# Matthias Kaul

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**Matthias Kaul** (29 January 1949 – 1 July 2020) was a German [percussionist](/source/Percussionist) and [composer](/source/Composer) of classical music.

## Life and career

Born in [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), [West Germany](/source/West_Germany), Matthias Kaul studied [percussion](/source/Percussion) at the [Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg](/source/Hochschule_f%C3%BCr_Musik_und_Theater_Hamburg) and for five years was a member of the ensemble Hinz & Kunst in [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg). He performed as a guest musician with several orchestras of Northern Germany. From 1977 until 1980 he traveled through [Africa](/source/Africa) in order to study the traditional music of the [Xhosa](/source/Xhosa_people), [Samburu](/source/Samburu_people) and [Maasai](/source/Maasai_people) tribes. In 1983 he founded the ensemble l'art pour l'art. In 1990, Matthias Kaul with the American violinist [Malcolm Goldstein](/source/Malcolm_Goldstein) began performing in an improvisational duo. Matthias Kaul’s work comprises more than 100 compositions including chamber music, choral music, audio drama and opera. Since 1987, he has performed as a percussionist and glass harmonica player in various radio recordings and on festivals. Recordings of his work were published alongside those of [Alvin Lucier](/source/Alvin_Lucier), [John Cage](/source/John_Cage), [Vinko Globokar](/source/Vinko_Globokar) and [Christian Wolff](/source/Christian_Wolff_(composer)). Mathias Kaul invented numerous musical instruments such as the “Matthias Kaul overtone drum” and the overtone triangle. With his wife, the flautist Astrid Schmeling, he taught a yearly composition master class for children since 1999.[1][2]

## Awards and recognition

- German "[Echo Klassik](/source/Echo_Klassik)" Award for "Haltbar gemacht" in the category "Classical music for children" (2012)[3]
- "[Deutscher Schallplattenpreis](/source/Deutscher_Schallplattenpreis)" for "Haltbar gemacht" (2012)[4]
- "Junge Ohren Award" for his composition master class for children in Winsen (2011)[5]
- Advancement award [music education](/source/Music_education) for his composition master class for children in Winsen (2009)[6]
- Nomination for the German Record Critics' Award for „Bread and Roses" (2003),[7] "Toucher" (2004)[8] and "Cover Versions" (2007)[9]

## Works

Source:[10]

### Chamber music (selection)

- *Concerto for panorama horn and ensemble* (2015)
- *Recycling* – for 5 percussionists (2012)
- *Stuff from Above* – for 4 percussionists (2011)
- *Wheeled* – for 5 percussionists with 5 bicycles (2010)
- *Bell Air* – for 6 percussionists with 36 bells (2010)
- *Töne* – for 6 players with 18 flowerpots (2009)
- *Salty* – for accordion, double bass and playback (2008)
- *fremd, bestimmt* – for 6 vocalists with voicespeakers (2008)
- *Some Changes* – for voice, flute, guitar and percussion (2007)
- *Delikatessen* – for 3 players in a wurst shack (2006)
- *Silence Is my Voice* – for voice with voicespeaker playback (2005)
- *Kafkas Heidelbeeren* - Imaginäres Vokal- und Instrumentaltheater (2005)
- *Listen this is for You*, Kona – for percussion and feedbackbottle (2004)

### Opera

- *Relax*
- *Kafkas Heidelbeeren*
- *Electric Bath* – für einen Performer

### Opera for children

- *Kuckuck im Koffer*
- *Die Menschenfresserin*
- *Oliver Twist (2004)*

### Audio drama

- *My Snare Drum gently weeps* (2017)
- *Fake Dimensions* (2013)
- *Umbauter Raum* (2013)
- *Schrammen* (2011)
- *Audible Edibles* (2009)
- *Some Rooms in my room* (2006)
- *Electric Bath – für einen badenden Schlagzeuger* (2003–2004)
- *Das Buch der schönen Stimmen* with E. Bohde (1997)
- *Fuge mit einigen Freiheiten* with E. Bohde (1996)
- *Undine geht* with E. Bohde (1994)

## Discography

- [John Cage](/source/John_Cage) – Variations II, Eight Whiskus, Music for Two Ryoanji (Matthias Kaul: Percussion, Glas Harmonica); [WERGO](/source/WERGO)
- [Christian Wolff](/source/Christian_Wolff_(composer)) – Bread and Roses (Matthias Kaul: Percussion, Voice, Wheel Fiddle); [WERGO](/source/Wergo)
- [Alvin Lucier](/source/Alvin_Lucier) – Nothing is Real (Matthias Kaul: Percussion, Voice, Piano); [WERGO](/source/Wergo)
- [Vinko Globokar](/source/Vinko_Globokar) – Toucher (Matthias Kaul: Percussion and Voice); [WERGO](/source/Wergo)
- [John Cage](/source/John_Cage) – Cage after Cage (Matthias Kaul: Percussion); [WERGO](/source/Wergo)

## References

1. *Matthias Kaul. Ein Hang zum Abgedrehten* In:*Deutschlandfunk, Leonie Reineke, 08.03.2015*

1. *11 Fragen an Matthias Kaul*In: *nmz Neue Musik Zeitung PRINT, 65. Jahrgang, 9/2016*

1. [[http://www.musik-heute.de/2661/nachwuchskuenstler-erhalten-echo-klassik/](http://www.musik-heute.de/2661/nachwuchskuenstler-erhalten-echo-klassik/)*Nachwuchskünstler erhalten Echo Klassik.*] In: *Musik Heute*10.07.2012.

1. [*Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik vergibt zwölf Jahrespreise 2012*](http://www.miz.org/news_9700.html/) In:*Deutsches Musikinformationszentrum*29.11.2012.

1. [[https://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/junge-ohren-preis-zum-6-mal-an-innovative-musikvermittlungsprojekte-vergeben](https://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/junge-ohren-preis-zum-6-mal-an-innovative-musikvermittlungsprojekte-vergeben)*Junge Ohren Preis zum 6. Mal an innovative Musikvermittlungsprojekte vergeben*] In:*nmz Neue Musikzeitung kiz-Nachrichten*21.11.2011.

1. [*Förderpreis Musikvermittlung zum ersten Mal verliehen*](http://www.musikland-niedersachsen.de/geschaeftsstelle/presse/pressemeldungen/2009/11/10/foerderpreis-musikvermittlung-zum-ersten-mal-verliehen/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180217202910/http://www.musikland-niedersachsen.de/geschaeftsstelle/presse/pressemeldungen/2009/11/10/foerderpreis-musikvermittlung-zum-ersten-mal-verliehen/) 2018-02-17 at the Wayback Machine In:*Musikland Niedersachsen*10.11.2009.

1. [[http://www.mediabiz.de/musik/news/bestenliste-4-2003/142983?printScreen=1](http://www.mediabiz.de/musik/news/bestenliste-4-2003/142983?printScreen=1)*Bestenliste 4/2003 der deutschen Schallplattenkritik e.V*] In:*Musikwoche Berlin*20.11.2003.

1. *Pressemitteilung des Preises der deutschen Schallplattenkritik e.V.*13.11.2004.

1. [*Bestenliste 01/2007*](http://www.schallplattenkritik.de/component/content/article/279-bestenliste-1-2007) In: *Schallplattenkritik* 15.02.2007-

1. ["Matthias Kaul - Compositions"](http://www.matthiaskaul.de/composition.htm). *www.matthiaskaul.de*. Retrieved 2018-02-17.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.matthiaskaul.de)
- [L´art pour l´art](http://lartpourlart.de/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Matthias Kaul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Kaul) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Kaul?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.