Helikopter-Streichquartett

Helikopter-Sreichquartett is one of Karlheinz Stockhausen's most well known pieces to date, and one of the most complex.

Preforming a piece

Needed for a preformance are : four helicopters with pilots and sound technicians,four television transmitters, 4x3 sound transmitters, an auditorium with four columns of televisions and loudspeakers, a sound technician with mixing deck and a moderator (and the actual string quartet).

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The piece focuses on the simple idea of a violin quartet, with the rotor blades acting aa a second instrument, with microphones place so it may blend in with the violins thmselves, whilst the instruments remain louder than that of the blades.

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The piece is played like follows. A moderator, who may be the sound technician, introduces the quartet, and then explains the technical aspects of the piece.Then the players must then walk, or be driven if necessary, to the helicopters, always being visible to the autitorium audience by camera.

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The embarkation is also shown, with each helicopter being equipped with three microphones, a camera and television/sound transmitters. The violinists hands, upper body, face and violin remain constantly in the view of the Tv cameras, with no camera changes.

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Behind each player the ground can be seen, as well as the glass.

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Then the piece begins. The original lasted approximately 18 1/2 minutes, but the 1994 revision meant this was extended to 21 1/2 minutes. Decent and landing also last 5 minutes.

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The helicopters then circle at a radius of 6 km from the auditorium, again changing altitude constantly to create the `bounce' of the piece. All incoming signals, all 12 signals, are controlled by the sound technician.

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The descent lasts five minutes, with the decreasing sound of the rotor blades acting as a background as the quartet reenter the hall. Then the moderator takes questions and leads applause after.

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