About
Michael Bach (born 17 April 1958 in Worms, Germany), also known as Michael Bach Bachtischa, is a German cellist, composer, and visual artist.
He studied cello with Gerhard Mantel, Boris Pergamenschikov, Pierre Fournier and Janos Starker. He subsequently toured extensively in Europe, America and Japan. At the same time, he made important theoretical contributions to cello technique. In particular, his publication "Fingerboards & Overtones" is a pioneering text on modern cello technique and the production of harmonics. Reflecting on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the performance of polyphony on bowed instruments, Michael Bach developed a new model of bow-shaped bow based on the latest scientific discoveries in the fields of dendrology, ergonomics and acoustics. This bow, the so-called BACH.Bogen, gives the performer the opportunity to play on three or four strings simultaneously, creating musical polyphony on the violin or cello similar to that of an organ. From 1997 to 2001, Mstislav Rostropovich participated in Michael Bach's experiments, and invited him to Paris as part of the 7th Rostropovich International Cello Competition. Composers who have created works for string instruments with BACH.Bogen include John Cage, Dieter Schnebel, Walter Zimmermann and Hans Zender.
Michael Bach considers himself a composer free from musical conventions. In particular, his works do not have tempo markings. Only some of his electronic compositions (such as NURHAUFFÜGUR) require a strict tempo throughout their entire performance.