieder im morgengrauen

A piece for for mezzo, dance, ensemble, bass recorder, video, electronics & spoken text – 60′

More about the piece under
http://www.fragilityofsounds.org/pia-palme-dusk-songs-oder-lieder-im-morgengrauen/

Paola Bianchi, dance, choreography, dramaturgy
Pia Palme, concept, composition, text, video
Anna Clare Hauf, mezzo
Ensemble Airborne Extended
Molly McDolan, oboe da caccia
Christina Fischer-Lessiak, research, production
UA April 2019 @echoraum Wien

Composed and produced for the project On the fragility of sounds, with support by the SKE austro mechana, funded by the FWF Austrian Science Fund.

The FWF PEEK [AR 537] project On the fragility of sounds was hosted by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Centre for Gender Studies

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MY ROOM, UNTIL YESTERDAY (2017)

A minimalist music theatre piece for voice, 2 accordions, harpsichord, piano,
3 solo recorders, recorder quintet, percussion, electronics & video
For/with fourteen performers [between 8 and 19 years] – 25′

Idea, production & direction: Pia Palme
With Ensemble 22, with texts and video in cooperation with the performers.
Masks in cooperation with Wintercroft UK

More about the piece, watch the video and listen to the recording under http://piapalme.at/works/my-room-until-yesterday/
Commissioned by IGNM Austria for festival Wien Modern 2017 and Junge Musik, supported by Musikschule Wien and BKA Austria. Premiered by Ensemble 22, conducted by Pia Palme, at Odeon Vienna 07.11.2017.

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ABSTRIAL (2013)
a radical opera

An opera for baritone solo, 3 female voices, contrabass recorder (by Palme),
computer and 10 loudspeakers (by Electric Indidigo)
in collaboration with director and choreographer Paola Bianchi, installation artist Ivan Fantini, and poet Anne Waldman – 60′

More about the piece and watch a trailer under http://piapalme.at/works/abstrial/ 

Coproduction with KosmosTheater Wien.
Funded by the City of Vienna Kulturabteilung der Stadt Wien, BKA Ministry of Art Austria, Erste Bank. Premiered in Vienna, 25.04.2013.

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KEMPELEN’S RING (2012)

A minute/cyborg/opera for a mobile-phone, containing recordings from a reconstruction of Kempelen’s talking machine, and electronics. This piece was the official ringtone commissioned for wienmodern 2012.
Watch the piece here >>>

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VARIETIES (2009)

a spatial concept piece for 2 voices (mezzo and baritone),
2 lead singers with headphones performing from audio scores and two mixed choir performing from audio scores (100 voices)

Idea, composition, conception and choir training by Pia Palme
Installation concept: Irene Pichlhöfer
Texts by Sophie Reyer and Oswald Egger
Agricultural cooperation: Gartenbauschule Schönbrunn, Vienna & DI Wolfgang Palme
Chef & cooking performance: Wolfgang Reisinger

Commissioned for and premiered at series MAK NITE© at the MAK Museum Vienna, Ausstellungshallen 29.09.2009.

Watch a trailer and find more information about the piece under http://piapalme.at/works/varieties-2009/

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Everything else, chronologically


ROSE REINER WIDERSTAND (2023)

for bass recorder with spoken voice, paper.
Music and text by Pia Palme
Duration 14 minutes
Produced for, premiered and recorded at Ö1 Funkhaus, Studio 2 Vienna

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BRYOZOA (2023)
for violin, trombone, bass recorder + spoken voice, 3 big horizontal drums, plant material, paper,
with music, text, video and choreography,
duration 45-60 minutes
Written and produced for hoodwink, premiered at echoraum Vienna 03/06/2023. Composition funded by BMKÖS Austria.

More information  >>>

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Or is it microbiology? (2023)

a piece for lower voice and percussion, music and text by Palme, duration 15 minutes.
Written for Helena Sorokina and Manuel Alcaraz Clemente (Schallfeld Ensemble), who premiered the piece at the Symposium Composition and Research, GMPU Klagenfurt, 15.03.2023.

