Markus Stockhausen

Markus Stockhausen (born 1957) is a trumpet soloist whose work spans contemporary music, classical music and modern jazz. For approximately twenty-five years, he collaborated closely with his father, the composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, who wrote numerous works for him. His approach to intuitive music reaches across stylistic boundaries and draws on his exceptional command of the instrument.

His early recording with pianist Rainer Brüninghaus, Continuum (ECM), features intricate, energetic playing on trumpet, flugelhorn and piccolo trumpet. His collaborations include bassist Gary Peacock, guitarist Ralph Towner, bassist Arild Andersen and percussionist Patrice Héral, documented in projects such as Kàrta, Joyosa and Electric Treasures.

His duo work includes Moving Sounds with clarinettist Tara Bouman; Inside Out with pianist Florian Weber, whose recording Alba appeared on ECM; and collaborations with Hungarian guitarist Ferenc Snétberger. His quartet Quadrivium brings together cellist Jörg Brinkmann, pianist Angelo Comisso and drummer Christian Thomé. These projects, together with his sound meditations, explore different perspectives on musical expression.

As a composer, he has received commissions from the RIAS Chamber Choir, the London Sinfonietta, the Orchestra d’Archi Italiana, the Twelve Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic, the Swiss Jazz Orchestra and Camerata Bern. In 2013, he composed Das Erwachende Herz for solo trumpet, clarinet, voice and symphony orchestra, commissioned and performed by the Hamburger Symphoniker.

More than eighty recordings document his work. He gives workshops on “Intuitive Music and More” and seminars on “Singing and Silence”.