Koenig 100

Gottfried Michael Koenig (1926–2021) was one of the pioneers of electronic music. On the occasion of the centenary of his birth, the New European Ensemble presents a program centered on his fascination with structure, sound, and musical possibilities.

Koenig moved to Utrecht in 1964, where he became artistic director of the Studio for Electronic Music at Utrecht University, which later became the Institute of Sonology. Based in the Netherlands, he developed into one of the key innovators of post-war music, connecting composition, electronics, and the possibilities of the computer.

This concert presents Koenig’s work across various instrumentations: from the concentrated piano world of Klavierbuch to Variants 1 for five instruments and String Quartet 2019, one of his final instrumental compositions. Programming also features 5 Bagatellen by Konrad Böhmer, a close colleague who, like Koenig, played a vital role in the development of electronic and experimental music in the Netherlands.