Irmin Schmidt
Before Irmin founded the now legendary German band CAN in 1968 he received a formal musical education and studied composition, piano, conducting and music ethnology. Amongst others his teachers were Karlheinz Stockhausen and Ligeti. Between 1962 and 1969 he conducted numerous orchestras including his own compositions. During this period he also composed music for various film and theatre productions. In the late 60ies Schmidt decided to unite classical New Music with Rock and Jazz and founded CAN. Between 1969 and 1978 he worked exclusively with CAN. After 1978 Irmin released several solo albums (Toy Planet, Musk At Dusk, Impossible Holidays) and a 3 CD box-set of his work as a film composer (Anthology – Soundtrack 1978 – 1993). He also wrote the Fantasy Opera, Gormenghast (premiered in 1998) and a ballet, La Fermosa (premiered in 2008) as well as over 120 film scores.
With British composer KUMO he released two CDs, Masters of Confusion (2001) and Axolotl Eyes (2008) and a DVD of their sound installation Flies, Guys and Choirs (originally commissioned by the Barbican Centre).
In 2008 he also released his second Anthology – Soundtracks (1994 – 2008) and the original score to the Wim Wenders film Palermo Shooting which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2008.
Schmidt’s sound-journeys combine what is usually opposed: Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classic, Electronic, Ambient, Drum’n’ Bass, Walz, Oriental… He is a musical alchemist. The unusual paths Schmidt choses for his compositions were celebrated in 2010, when the prestigious Festival “Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspielen” presented a gala evening in his honor. Schmidt conducted the Orchestra of the Schlossfestspiele and presented a selection of his work to great critical acclaim.
In 2012 the CAN Label Spoon Records released The Lost Tapes, a 3 CD Can Box of previously unreleased Can material curated by Irmin Schmidt . The following year he released his double CD compilation Villa Wunderbar, a selection of his solo work and work for film (curated by Wim Wenders).
In 2015 Irmin Schmidt was knighted by the French Ministry of Culture and received the highly prestigious medal Chevalier De L’Ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres for his contribution to art and music. The same year Spoon Records released his 12 CD box Electro Violet – a complete set of Schmidts work (6 solo CDs and 6 Soundtrack CDs).
Schmidt is currently working on a CAN book commissioned by Faber & Faber to be released 5th Oct 2017 and finishing his composition of Can quotes (in collaboration with German composer Gregor Schwellenbach) to be presented at the Barbican Centre, London on the 8th April 2017. Irmin will be conducting the London Symphony Orchestra followed by a “Homage a CAN” concert curated and presented by Thurston Moor (Sonic Youth).