Klaus Schulze Explained

Klaus Schulze
Landscape:yes
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth Date:4 August 1947
Birth Place:Berlin, Allied-occupied Germany
Years Active:1969–2022

Klaus Schulze (4 August 1947 – 26 April 2022)[1] was a German electronic music pioneer, composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried and was a member of the Krautrock bands Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel, and the Cosmic Jokers before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums released across six decades.

Early life

Schulze was born in Berlin in 1947. His father was a writer, and his mother a ballet dancer. After graduating from high school, he delivered telegrams and studied German at Technische Universität Berlin.[2] He and his wife Elfie had two sons Maximilian and Richard.[3] [4]

Career

1970s

In 1969, Schulze was the drummer of one of the early incarnations of Tangerine Dream – one of the most famous bands that got the nickname "Krautrock" in English speaking countries (others included Kraftwerk and Popol Vuh) – for their debut album Electronic Meditation. Before 1969 he was a drummer in a band called Psy Free. He met Edgar Froese from Tangerine Dream in the Zodiac Club in what was then West Berlin. In 1970 he left this group to form Ash Ra Tempel with Manuel Göttsching and Hartmut Enke. In 1971, he chose again to leave a newly formed group after only one album, this time to mount a solo career. In 1972, Schulze released his debut album Irrlicht with organ and a recording of an orchestra filtered almost beyond recognition. Despite the lack of synthesizers, this proto-ambient work is regarded as a milestone in electronic music. His follow-up album, Cyborg, was similar but added the EMS VCS 3 synthesizer.[5]

Since this point, Schulze's career was the most prolific, such that he could claim more than 40 original albums to his name since Irrlicht. Highlights of these include 1975's Timewind, 1976's Moondawn (his first album to feature the Moog synthesizer), 1979's Dune, and 1995's double-album In Blue (which featured one long track called "Return to the Tempel" with electric guitar contributions from his friend Manuel Göttsching of Ash Ra Tempel). In 1976, he was drafted by Japanese percussionist and composer Stomu Yamashta to join his short-lived "supergroup" Go, also featuring Steve Winwood, Michael Shrieve, and Al Di Meola. They released two studio albums (Go in 1976 and Go Too in 1977) and one live album (Go Live from Paris, 1976).

Throughout the 1970s he followed closely in the footsteps of Tangerine Dream, albeit with far lighter sequencer lines and a more reflective, dreamy sheen, not unlike the ambient music of his contemporary Brian Eno. On occasions he would also compose film scores, including horror and thriller movies such as Barracuda (1977) and Next of Kin (1982).[6] [7] Some of his lighter albums are appreciated by new-age music fans, despite the fact that Schulze has always denied connections to this genre.[8] By mid-decade, with the release of Timewind and Moondawn, his style transformed from Krautrock to Berlin School.[9]

Schulze had a more organic sound than other electronic artists of the time. Often he would throw in decidedly non-electronic sounds, such as acoustic guitar and a male operatic voice in Blackdance, or a cello in Dune (1979) and Trancefer. Schulze developed a Minimoog patch that sounds uncannily like an electric guitar. Schulze often takes German events as a starting point for his compositions, a notable example being on his 1978 album "X" (the title signifying it was his tenth album), subtitled "Six Musical Biographies", a reference to such notables as Ludwig II of Bavaria, Friedrich Nietzsche, Georg Trakl, and Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. His use of the pseudonym Richard Wahnfried is indicative of his interest in Richard Wagner, a clear influence on some albums like the aforementioned Timewind.[10]

Schulze built a record studio in Hambühren, Germany.

1980s

In the 1980s Schulze started using digital instruments besides the usual analog synthesizers, and his work accordingly became less experimental and more accessible. Although the switch to using digital equipment is audible in the style of Dig It (1980), it was not until the release of Trancefer (1981) that the shift in style became evident.[11]

This newer style can also be found in Schulze's next release Audentity.[12] Both "Cellistica" and "Spielglocken" are composed in a similar sequencer-based style as on Trancefer, but this is certainly not the case of all of Audentitys tracks; indeed, "Sebastian im Traum" hints towards the operatic style to be found in some of Schulze's much later works. The predominance of sequencing can also be found in the follow-up live album Dziękuję Poland Live '83,[13] although many of its tracks are re-workings of those to be found on Audentity. Schulze's next studio-based album was Angst (soundtrack to the namesake 1983 film).[14] The cold yet haunting electronic rhythms generate an alienated atmosphere.[15] Typical are the Fairlight synth and Linn electronic drums sounds.[16]

Another highlight of this era was En=Trance with the dreamy cut "FM Delight".[17] The album Miditerranean Pads marked the beginning of very complex percussion arrangements that continued through the next two decades.[18]

In 1989, German band Alphaville released their album The Breathtaking Blue, on which Klaus Schulze was both a contributing musician and the album's producer.[19]

1990s

Starting with Beyond Recall, the first half of the 1990s was his "sample" period, when Schulze used a wide variety of prerecorded sounds such as screeching birds and sensuous female moans in his studio albums and live performances.[20] Sampling heavily died down with his 1995 album In Blue. The decade also saw the release of copious amounts of previously unreleased material, of varying quality, in several limited-edition boxed sets.

