Mats Wendt (born in 1965) is a Swedish classical composer and artist. His best known work internationally is Eddan – the invincible sword of the elf-smith, a 16-hour-long "cybersymphonic" work on Norse mythology according to Viktor Rydberg. Five hours from Eddan was performed in Bayreuth 2003 during the annual Wagner festspiele,[1] in Wahnfried, Wagner's former home, now the Richard Wagner museum. The work was first performed in its entirety in Reykjavík in 2009.[2] Prior to Eddan, he's been inspired by works of writers like William Blake and T. S. Eliot.[3]

Wendt is also the originator of "cybersymphony",[4] a concept for transferring the symphony orchestra to computers and by this create a super instrument that is independent of development of hard and software. He's performed his work at the Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology.[5]

Cybersymphony

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The concept of Cybersymphony was created by Wendt in 1993 to build a foundation for symphonic music created by computers and synthesizers.

The "instrument" used to perform a cybersymphony consists of two things: the cybersymphonic law that defines what the instrument is, and any synthesizer that meets the requirements. This means that, in the absence of a physical instrument (and the small differences caused by the analogue), a consistently defined sound is available.

The Cybersymphonic Law summarised:

  • All sounds must have a real counterpart (violin, oboe and so on, with the correct register span).
  • All instruments must be played like the real counterpart (i.e.: technical limitations must be observed).
  • All instruments or instrument sections must be located on separate midi channels
  • No sampling of mixed sounds may occur.
  • The Orchestral dynamic is created by the parts individual dynamics.
  • No dynamic event may occur in the section sounds or instruments sounds
  • Dynamic is formed by continuous volume and the keystroke
  • The orchestral timbre is created through the sum of the sounding separate midi channels

Selected works

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  • Cyborg Piano Concerto nr 1 (1981)
  • The child and the soul of logic (1984)
  • Three Psychological portraits (1989)
  • Psychopath predominantly aggressive
  • Schizophrenic reaction type catatonia
  • Die grosse compressed crocodile symphony
  • Urbana
  • Voluspa
  • Baltic ode (1990)
  • Excalibur Piano Concerto nr 3 (1993)
  • Tales from lord of the rings 1 (1993)
  • Tales from lord of the rings 2 (1995)
  • Symphony for a dead world (1994)
  • The Insects Collection (1993–1995)
  • The Omega point theory (1994)
  • The Marriage of heaven and hell (1996)
  • The Millennium Symphony (1997)
  • WasteLands (1997)
  • Europe a prophecy (1998)
  • Eddan — the invincible sword of the elf-smith (2008)

Sources

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  • STIM - the Swedish Performing Rights Society

References

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  1. ^ Redvall, Eva (19 July 2003). "Wagnerhändelse och dröm för svensk cybersymfoniker". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish).
  2. ^ Betts, Jane (22 May 2009). "Tonsatt Edda uruppförs av Karlskronakompositör". Blekinge Läns Tidning (in Swedish).
  3. ^ Andersson, Margareta (23 May 2009). "Mats Wendt uruppför cyber-Eddan". Sydsvenskan.
  4. ^ "Cybersymfoniker uppträder i Lund". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). 16 April 2000.
  5. ^ Betts, Jane (16 October 2000). "Wendt med orkester till Tekniska museet". Blekinge Läns Tidning.
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