hstraub
One-man project. Home recording, piano, keyboards and harmonica. Microtonal music and free piano improvisations.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Short biography (parts relevant to music):
- 9 years of classical piano lessons.
- Study of mathematics and computer science, with a thesis in the field of mathematical music theory (Professors: Jürg Marti and Guerino Mazzola, on mathematical classification of musical motifs).
- In-between, several years as keyboarder in bands, among others: Farmhouse Jazz Band (Dixieland Jazz), Aton Re (Hard Rock), The Jacket Ears (Blues/Rock'n Roll).
Nowadays mostly returned to my main instrument (piano) and again mostly (but not exclusively) "classical" - respectively, as composer, "neoclassical". From my education stems an occasional tendency to use mathematical or algorithmical methods, and namely to explore alternative tunings, i.e. where one octave is not divided into 12 parts, but e.g. 5, 17 or 22. The methods of mathematical music theory can be very helpful there.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Currently not, but that may change.
Your musical influences
Quite a few - from classical music to classical hard rock to flamenco to middle-eastern world music. Beethoven, Astor Piazzolla, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Che & Ray...
What equipment do you use?
M-Audio Keystation pro master keyboard, Roland JV-1010, Pianoteq piano emulation software, n-Track studio recording software.
