Karlheinz Stockhausen: Mantra

Grauschumacher Piano Duo, Swr Experimentalstudio, Michael Acker

At the end of 1969, Karlheinz Stockhausen was commissioned by Heinrich Strobel, then head of music at Südwestfunk, to write a new work for two pianos for the 1970 Donaueschingen Music Festival. Stockhausen's vision: the two pianists were to perform pianistic movements in the air as they entered the stage, which would then become sound on the instrument. At Expo '70 in Osaka, Stockhausen presented his music in the German Pavilion. The "VISION for 2 pianos" became "MANTRA for 2 pianists" and the visual idea was abandoned in favor of an electronic extension. The GrauSchumacher Piano Duo has re-recorded the work with Michael Acker from the SWR Experimentalstudio.

Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007)

Stockhausen: MANTRA

August 2024

I would still point Stockhausen initiates towards Gruppen and Stimmung first. Taken on its own terms, however, this Mantra redux deserves definitive status.