Phillip Sollmann's 'Monophonie' Blends Helmholtz, Partch, and Bertoia

On May 15, 2020, German artist Phillip Sollmann, born in Kassel in 1974, unveiled his album 'Monophonie' through A-TON. This work, created in 2016, made its debut at Berlin's Volksbühne in 2017, followed by performances at Ruhrtriennale and Kampnagel. The album features a fusion of historical instruments by Hermann von Helmholtz, microtonal creations by Harry Partch, and metal sculptures by Harry Bertoia, all interwoven with Sollmann's electronic approach, resulting in a psychedelic, polyrhythmic experience. A former cellist, Sollmann studied sociology in Hamburg and Computer Music at the University of Music Vienna, drawing inspiration from figures like Alvin Lucier and Terry Riley. His collaboration with Ensemble Musikfabrik highlights Partch's instruments and Bertoia's sculptures, with 'Motor' recognized as the most intricate track, blending minimalism and polyrhythmic algorithms.