Stephan Thelen

Stephan Thelen

Circular Lines
2016 Duration: 10:45
Download
download icon
orange triangle

Program Notes

Circular Lines
(2016)

Stephan Thelen
(b. 1959)

Composed for
50 For The Future:
The Kronos Learning
Repertoire

Artist Statement

Circular Lines is an energetic, propulsive, and highly rhythmic piece in one movement that belongs to the post-minimalistic tradition of tonal and rhythmic music that aims to create maximum effect with minimum means. The main idea of the quartet is based on a ‘3 against 4 against 5’ polyrhythm where one instrument plays in 3/8, one in 4/8 and one in 5/8 while the fourth instrument (the ‘wild card’) either plays melodies on top of this continuum or supports one of the rhythmic layers. During the piece, every instrument has several opportunities to take each one of the four roles.

“During the period in which the piece was composed, the dominant theme in Europe was the refugee crisis and how the selfish governments and people of Europe completely failed to find a compassionate way to deal with the unimaginable suffering of the refugees. The fact that I was constantly thinking about the crisis has surely found its way into the piece. Especially haunting for me was the image of people who would rather risk their lives getting into a ramshackled boat heading towards an unknown and potentially hostile future than stay in their home country. Yet still, despite all the suffering, many maintain hope and optimism, a fact which should come through in the interpretation of the piece.”

Stephan Thelen

Composer Interview

Stephan Thelen discusses his musical background, his composition process, his relationship with Kronos, and more.

Artist’s Bio

Stephan Thelen

USA / Switzerland
Thelen_Headshot

Raised in Santa Rosa, California, Stephan Thelen is a composer, electric guitarist, and mathematician based in Zürich, Switzerland. Aside from teaching mathematics, he is a member of the Swiss minimal-rock band SONAR (Cuneiform Records), a quartet that produces a unique blend of music that explores polymetrical structures and the harmonic possibilities of guitars tuned in tritones. In the words of John Schaefer, host of WNYC’s New Sounds program, “a really fascinating blend of art-rock, groove-based minimalism and abstract mathematical theory, all woven together to great effect.”

He studied mathematics and music at the University of Zürich where he obtained a PhD in mathematics in 1990. Other key factors in his musical education were several Guitar Craft seminars with Robert Fripp (founder of the band King Crimson) and intensive studies of the music of Béla Bartók (through the work of Ernö Lendvai) and Steve Reich.

Learn more about Stephan >>

Support Kronos’ 50 for the Future

Help support Kronos’ 50 for the Future as we commission fifty new works designed expressly for the training of students and emerging professionals.
David Harrington - Thelen
icon quote

Circular Lines is an incredibly challenging work, and challenging in a wonderful way because I feel that it has helped Kronos become a better group. It has strengthened our internal rhythm because you have to have such precise internal rhythm to play this piece. I highly recommend Stephan's music as a great way to strengthen any group.

dark gray triangle graphic

David Harrington

Artistic Director, Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet

World Premiere

June 10, 2017

Switchboard Festival

Z Space / San Francisco, California More Info