2000s

In 2005 he began re-releasing his classic solo and Wahnfried albums with bonus tracks of unreleased material recorded at roughly the same time as the original works. In the latter part of the decade, Schulze produced albums and staged numerous live appearances with Lisa Gerrard.[21]

2010s

was Schulze's fortieth album, and its release in September 2010 marked the beginning of his fifth decade as a solo musician.[22] The Japan concerts were to be his last live performances.[23]

His next album, Shadowlands, was released in February 2013, quickly to be followed by the release of The Schulze–Schickert Session 1975, a rare long-unreleased collaboration, in March 2013.[24] After a hiatus of several years, he returned to the studio in 2018 for another album, Silhouettes. Much of the album was recorded in a single take.

2020s

Schulze died on 26 April 2022 following a long illness.[25] His final album, Deus Arrakis, was released on 1 July 2022.[26]

Richard Wahnfried

Richard Wahnfried, then simply Wahnfried after 1993, is the longtime and only real alias for Klaus Schulze – originally a pseudonym, later an official side project name. Seven albums were released under this name between 1979 and 1997.

The main characteristics of the Wahnfried albums (as opposed to Schulze's regular works) are:

The pseudonym's etymology stems from Schulze's love for Richard Wagner:

In his 1975 album Timewind (four years before the first alias use), Schulze had already named a track "Wahnfried 1883" (in reference to Wagner's death and burial in his Wahnfried's garden in 1883). The other track on Timewind is called "Bayreuth Return".[28] After 1993, the albums are simply credited to "Wahnfried", and namedrop Schulze ("featuring Klaus Schulze", "Produced by Klaus Schulze").[29]

"Wahnfried" is the only known alias of Schulze (albeit on the 1998 Tribute to Klaus Schulze album, among 10 other artists, Schulze contributed one track barely hidden behind the "Schulzendorfer Groove Orchester" pseudonym).[30]

Discography

Albums

Schulze's concert performances are original compositions recorded live and thus listed as albums. An intensive reissue program of Schulze CDs began in 2005, with most releases having bonus tracks, and sometimes additional discs. They are published by the label Revisited Records (a division of German company InsideOut Music), and distributed by SPV.[31]

Source:[32]

YearTitleReissued
1972Irrlicht2006
1973Cyborg2006
1974Blackdance2007
1975Picture Music2005
1975Timewind2006
1976Moondawn2005
1977Body Love 2005
1977Mirage2005
1977Body Love Vol. 22007
1978X2005
1979Dune2005
1980...Live... 2007
1980Dig It2005
1981Trancefer2006
1983Audentity2005
1983Dziękuję Poland Live '83 2006
1984Angst 2005
1985Inter*Face2006
1986Dreams2005
1988En=Trance2005
1990Miditerranean Pads2005
1990The Dresden Performance
1991Beyond Recall
1992Royal Festival Hall Vol. 1
1992Royal Festival Hall Vol. 2
1993The Dome Event
1994Le Moulin de Daudet 2005
1994Goes Classic
1994Totentag
1994Das Wagner Desaster Live 2005
1995In Blue2005
1996Are You Sequenced? 2006
1997Dosburg Online2006
2001Live @ KlangArt 2008
2005Moonlake
2007Kontinuum
2008Farscape
2008Rheingold
2009Dziękuję Bardzo
2010
2013Shadowlands
2013–14Big in Europe
2014Stars Are Burning
2017Eternal: The 70th Birthday Edition
2018Silhouettes
2019Next of Kin
2022Deus Arrakis[33]

Singles

YearTitleReissued
1985Macksy[34] The Ultimate Edition (CD38); extended version on Inter*Face reissue
1994Conquest of Paradise[35] Partially reissued on La Vie Electronique 14

(Richard) Wahnfried albums

Composed by Schulze and performed with guest artists under alias Richard Wahnfried or later just Wahnfried:[36]

YearTitleReissued
1979Time Actor2011
1981Tonwelle2012
1984Megatone2021
1986Miditation2012
1994Trancelation2019
1996Trance Appeal2007
1997Drums 'n' Balls (The Gancha Dub)2006
2000Trance 4 Motion2018
Notes:
  • This album was originally issued as the third disc of Contemporary Works I.

