Cor Fuhler

Biography | Biografie

Born 1964 in Barger-Oosterveld (Drenthe), the Netherlands

Piano/keyboards/live electronics/composition

Cor Fuhler began to play, and experiment on, the piano and organ when he was six years old. He completed his studies in piano and improvisation at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in 1989. His main areas of interest are:
- extending the sound possibilities of the piano
- collecting and playing a wide range of electronic and acoustic (keyboard) instruments
- building his own instruments (e.g. the keyolin, a violin combined with a keyboard) and installations.
He uses all his instruments to express his ideas about improvisation and composition.

In 1995 he formed the trio Fuhler/Bennink/de Joode, in which he plays piano, organ, melodica, celesta and keyolin. This trio puts into practice such techniques as instant composing and instant arranging. In 1998 the trio released Bellagram and the live CD Zilch.
Fuhler has always worked on mixing improvisation and composition within various musical styles, for example with his group Carduelis Carduelis (1990-1996) and Wayang Detective, a shadow puppet performance with Javanese gamelan and improvisation, for which Fuhler wrote the music as well as the script. In 1999 he was commissioned by Huis aan de Werf in Utrecht to develop a music theater production, Olympicnic. The point of departure for this production was technological extremes. It featured drummer Steve Heather and voice artist Jaap Blonk, electro-acoustic music, super 8 film, shadow play and sport.
Cor Fuhler’s most recent initiative is the Corkestra, with 3 drummers, a multitude of keyboards, electronics, electric guitar, double bass and 3 brass players. Other projects include:
- ConundrumCd, a mini label, which provides an alternative platform for his ideas, by means of ‘computer dubbing’ of all sorts of material. Using various segments of his musical activities on different instruments, Fuhler composes pieces with the help of the computer.
- DJ Cor Blimey and his Pigeon, “samples in all shapes.” This solo DJ project – a personal vision of current dance music – involves the construction of appropriate instruments and techniques. At the end of 1999 he released the CD, “10 songs in 62 minutes and 23 seconds”.
Fuhler is one of the initiators of a concert series/workplace for electronics and improvisation entitled “Kraakgeluiden”. Within this setting he has developed such combinations as:
- piano + power book (to control electro-magnetic machines that produce acoustic sounds in the piano)
- EMS-synthi + turntable (controls filters etc.), keyolin + effects, Mbirinthesizer (thumb pianos which control oscillators).
These are just a few examples of the numerous projects that he has undertaken to explore the world of notes, sounds and keyboards.

Cor Fuhler has played an important role in projects of ICP, Guus Janssen (opera, Hierû), het Nieuw Ensemble, the Ex, Clusone trio, and the Maarten Altena Ensemble. He has been, or still is, a member of Palinckx, Astronotes, Aardvark, MIMEO, gamelan ensemble Wido Sari, Voice is the matter, Michael Moore’s Monitor trio, the Flatland Kings, trio Delius/Lovens/Fuhler.
Besides writing music for his own groups he has also composed for Nieuw Ensemble, Maarten Altena ensemble, Calefax, ICP, Lokaal 01, Aardvark, Palinckx, duo Anne La Berge/Yuko Susuki (flute/percussion), Nove Cento, Big Band New Music, Schismatics Nutnonet.
Artists he has worked with include: Tristan Honsinger, George Lewis, Roswell Rudd, Otomo Yoshihide, Misha Mengelberg, Jim Denley, Amanda Stewart, Evan Parker, Jim O'Rourke, Christian Fennesz, Oren Ambarchi, John Zorn, Bob Ostertag, Jon Rose, Ernst Reijseger, Peter van Bergen, Tobias Delius, I Wayan Sadra, Adama Dramé, Ikue Mori, Mark Feldman, Herr Seele, Jaap Blonk, Keith Rowe, Miya Masaoka, Frances Marie Uitti.

He has played throughout the world, including: Switzerland (Taktlos festival '95,'96, '01), Austria (konfrontationen `97 en '99, Nickelsdorf), Slovenia, Czech Republic, Belgium (Free Music festival Antwerp, Vooruit Geluid Gent), Germany (Moers '99), Norway (Festspiline Bergen), Indonesia, France (Jazz a Mulhouse '93, Musique Action Vandouevre '00), Italy (Angelica Bologna '96, '01), the Netherlands (October Meeting, Zaal 100 Amsterdam, Jazzmarathon Groningen), Great Britain (Queen's Hall Edinburgh, BAC London), Canada (Vancouver Int. festival '98, tour Toronto, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver '00), US (Empty Bottle Festival of Jazz * improvised music in Chicago '00, Seattle).

   Corkestra CD track1 Zand I - (click button for audio)

 

Cor Fuhler

Geboren 1964 in Barger-Oosterveld (Drenthe), Nederland

Piano/keyboards/live electronics/composition

Cor Fuhler begon met piano- en orgelspelen toen hij 6 jaar oud was. Zijn studie Piano en Improvisatie op het Sweelinck Conservatorium rondde hij af in 1989. Fuhler interesseert zich vooral voor het uitbreiden van de mogelijkheden qua sound van de piano. Hij verzamelt en bespeelt veel elektronische en akoestische toetseninstrumenten, soms zelfgebouwd, zoals de Keyolin (een combinatie van viool en keyboard). In 1995 formeert hij het trio Fuhler-Bennink-De Joode, dat gebaseerd is op de technieken van instant composing en instant arranging. Fuhler combineert improvisatie en compositie in verschillende muzikale settings, zoals met zijn groep Carduelis Carduelis (1990-1996). In 1999 kreeg hij van het Huis aan de Werf in Utrecht de opdracht een muziektheater-
productie te ontwikkelen: 'Olympicnic'. Met dit project, dat uitgaat van technologische extremen, combineerde hij electro-akoestische muziek met Super 8-film, schaduwspel en sport. Daarnaast leidt hij het uitgebreide Corkestra. Zijn minilabel ConundrumCd biedt een alternatief platform voor zijn ideeën door computer dubbing van allerlei muzikaal materiaal. Hij heeft als DJ Cor Blimey and his Pigeon een solo-dj project, dat gebaseerd is op een breed scala van samples. Fuhler is een van de initiators van Kraakgeluiden, een werkplaats annex concertpodium voor elektronica en improvisatie. Naast werk voor zijn eigen bands componeerde Fuhler muziek voor o.a. Maarten Altena Ensemble, ICP, Lokaal 01, Aardvark, Palinckx, Nove Cento en Big Band New Music. Hij werkte samen met uiteenlopende artiesten als George Lewis, Roswell Rudd, Evan Parker, Jim O'Rourke, John Zorn, Ernst Reijseger, Tobias Delius, Mark Feldman en Herr Seele.

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Discography