More information, recording and text >>>

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CRYOGLYPHS (2022)
video and sound (processed field recordings, electronics, bass recorder) by Palme, duration 13 minutes. Optional with live-performance (bass recorder).
Premiered at echoraum Vienna 02.11.2022.

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ECHOLOGY (2022)
video and sound (processed field recordings, electronics) by Palme, duration 13 minutes.
Premiered at Shut up and listen! festival 24.09.2022

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VANISHED SHORELINES | VERSCHWUNDENE UFER (2022)
a piece for prepared harpsichord with a microtonal scordatura and electronics (4-channel), duration 35 minutes.
Written for Sonja Leipold, premiered @Unsafe+Sounds Festival Vienna, Zacherlfabrik 30.09.2022.
More information  >>>

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ZELLWÄRTS (2021)
a text piece for ensemble (1 to 11 performers) commissioned by KNM ensemble Berlin, premiered @Fahrbereitschaft Berlin in November 2021.

More information >>>

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WEITERUNG (2021)
a piece for string ensemble (violin, viola, vcl I+II, db) and a soloist (myself with amplified bass recorder & voice, performing) with a text I wrote for the piece – 16′
Written for the ensemble Schallfeld with Séverine Ballon, premiered @Schaumbad Atelierhaus Graz in June 2021.

More information >>>

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Kreidebleich [version #4] (January 2021)
a piece for harpsichord with microtonal tuning and preparations
version #4 (2021) with video and paper installation

Premiered by Sonja Leipold
 @echoraum Vienna
Website about the piece
 >>> here

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Writing performance 2021.1 (January 2021)
a piece for a performer who writes and speaks,
with an electronic track (fixed media) and a video projection onto a table – 12′
performed at echoraeume by Pia Palme

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Songs from a Distance (December 2020)
a new arrangement for mezzo soprano, ensemble and electronics – 45′

Performed by Anna Clare Hauf, Molly McDolan, ensemble airborne extended, and Pia Palme at the OENB Austrian National Library Musiksalon, Vienna

Visit the streaming concert here >>>

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Sensible Sarabande (November 2020)
for bass recorder and electronics (Zuspiel) – 10’

A fragmented and overwritten version of Bach’s Sarabande (from BWV 1013) for bass recorder 
with a live-generated Zuspiel with processed under water recordings from the river Schwarza near Vienna 
and percussion samples.
Composed & performed for the IMA Institute of Media Archaeology, St. Pölten

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Isolation Island – Reisebericht aus einer Dämmerungslinie (August 2020)
Radio Composition / Hörspiel – 40′
Text & Music Pia Palme
Commissioned by Kunstradio ORF’
Listen to an excerpt here >>>

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EINS & DOPPELT [new version 2020]
for two oboe da caccia instruments 15′
performed in the forest by Molly McDolan and Ana Ines Féola:

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Forest #1 (2020)

Outdoor piece for two oboe da caccia players
Listen and watch here http://www.fragilityofsounds.org/forest-1/

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Three pieces composed & premiered at The Banff Centre of the Arts, Canada

Skinpaperfragility (2019)   >>>more
for spoken text, bass recorder, a membrane paper score & silent video
Research conducted with Jane Gowan, Canada
Composed, written, and produced during the Banff BMiR Residency 2019
Supported by the FWF Austrian Science Fund

MORE RADICALLY (2019)   >>> more
for mezzo soprano, bass recorder with a spoken text, (optional) silent video
Research conducted with Rosie Middleton, UK
Composed, written, and produced during the Banff BMiR Residency 2019
Supported by the FWF Austrian Science Fund

The Drum and the Sampler (Palme & Gingras 2019)   >>> more
a collaborative composition with texts by Pia Palme
by Pia Palme, bass drum, spoken voice, plant material, paper /
Eric Gingras, sampler
Co-composed, written, and produced during the Banff BMiR Residency 2019
Supported by the FWF Austrian Science Fund

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We say we sound (Mai 2019)
an experimental outdoor performance concept for vocalists

Performers: Johann Seitinger, Laura Zöschg, Ana Čop,
Urban Pfeifer, Svitlana Varava (students from the KUG Jazz Department and voice class of Annette Giesriegl)