    Boxed sets

    Between 1993 and 2002 Klaus Schulze released several limited edition boxed sets, all composed of non-album material.[37]

    Year Title Discs Copies
    1993 Silver Edition 10 2000
    1995 Historic Edition 10 2000
    1997 Jubilee Edition 25 1000
    2000 The Ultimate Edition 50
    2000 Contemporary Works I 10
    2002 Contemporary Works II 5 2002
    Notes:
  • Collecting Silver, Historic, and Jubilee sets, with additional 5 discs.
  • A bonus sixth disc included with the first 333 copies.

    Reissues from sets

    Sources:[38] [39] [40] [41]

    YearTitleFrom
    2005Vanity of SoundsContemporary Works I (2000)
    2006The Crime of SuspenseContemporary Works I (2000)
    2006Ballett 1Contemporary Works I (2000)
    2006Ballett 2Contemporary Works I (2000)
    2007Ballett 3Contemporary Works I (2000)
    2007Ballett 4Contemporary Works I (2000)
    2008Virtual OutbackContemporary Works II (2002)
    2009La Vie Electronique 1The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2009La Vie Electronique 2The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2009La Vie Electronique 3The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2009La Vie Electronique 4The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2010La Vie Electronique 5The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2010La Vie Electronique 6The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2010La Vie Electronique 7The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2010La Vie Electronique 8The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2011La Vie Electronique 9The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2011La Vie Electronique 10The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2012La Vie Electronique 11The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2012La Vie Electronique 12The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2013La Vie Electronique 13The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2014La Vie Electronique 14The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2014La Vie Electronique 15The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2015La Vie Electronique 16The Ultimate Edition (2000)
    2016PrivéeContemporary Works I (2000)
    2016Another Green MileContemporary Works II (2002)
    2017AndrogynContemporary Works II (2002)
    2017Ultimate DockingContemporary Works I (2000)
    2018Trance 4 MotionContemporary Works I (2000)
    2018CocooningContemporary Works II (2002)
    2019Timbres of IceContemporary Works II (2002)

    "The Dark Side of the Moog"

    "The Dark Side of the Moog" is a Klaus Schulze collaboration with Pete Namlook (joined also by Bill Laswell on volumes four to seven).[42] Each title is a distortion of Pink Floyd song and album titles.

    Source:[43]

    Year Title Pink Floyd Title
    1994 The Dark Side of the Moog: Wish You Were There "Wish You Were Here"
    1994 The Dark Side of the Moog II: A Saucerful of Ambience "A Saucerful of Secrets"
    1995 The Dark Side of the Moog III: Phantom Heart Brother"Atom Heart Mother"
    1996 The Dark Side of the Moog IV: Three Pipers at the Gates of Dawn The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
    1996 The Dark Side of the Moog V: Psychedelic Brunch "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast"
    1997 The Dark Side of the Moog VI: The Final DAT "The Final Cut"
    1998 The Dark Side of the Moog VII: Obscured by Klaus "Obscured by Clouds"
    1999 The Dark Side of the Moog VIII: Careful With the AKS, Peter "Careful with That Axe, Eugene"
    2002 The Dark Side of the Moog: The Evolution of the Dark Side of the Moog
    2002 The Dark Side of the Moog IX: Set the Controls for the Heart of the Mother "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"
    "Atom Heart Mother"
    2005 The Dark Side of the Moog X: Astro Know Me Domina "Astronomy Domine"
    2008 The Dark Side of the Moog XI: The Heart of Our Nearest Star "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"

    The Evolution of the Dark Side of the Moog is a compilation album, containing excerpts from the first eight volumes. The series was announced as officially concluded with volume ten when on 21 March 2005 at 14:52 CET, Pete Namlook sold the Big Moog synthesizer that was the symbol of the series. Volume eleven appeared on Namlook's website on 15 April 2008 (and was included in a complete box set).[44]

    Collaborations

    Source:[45]

