Artist description RENE GIESSEN, composer and harmonica virtuoso, is recognized world wide as one of the most important exponents in this instrumental field. His career clearly reveals an intimate knowledge of the whole musical spectrum.When he was 14, he first heard the legendary harmonica-virtuoso Larry Adler. He immediately became fascinated by this instrument, a fascination which has never left him until today.Very soon he himself became successful with the chromatic-harmonica. Solo concerts with renowned european radio orchestras made the very special sound of his harmonica increasingly poular.

Music Style CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC + CHAMBER MUSIC

Musical Influences Larry Adler, Dimitri Tiomkin

Artist History When recording some well known soundtracks (Maigret/Buster Keaton/Winnetou), he established some first contacts with filmmusic. During this time he also recorded for the major filmmusic composer Dimitri Tiomkin, an experience which triggered Giessen's visions of contemporary instrumentation and arranging. SInce then, Giessen has been working as arranger and composer for German national broadcasting companies (TV and radio), as well as for drama- and stagemusic. He also made CD-productions for various record companies.In 1993, he established the chamber-pop-quintet SOUNDMACHINE - with the amazing instrumental combination of harmonica, cor-anglais, viola, bass-clarinet - and percussion - a highly innovative sound which aroused much attention. After an international broadcast of the BBC World Service from the German embassy in London, the quintet had an immediate breakthrou into the musicscene. Following this first big success, SOUNDMACHINE went on to play TV-shows, gala concerts (for the olympic organisations IAAF and IOC), a guest appearence at the "Schleswig-Holstein-Musik-Festival", and a special concert at the German european-unit summit of 1994.Rene Giessen's virtuosity and highly individual sound as a musician and writer have inspired many new works by fellow composers.

Location Frankfurt, Hessen - Germany

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