Fennesz at Firestone Baars Chapel

Friday, Sept. 12th
7pm Doors / 7:30 Show
Austrian guitarist, composer, and electronic musician Christian Fennesz is recognized as a key figure in modern experimental music and has remained one of the most distinctive voices within electronic composition for nearly three decades. His wide international reputation has been consolidated through his substantial overall contribution to new musical expression. Emerging from the Viennese electronic and techno scene of the early 90’s, Fennesz is noted as an early advocate and practitioner of the use of interfacing live instrumentation with laptop computers in the creation of electro-acoustic compositions. His work is characterized by electronic splicing, sampling and otherwise subverting the sound of electric guitar and field recordings to create electro-acoustic micro-symphonies that are highly original and difficult to mistake for other artists.
Beginning with a prestigious Prix Ars Electronica award for his debut album Hotel Paral.lel in 1997, Fennesz’s studio catalogue is highlighted by works that have come to be regarded as landmark achievements of 21st century electronic composition. His 2001 album Endless Summer has been widely cited as one of the most important releases of the decade, helping to change the perception of electronic music today. Giving significant importance to melody, appearing delicately beneath of his shimmering electronic soundscapes, Fennesz’s music is often described as “symphonic” for its enormous range and complex musicality. His unique sound and trademark studio production techniques have been quietly influencing larger popular music culture from a distance for decades.
In addition to his prolific output as a solo artist, and his ongoing investigation of the limits of noise, automatic composition, field music or contemporary classical, Fennesz is also a frequent collaborator with other luminaries of the scene. These include artists such as Alva Noto, Oren Ambarchi, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Keith Rowe, Peter Rehberg, David Sylvian, and Jim O’Rourke.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Firestone Baars Chapel, 1306 East Walnut Street, Columbia, United States