    Year Title Collaborator
    1970 Electronic Meditation Tangerine Dream
    1971 Ash Ra TempelAsh Ra Tempel
    1973 Tarot Walter Wegmüller
    1973 Join Inn Ash Ra Tempel
    1973 Lord Krishna von Goloka Sergius Golowin
    1974 The Cosmic Jokers The Cosmic Jokers
    1974 Planeten Sit-In The Cosmic Jokers
    1974 Galactic Supermarket The Cosmic Jokers
    1974 Sci Fi Party The Cosmic Jokers
    1974 Gilles Zeitschiff The Cosmic Jokers
    1974 Planet of Man Code III
    1976 Go Go
    1976 Go Live from Paris Go
    1977 Go Too Go
    1979 French Skyline Earthstar
    1984 Aphrica Rainer Bloss and Ernst Fuchs
    1984 Drive Inn Rainer Bloss
    1984 Transfer Station Blue Michael Shrieve and Kevin Shrieve
    1987 Babel Andreas Grosser
    2000 Friendship Ash Ra Tempel
    2000 Gin Rosé at the Royal Festival Hall Ash Ra Tempel
    2009 Come Quietly Lisa Gerrard
    2013 The Schulze–Schickert Session Günter Schickert
    2021 Grains of Sand from The Dune Sketchbook[46] Hans Zimmer

