Bernhard Lang
Bernhard Lang (1957) studied piano at the Bruckner Conservatory Linzand then moved to Graz to study classical and jazz piano. After finishing his studies, Lang took courses in composition with Polish composer Andrzej Dobrowolski, who introduced him to the techniques of new music. In 1988, Lang began teaching classes of his own in music theory, harmony, and counterpoint at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. He held a professorship in composition there between 2003 and 2022. Presently, he lives as a freelance composer in Vienna. Since 1999, Lang’s main interest has been music theatre, derived from his theory of “difference/repetition”. Speaking to Czech Radio, Petr Bakla had this to say about Lang’s methods: “His varied and thoughtful work with loops has been inspired by Martin Arnold’s films, experimental turntablists like Philip Jeck, and by Deleuze’s book Différence et répétition. Whereas minimalism reveled in gradually unfolding processes evoking a rather meditative atmosphere through repetitions, Lang incorporates jump-cuts and irregularities that result in an unpredictable music full of sudden turns.” He has been a lecturer at Ostrava Days since 2009, and the festival frequently features his compositions – Lang’s opera Der Reigen became a highlight of NODO 2014 and his composition Monadology XXXVII “Loops for Leoš” was written directly for OD 2017 and premiered during the festival.Ostrava Center for New Music presented the concert Essential Bernhard Lang in 2021 at the DOX+ multifunctional hall in Prague.
