Ever since I am a teacher at Sonology I have had an interest in didactical approaches towards electronic composition. One of my favorites on that subject is Koenig. Without always having the intention to be didactical, his very radical attitude in composition and sound realization in combination with his crystal clear theoretical writings form a very important source for me.
In the history of Dutch electronic music it has been very important that in the beginning of the sixties Walter Maas took the initiative for an educational studio in the garden house of the Walter Maas House in Bilthoven. Every year there was a course in electronic music which was very much oriented on the German tradition.
For a few years Koenig gave lectures there, and from the course year 64/65 the practical material still exists. Since Koenig only went there once a week, he every time gave assignments that had to be realized by the students in his absence.
Even for that time the studio in Bilthoven was very limited (see picture).
When you look at these 28 assignments now it is amazing to see how much of Koenig's experience both as a composer and as an assistent of Stockhausen is presented in a very condensed form, and that even within these limitations (that for him resembled a situation of almost ten years before) he was capable of bringing the students to a result that was both technically and artistically satisfying. Some resulting compositions from 1965 are K45 (Koenig 64-65) by Klaus Gorter and Study 1 by Luctor Ponse.
The course material is published recently in Koenig's 5th book of theoretical writings (in German) published by Pfau Verlag. |