KOCH, HANS W. - The O. Theorem

"hans w. koch (b. 1962) is a Cologne-based composer, performer, and sound artist. His work encompasses pieces for chamber and large orchestra, experimental scores for instruments, computers and everyday objects, sound installations, electronic music, etc. He summarizes his art as being about sculpting thoughts in diverse material and prefers conceptual approaches: "more thought, less material". koch studied composition with Johannes Fritsch and currently is professor for sound at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Since the 1980s, koch has been concerning himself with the concept of "total harmony" (harmonie totale) introduced by Russian composer Nikolai Obouhow (1892-1954) where all twelve tones of the Western tonal system -- in different octave ranges -- are stacked into chord complexes, thus articulating the idea of a vertical twelve-tone music, as opposed to the horizontal twelve-tone music after Schönberg. Less than the mystical connotations expressed by Obouhow, koch is intereste