Canon
Where to start with Stockhausen
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralGruppen für drei Orchester
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ChamberAus den sieben Tagen, 15 text compositions for 'intuitive' music
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VocalChoirs for Doris, for chorus
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KeyboardKlavierstück III
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StageMichael's Farewell, for 5 trumpets
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ChamberKontakte, for piano, percussion and electronic sounds
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VocalChorale, for chorus
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ChamberDr. K-Sextet, for flute, bass clarinet, piano, vibraphone, tubular bells, viola, and cello
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ChamberHelikopter String Quartet, for 4 helicopters and string quartet
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ChamberIn Freundschaft, for melody instrument
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KeyboardKlavierstück IX
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KeyboardKlavierstück V
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KeyboardKlavierstück XI
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ChamberKreuzspiel, for oboe, bass clarinet, piano, and 3 percussionists
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ChamberMantra, for 2 pianos, percussion, and electronics
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Stockhausen's catalogueMost Popular
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Gesang der Jünglinge (Song of the Youths)
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Stimmung
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Kontakte
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Klavierstücke I-IV
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Gruppen (three orchestras)
Most Acclaimed
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Klavierstücke I-XI (complete)
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Gruppenthree orchestras surrounding the audience — each with its own conductor
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Licht (opera cycle)
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Mantra (two pianos)
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Telemusik
Most Weird
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Licht (7 operas — Helicopter String Quartet scene)a string quartet plays while flying in four separate helicopters above the audience; the sounds are transmitted live to the hall
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Stimmung6 singers sit in lotus position in near-darkness for 75 minutes on one chord (B-flat overtones); between sections they call out the names of gods from world religion
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Aus den sieben Tagentext scores with no notes — ”Play a vibration in the rhythm of the universe”; ”Think Nothing”
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Klavierstück XIone large score on a single sheet; performer chooses any group at random; the piece ends when a group is reached for the third time
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Gesang der Jünglinge1956 — electronic tape; a boy’s voice singing the Benedicite is transformed into electronic sound and back; the boy and the machine become one voice
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 21
- Orchestral
- ● Gruppen für drei Orchester
- Chamber
- Aus den sieben Tagen, 15 text compositions for 'intuitive' music
- Kontakte, for piano, percussion and electronic sounds
- Dr. K-Sextet, for flute, bass clarinet, piano, vibraphone, tubular bells, viola, and cello
- Helikopter String Quartet, for 4 helicopters and string quartet
- In Freundschaft, for melody instrument
- Kreuzspiel, for oboe, bass clarinet, piano, and 3 percussionists
- Mantra, for 2 pianos, percussion, and electronics
- Solo, for melody instrument with feedback
- Spiral, for soloist with shortwave receiver
- Tierkreis, for 12 music boxes or ensemble
- Zyklus no. 9, for percussion
- Zyklus, for solo percussion
- Vocal
- Choirs for Doris, for chorus
- Chorale, for chorus
- Keyboard
- Klavierstück III
- Klavierstück IX
- Klavierstück V
- Klavierstück XI
- Stage
- Michael's Farewell, for 5 trumpets
- Michael's Journey Round the Earth, for trumpet and orchestra