Greeting from the Mayor of Kürten which was printed in the
programme book of the Stockhausen Courses Kürten 2002

On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Stockhausen Courses Kürten – now in 2002 – I wish to heartily congratulate their initiator and Spiritus Rector, Professor Karlheinz Stockhausen, together with the participating ensembles and learning young musicians from near and far. Since the courses were founded, a yearly rhythm for Kürten has already been established: Already in early summer, the community prepares itself for the days in July and August, during which Prof. Stockhausen holds his courses, which attract people who are interested in new music to Kürten. Thus, the Stockhausen Courses –  rehearsals, master classes, composition seminars, and concerts have already become a tradition in Kürten.

A glance at the programme promises, as anticipated, once again the radical courage to be self-reliant, accompanied by the benefit of a spectrum of unusual perceptual qualities: pitches, durations, dynamics, timbres and positions in space bring about echoes, modulations, improvisation moments. Sound experiments which mediate between the heard and unheard, places and myths, visions and scents, synthetic and organic, earthly and cosmic, traditional and innovative, uniting them into different sensual impressions. I am very pleased that again this year, it is possible to present such a noteworthy musical programme, which again includes several world premières, in Kürten.

On this occasion, it is my pleasure to announce that Professor Stockhausen has accepted the invitation of the British Sonic Arts Network to become its honorary patron. The goal of this organisation, which is based in Great Britain, is to increase understanding of the sonic arts and to support new and innovative work in the UK. Founded as the Electroacoustic Music Association in 1979, it is the only organisation in Britain devoted exclusively to electronic music. In their press release announcing Stockhausen's acceptance of their invitation, they fittingly characterise the paramount impact of his music:

"Sonic Art Network is delighted to announce that one of the world's greatest living composers, Karlheinz Stockhausen, has agreed to become the first Honorary Patron of the organisation. We are extremely pleased that Professor Stockhausen has agreed to associate his good name and success with our organisation."

"The influence of Stockhausen's work and the possibilities he has offered the listener are immeasurable. He has challenged the idea of what music can be, time after time, and he has rewritten and redefined the "laws" of composition with almost every piece he has composed. He was the first person to synthesise sounds using electronics and his influence in the world of contemporary music from the concert hall to techno culture has been profound. He has torn up the rules that, for hundreds of years, said "this is how music is written". Stockhausen has liberated the whole world of sound and this, in turn, has empowered and liberated the listener."

At time when people are increasingly bound together through a global network and modern communications technology into an unpredictable course of events, we again find ourselves in a planetary culture which of course is reflected in Stockhausen's wide-ranging activities in numerous countries worldwide such as Japan, USA, Scandinavia, England, Italy, and Russia. But even beyond: Stockhausen's sonic access to the universal world of myths and of sonorous spaces attains dimensions which are long since etheric. Then it is good when the small unit, the hometown community, retains its importance. One's forlornness and fascination in face of the boundless "global village" thus seek the compensation offered by the limited space and visibility of the region. In any case, the value and the concept of the Stockhausen Courses in Kürten can not be overestimated in the cultural field which ranges from globalism to localism. Therefore we are pleased that the discussions we had to have due to the September 11th events in New York led to our unanimous endorsement of Professor Stockhausen, which reflects an even stronger commitment than ever before to continue the tradition of the Stockhausen performances in Kürten.

In any case, I look forward to continued fascinating, inspiring moments during the Stockhausen concerts this year, and naturally I hope that it will be possible for the participating musicians to maintain the yearly rhythm which has been established for the benefit and pleasure of all protagonists, all music lovers and last, but not least the citizens of our community.

Ulrich Iwanow
Mayor of the Community of Kürten