SUAL Archives | 2008
The International Nothing (Kai Fagaschinski & Michael Thieke) — clarinet duo
#1 Niedere Arbeiten
Duration: 8‘06“
Type: Studio recording provided by the artists
Credits: Published on the album Less Action, Less Excitement, Less Everything (Ftarri, 2010)
#2 Amongst Dissidents
Duration: 5‘32“
Type: Studio recording provided by the artists
Credits: Published on the album Less Action, Less Excitement, Less Everything (Ftarri, 2010)
The International Nothing
kai fagaschinski (berlin) | clarinet
michael thieke (berlin/rome) | clarinet
Kai and Michael started working together as a clarinet duo in 2000. After improvising for some time in a mainly quiet and noise-based style, they became somehow bored with that and turned their thoughts in new directions to find the delicate pleasures one might not associate with clarinet duos.
So some years ago (2002) they shifted the project towards the composition of pieces that are focused on tone material in a kind of pipe-organ style, making it sound like one instrument, or more than two, through the comforts that multiphonics offer. The pieces have a warm and slowed down quality and might be associated with electronic music. Their way of composing can be described as “empirical” as the music isn’t developed in the head of one musician; it relies more on the ears of both and a long process of trying, failing, changing and developing ideas during numerous rehearsals. In 2006 they have completed recordings for their debut album. As well as five duo pieces, there are two pieces with guests: one song with Margareth Kammerer (voice & guitar) and one quartet piece with Christian Weber and Derek Shirley (both on double bass). Another track is a remix with additional vocals by Christof Kurzmann. Their CD mainstream has been released in October 2006 by Ftarri (Tokyo). After many years of withdrawn work they played in October 2007 their first duo concerts since 2002. So far they presented their music in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland, among others at Donaueschinger Musiktage (2007) and Konfrontationen (Nickelsdorf 2008). The duo is constantly working on new compositions. Since the release of their first album three new pieces have been developed, which show a deeper permeation for sonic details and more subtle forms.
Kai Fagaschinski
clarinetist | composer/performer | nightwatch
The Berlin-based clarinetist and composer/performer focuses on a subtle musicality of sound and noise phenomena. his music is rooted in abstractness, including increasingly an insidious expressivity and a pre-melodic quality. He works on the borderline of composition and improvisation, with a preference for long-term collaborations. His current projects are Los Glissandinos with Klaus Filip, The International Nothing – clarinet duo with Michael Thieke, The Magic I.D. – song project with Christof Kurzmann, Michael Thieke & Margareth Kammerer, here comes the sun with Gunter Schneider & Barbara Romen, Kommando Raumschiff Zitrone with Christof Kurzmann, duo with Burkhard Stangl, duo with Chris Abrahams, etc.
Michael Thieke
clarinetist | composer/performer | caretaker
Michael Thieke is currently involved in a number of projects which focus on diverse and contrasting facets of his musical interest. They reach from outer jazz areas, free jazz, totally composed material to projects with the concentration on the silent noises and sounds. Some of his current Projects are: Michael Thieke Unununium (with Luca Venitucci acc/p, Eric Schaefer dr, Derek Shirley b), The International Nothing (with Kai Fagaschinski cl), The Magic I.D. (song project with Christof Kurzmann, Michael Thieke & Margareth Kammerer), Hotelgäste (with Derek Shirley b, Dave Bennett g), Nickendes Perlgras (with Michael Anderson tp, Eric Schaefer dr), TGW (with Christian Weber b, Michael Griener dr).