Watch the performance under
http://www.fragilityofsounds.org/we-say-we-sound/

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Kreidebleich (2019)
for harpsichord solo
UA June 2019, as part of Dusk Songs, @Mumuth Graz
Composition supported by FWF Austrian Science Fund

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Eins & doppelt (2019)
duo for two oboe da caccia instruments
duration 12  minutes
UA June 2019, as part of Dusk Songs, @Mumuth Graz
Composition supported by FWF Austrian Science Fund

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MATTETOLINE #2 (2019)
solo performance recital Pia Palme for bass flute, voice, video, electronics
with a text by Pia Palme
Duration: 30 minutes
UA @aNOther festival, May 2019 Brick5 Vienna
Composition supported by FWF Austrian Science Fund

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Wenn, dann zu Herz. (2019)
Quartett I & II mit Improvisation dazwischen
for mezzo soprano, alto recorder, baroque oboe, bass flute
with a text by Pia Palme
duration 14 minutes
UA April 2019, as part of Dusk Songs, @echoraum Vienna
Composition supported by FWF Austrian Science Fund

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Frostfarben (2019)
for harp solo
duration 12 minutes
UA April 2019, as part of Dusk Songs, @echoraum Vienna
Composition supported by SKE fund austro mechana

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ENTSCHEIDE | The Womb Manifesto (2019)   >>> more
solo performance and text, as a ritual for voice, contrabass flute & electronics intended to strengthen woman’s freedom of choice and decision-making power
first performed at the festival WIR HABEN EINE WAHL, St. Pölten, Austria 08/03/2019

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Five outdoor pieces composed & premiered during an artist residency at Örö Island, Finland

Noisy Swans (2018)   >>> more
on site performance
performed during an artist residency at Örö Linnake, Finland 11/2018

Fern Bowl Piece (2018)   >>> more
on site performance and text
written and performed during an artist residency at Örö Linnake, Finland 11/2018

Mattetoline #1 (2018)   >>> more
on site performance
performed during an artist residency at Örö Linnake, Finland 11/2018

Dusk Songs (solo sketch for recorder 2018)   >>> more
on site performance
performed during an artist residency at Örö Linnake, Finland 11/2018

Pelzige Sicht (2018)   >>> more
on site performance
performed during an artist residency at Örö Linnake, Finland 11/2018

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TO DEFY AUSTERITY (2018)
a contemporary exercise for ensemble
for trumpet, alto saxophone, tenor trombone, violin, viola, violoncello
Duration app. 7 minutes
UA September 2018 by ensemble Reconsil, Gols Austria

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STROPHE (2018)
for mixed choir/für gemischten Chor, mit drei solistischen Frauenstimmen
Auftragsarbeit für den Chor Gegenstimmen, Wien
Duration 4:30 minutes
UA October 2018 choir gegenstimmen, Musikverein Wien

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AUS DER NÄHE (2018)
for oboe da caccia solo
Duration app. 9 minutes

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KREISUNG (2017)    >>>more

for string quartet
(optional) with video and electronic playback track (6 channel)
Duration ca. 14 minutes

Commissioned by festival BTzM Bludenzer Tage zeitgemässer Musik 2017,
premiered by Quartetto Maurice at Remise Bludenz Austria.

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HER VERY NOISE, HER GUISE (2017)   >>>more

for mezzo soprano, bass flute, violoncello
with texts by Pia Palme
Duration 12 minutes

Commissioned and premiered by Trio Atem, Manchester UK.

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THREE NOISES (2017)

for voice (mezzo soprano) and playback/speaker installation
or for 3 voices (mezzo soprano)
with a text by Pia Palme
Duration 7’30” minutes

Commissioned by festival Klangspuren Schwaz,
premiered by Kaoko Amano & Ensemble Schallfeld, Tyrol Austria.

