The innovative string trio of Harald Kimmig (violin), Daniel Studer (double bass) and Alfred Zimmerlin (cello) develops focussed environments of timbre, texture, dynamics and space. Their interaction is seemingly abstract and yet incredibly concentrated and virtuosic. Even in their electrified version – the Electric Trio – they remain true to their congenial collaboration. Here, electric violin, electric cello and electric double bass merge into complex, immersive sound textures. The electronic sound processing opens up new horizons: microtonal shades, noisy structures and dense surfaces overlap to create a fascinating fabric of fragility and depth.
Harald Kimmig is a violinist, improviser, and performance artist who moves fluidly between sound, movement, and image. His work explores the intersections of improvisation with other art forms, often creating interdisciplinary performances that combine music with dance, visual art, and literature. As a soloist and in his project Human Factory, he has collaborated with artists such as writer Annette Pehnt, visual artist Axel Malik, and dancers including Lilo Stahl, Hideto Heshiki, and Michael Schumacher. Kimmig teaches improvisation at various institutions, including the Trossingen University of Music and the music academies in Basel and Bern. His performances are marked by physical presence, sonic precision, and a sensitivity to form and space.
Daniel Studer is a bassist and composer whose work centres on improvisation and its relationship to composition, space, and live electronics. Known for his finely honed sense of texture and form, he explores the sonic possibilities of the double bass through extended techniques, preparations, and amplification. Studer’s artistic curiosity extends into collaborations with dance, language, and installation art. In addition to his performance work, he has taught improvisation since 1993 and currently teaches at the Bern University of the Arts. He received the City of Zurich’s Werkjahr award in 2011 and was guest composer at the Electronic Studio in Basel.
Alfred Zimmerlin is a Swiss cellist and composer whose work bridges composition, improvisation, and sound art. Trained in musicology, ethnomusicology, and composition, his oeuvre spans chamber music, orchestral works, music theater, electroacoustic pieces, and radio art. As an improviser, Zimmerlin has performed across Europe and the U.S. in various formations, notably in the trio KARL ein KARL and in long-term collaborations with Peter K Frey and Michel Seigner. His approach to the cello blends structural clarity with a deep interest in timbre and spontaneous form. He tought free improvisation at the University of Music in Basel and is represented on numerous recordings.
From 27–29 June, Harald Kimmig will be giving a special workshop entitled Exploring Spaces – Musical Improvisation and Performance.
Further information and registration:
https://exploratorium-berlin.de/en/events/learn/exploring-spaces-improvisation-and-performance/