    Promos

    Compilations

    See also

    Further reading

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Deaux . John . Electronic music legend Klaus Schulze passes away 1947 – 2022 . All About The Rock . 27 April 2022 . 29 April 2022.
    2. Web site: Dallach . Christoph . Nachruf auf Klaus Schulze: Musik, die es so noch nie gegeben hatte . . 28 April 2022 . de . 29 April 2022.
    3. Web site: Beaumont-Thomas . Ben . 27 April 2022 . Klaus Schulze, German electronic music pioneer, dies aged 74 . 29 April 2022 . . en.
    4. Web site: Jon . Pareles . Klaus Schulze, Pioneering Electronic Composer, Is Dead at 74 . . 29 April 2022 . . 30 April 2022.
    5. News: Schütte . Uwe . Ein Brückenbauer zwischen Geist und Universum . . 28 April 2022 . de . 29 April 2022.
    6. News: Trinks . Stefan . Zum Tod von Klaus Schulze: Platz da im Technohimmel . . 28 April 2022 . de . 30 April 2022.
    7. Web site: Klaus Schulze. Aus: Rock in Deutschland auf CD-ROM . Taurus Press . de . 3 May 2022.
    8. Web site: Klaus Schulze – Interview "It's the Player not the Tools" . November 1994 . 19 November 2018.
    9. Book: Brzezinski, M. . Vinyl Age: A Guide to Record Collecting Now . Running Press . 2020 . 978-0-316-41969-7 . 29 April 2022 . 278.
    10. Web site: Klaus Schulze: Timewind (1974) (Review/Kritik) – Album-Rezension (Elektronische Musik) . musikreviews.de . 13 November 2021 . de . 29 April 2022.
    11. Web site: Klaus Schulze: Digital To Analogue Conversion . Sound On Sound . 1 April 2022 . 29 April 2022.
    12. Web site: Klaus Schulze: Audentity (1983) (Review/Kritik) – Album-Rezension (Elektronische Musik) . Musikreviews.de . 13 November 2021 . de . 29 April 2022.
    13. Web site: Dziekuje Poland Live '83 . radioeins . 6 November 2007 . de . 30 April 2022.
    14. Web site: Lupari . Sylvain . KLAUS SCHULZE: Angst (1984) . SYNTH&SEQUENCES . 1 May 2003 . 30 April 2022.
    15. Book: Edwards, M. . Murder Movie Makers: Directors Dissect Their Killer Flicks . McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers . 2020 . 978-1-4766-7647-0 . 30 April 2022 . 54.
    16. Web site: Angst von Klaus Schulze . radioeins . 6 November 2007 . de . 30 April 2022.
    17. Web site: KLAUS SCHULZE En=Trance CD-Review – Kritik . Terrorverlag . 14 October 2013 . 30 April 2022.
    18. Web site: Miditerranean pads (Klaus Schulze) Groove Unlimited . groove.nl . 29 April 2022.
    19. Frauwallner . Samira . Alphaville: Verlosung von Doppel-Vinyl – "Afternoons in Utopia" und "The Breathtaking Blue" . Rolling Stone . 4 May 2021 . de . 29 April 2022.
    20. Web site: Composer Biography, Facts and Music Compositions . FAMOUS COMPOSERS . 9 January 2014 . 30 April 2022.
    21. Web site: Album-Rezension (Elektronische Musik / Ambient) . Klaus Schulze feat. Lisa Gerrard: Rheingold (Review/Kritik) . 13 November 2021 . de . 30 April 2022.
    22. Web site: CD-Review / Klaus Schulze – Big In Japan, Live In Tokyo 2010 . ROCKTIMES . 7 December 2010 . de . 30 April 2022.
    23. Web site: 27 April 2022 . Klaus Schulze: Wegbereiter der elektronischen Musik verstorben . 29 April 2022 . Groove.
    24. Web site: Klaus Schulze & Günter Schickert – The Schulze-Schickert Session . 13 December 2018 . Norman Records UK.
    25. News: Deville . Chris . Krautrock Pioneer Klaus Schulze Dead at 74 . 27 April 2022 . . 27 April 2022 . en.
    26. Web site: Willman . Chris . 27 April 2022 . Electronic Music Pioneer Klaus Schulze Dies at 74 . 29 April 2022 . Variety . en-US.
    27. Web site: RICHARD WAHNFRIED aka Klaus Schulze . EER-MUSIC.com MUSIC REVIEW SITE JAZZ FUSION PROGRESSIVE ROCK ECLECTIC MUSIC . 2 May 2022.
    28. Web site: Album-Rezension (Elektronische Musik) . Klaus Schulze: Timewind (1974) (Review/Kritik) . 13 November 2021 . de . 30 April 2022.
    29. Web site: Interview (September 1993) . Klaus Schulze . 2 May 2022.
    30. Web site: Schulzendorfer Groove Orchester: The Schulzendorf Groove . Klaus Schulze . 30 April 2022.
    31. Web site: Sweeting . Adam . Klaus Schulze obituary . . 29 April 2022 . 30 April 2022.
    32. Web site: The Klaus Schulze Discography . Klaus Schulze . 30 April 2022.
    33. Web site: Scharf . Natasha . Listen to the first new music from Klaus Schulze's Deus Arrakis . loudersound . 8 April 2022 . 30 April 2022.
    34. Web site: KLAUS SCHULZE – Macksy (1985) . Progarchives.com . 30 April 2022.
    35. Web site: Conquest Of Paradise – Single-CD (1994) von Klaus Schulze . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 30 April 2022.
    36. Web site: RICHARD WAHNFRIED. Progarchives.com.
    37. Web site: KLAUS SCHULZE – MIG . made in germany music . 9 September 2013 . de . 30 April 2022.
    38. Web site: Contemporary works (Klaus Schulze) Groove Unlimited . groove.nl . 30 April 2022.
    39. Web site: The Ultimate Edition – 50-CD (2000, Box) von Klaus Schulze . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 30 April 2022.
    40. Web site: MIG . Klaus Schulze . 9 September 2013 . de . 30 April 2022.
    41. Web site: Contemporary works 2 (Klaus Schulze) Groove Unlimited . groove.nl . 4 August 2002 . 30 April 2022.
    42. Web site: Klaus Schulze und Pete Namlook: The Dark Side Of The Moog, Vol. 1 – Album-Rezension (Electronic, Avantgarde, Ambient, Techno) . 4 (Limited Box-Edition) (Review/Kritik) . 13 November 2021 . de . 30 April 2022.
    43. Web site: Kemker . Wolf . the dark side of the moog @ wolf's kompaktkiste . wolf's kompaktkiste . 30 April 2022.
    44. Web site: PK 08/182 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130703032008/http://www.namlook.de/infos/PK08182.html. 3 July 2013. dead. 13 December 2018.
    45. Web site: The Klaus Schulze Discography . Klaus Schulze . 30 April 2022.
    46. Web site: Motamayor . Rafael . Hans Zimmer opens up about his "crazy ideas" for 'Dune: Part 2' . Inverse . 5 November 2021 . 30 April 2022.
    47. Web site: KLAUS SCHULZE – Andromeda (2003) . Progarchives.com . 30 April 2022.
    48. Web site: Ion – Promo-CD (2004) von Klaus Schulze . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 30 April 2022.
    49. Web site: Hommage À Polska (2009) von Klaus Schulze & Lisa Gerrard . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 30 April 2022.
    50. Web site: Rock On Brain (1979) von Klaus Schulze . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 2 May 2022.
    51. Web site: Star Action – 2-LP (1980, Compilation, Gatefold) von Klaus Schulze . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 2 May 2022.
    52. Web site: History – a Compilation/Boxed-Set release by KLAUS SCHULZE artist / band . ProGGnosis . 30 April 2022.
    53. Web site: 2001 – CD (0, Compilation, Re-Release) von Klaus Schulze . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 30 April 2022.
    54. Web site: The Essential 72 – 93 – 2-CD (1994, Compilation) von Klaus Schulze . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 30 April 2022.
    55. Web site: CD (1999, Compilation) von Klaus Schulze . Musik-Sammler.de . de . 30 April 2022.