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WEISSE HÖRGEBIETE (2017)   >>>more

a performance & lecture on feminist listening
with contrabass recorder, voice (live performance), electronics (4-channel) and video (fixed media)

Duration 25 to 50 minutes

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THAT I’M ONE AND ALSO TWO (2017) 

a performance & lecture on the interaction between vocality and instrumentality,
[referring to a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (“Daß ich Eins und doppelt bin”)]
with contrabass recorder, voice (live performance), electronics (4-channel) and video (fixed media)

Duration 30 minutes

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VOM RAUSCH IM SCHWARM (2015 – 2016)
a piece for ensemble, with a text by Pia Palme, in several versions
>>> about the piece 

Version I (September 2015)
for ensemble (violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, trombone and wind-machine)
Duration app. 14 minutes
Commissioned and premiered by the ensemble Reconsil at Gols, Austria.
Composed with support from the BKA Art Department Austria. 

Version II (January 2016)   >>>more
for ensemble (fl. (bs.fl. + picc.), bs.cl., bar.sax., vl., vlc., d.b.)
With electronic playback track (4 channels)
Duration: 16 minutes
Written for ensemble Schallfeld.

Version II.av (May 2016)   >>>more
for ensemble (fl. (bs.fl. + picc.), bs.cl., bar.sax., vl., vlc., d.b.),
With electronics & video (fixed media)
Duration 16 minutes
Written for the festival tgnm Graz, premiered by ensemble SCHALLFELD at Minoriten Graz.

Version III (November 2016)
for ensemble with a wind machine (fl. [picc. & b. fl.], b. cl., bar. sax., ten. tromb., acc., vln. I & II, vla., vcl. I & II, d. b. I & II, wind machine)
Written for Wien Modern and Ensemble Kontrapunkte, premiered 7 November 2016 at Musikverein Vienna.

*****

arbesbach (2016)   >>>more
Outdoor piece, a cartographic performance

performed with a contrabass recorder, filmed and recorded in the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald)

Duration 16 minutes

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SETZUNG 1.2 (January 2016)

Lecture-performance, Pia Palme solo
With texts, video, live-performance with contrabass-recorder and electronic playback

Produced for a composer’s presentation at Harvard University, January 2016.
Duration 28 minutes

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MUSTERBUCH für Mezzosopran
 (January 2016)

for a vocalist with a throat-microphone

The score contains music and instructions, text,
video and electronic playback (4 channels).
Duration app. 14 minutes

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ESHQ II (January 2016)

for oboe da caccia
Duration: 12 minutes

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UNDER ELEPHANTINE SKIN (November 2015)   >>>more

For countertenor, theorbo, baroque oboe,
recorders, electronics,
with a text by Pia Palme

Duration app. 20 minutes
Commissioned by Wien Modern (A Phenomenology of Pop)

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MORDACIOUS LIPS, TO DUST (October 2015)     >>>more

A work for four singers (soprano, countertenor, tenor, bass)
With a text by Pia Palme
Duration: 11 minutes

Composed for the ensemble EXAUDI (James Weeks, director)
for the portfolio opportunity via Sound and Music UK
The composition was also supported by BKA  Art Department Austria and the City of Vienna.

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Patterns to punctuate speech, with darkness. (June 2015)      >>>more

Lecture performance with video/sound/text by Pia Palme
Live performance with voice & contrabass recorder
Duration 20 minutes

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BIRDSONG CRANNIES (May 2015)    >>>more

text & score for voice & movement
for 1 male & 4 female voices

German text & text compilation by Pia Palme,
contemplating a passage from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare,
with English excerpts from ‘The Waves’ by Virginia Woolf

Duration ca. 23 minutes

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PATTERNS TO PUNCTUATE SONG,
WITH DARKNESS (March 2015)    >>> more

for voice (mezzo) with a throat-microphone, electronics
and a punchcard score
Duration 14 minutes

Commissioned by the festival Salzburg Biennale 2015
for Ute Wassermann

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MOMENT MAGNETIQUE (December 2014)
Doris Schmid: video / Pia Palme: sound 

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RELATIVELY SCARY (October 2014)   >>> more
for contrabass recorder and electronics,
co-composed with Electric Indigo
commissioned for the ECAS carousel at musikprotokoll, Graz 2014

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SETZUNG 1.1 (September 2014)   >>> more

Solo for an actress/vocalist,
composition, text and setting with a transparent membrane score
commissioned by Cercle – Konzertreihe für neue Musik, Wien 2014

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GIB SIE WIEDER (March 2014)
A warning commentary on resonance II    >>> more

for harp & electronics
Text by Pia Palme

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GIB SIE WIEDER HER (March 2014)
A warning commentary on resonance I   >>> more

for viola d’amore, electronics, a sounding object & contrabass recorder
Text by Pia Palme

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BUT STILL ATTACHED TO LIFE AT ALL FOUR CORNERS
(December 2013)     >>> more

In this piece for voice and ensemble (mezzosoprano, percussion, live electronics and a Baroque ensemble performing with flauto traverso, cembalo and bass viol at a=415 hz) I wrap modules of a new composition around a fragmented baroque Prelude by Elisabeth Jacquet da La Guerre.

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RADIAT MN performing the noise of mind (2013)     >>> more

Installation and performance instructions for a solo performance
with a contrabass recorder (or any other instrument),
voice and 4 microphones, 4 installed speakers.

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BOUNDARY LAYER LISTENING (2013)     >>>more
A text piece temporarily installed at a huge glass wall at the university of Huddersfield.

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Turquoise Passages (2013)     >>> more

sketches of a new solo piece
for contrabass recorder, voice & electronics started in Tehran.

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LIP OF THE REAL II (2013)     >>> more

for flute & voice (with throat-microphone),
percussion and live-electronics
with a libretto by Pia Palme from exts by Anne Waldman, Pia Palme and translated fragments by Margret Kreidl.

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BARE BRANCHES (2012)     >>> more

weltliches Requiem und Raumanordnung
für 2 Solostimmen, 2 Vokalensembles (teilweise mit Audio-Partituren), Schlagwerk.
Texte von Anne Waldman, Pia Palme.

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CANTU FOLIATO (2012)    >>> more 

toolkit for voices SATB, headphones and optional live-electronics,
4 up to 20 singers.
With words by Anne Waldman, from Iovis.

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LIP OF THE REAL (2012)    >>> more

for voice (mezzosoprano with throat-microphone), percussion and electronics.
With texts by Margret Kreidl, Anne Waldman and Palme.

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DER KÜHNERE ENTSCHLUSS. (2011)    >>> more

Entwurf für Stimme, Oboe da Caccia, Elektronik und die Sprechmaschine von Kempelen.
Auftragswerk für das Festival Klangspuren Tirol.

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ESHQ close-up (2011)    >>> more
for Oboe da Caccia Solo
(composed for the project FERNRAUM at e_may 21011)

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DAS KLEINE ZIMMER AM ENDE DER TREPPE (2011)    >>>moreElectronic theatre music composition,
co-composed in cooperation with Electric Indigo,
electronic music for theatre composed on demand.

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HIER NICHT FORT (2010)    >>> more

für Mezzosopran, Stimme, Englischhorn, Streichtrio, Elektronik und die Sprechmaschine von Kempelen.
Auftragswerk für das Festival e_may.

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AX.WHO. (2009)       >>> more

für Viola, Violoncello, Kontrabass, Subbassblockflöte und Live-Elektronik, Synthesizer, Innenklavier.
UA bei Reihe Im Loth und e_may 09, 14.5.2009, Wiener Konzerthaus, Berio Saal

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EXHIBIT #ONE (2009)     >>> more

für historische Sprechmaschine mikrofoniert, Stimme und Live-Elektronik
Auftraggeber: IMA Institut für Medienarchäologie.

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LE POMPE (2009)

Musterblatt für 13 SpielerInnen
für 4 Trios (oder mehr SpielerInnen) jeweils Sopran- Alt-, Tenor- und Bassblockflöten, 
Perkussion (Wood Blocks in 5 Tonhöhen).
Form und Länge kann von den SpielerInnen über Partiturmodule gestaltet werden.
Dauer: 4 bis 12 Minuten, wählbar

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ORTUNG des Paradieses (2008)

für Stimme, Subbassblockflöte und Live-Elektronik, Kontrabass, Perkussion
Grafische Partitur, Textarrangement
Texte: Künstler der Villa Gugging / Ernst Herbeck, August Walla, Arnold Schmidt
Dauer: 50 Minuten
Optional dazu: Performance von Yoshie Maruoka

Foto: David Palme