Metzger, Heinz-Klaus

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Metzger, Heinz-Klaus

Metzger, Heinz-Klaus, German writer on music; b. Konstanz, Feb. 6, 1932. He studied at the Staatliche Musikhochschule in Freiburg im Breisgau (1949–52), then studied composition with Deutsch in Paris and musicology in Tübingen (1952–54). He qualified in 1956 at the Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt, where he later was active in the Darmstadt summer courses. His theoretical, philosophical, and cultural writings on modern and avant-garde music were influenced by Adorno, who recognized his talent. Metzger co-founded the journal Musik-Konzepte with Rainer Riehn in 1977. His relationship with SyIvano Bussotti led to his remarkable studies of music considered unanalyzable by other writers, by composers including Bussotti, Cage, Schnebel, and Kagel.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire