Matthias Ziegler

Who is Matthias Ziegler?

Swiss flautist Matthias Ziegler specializes in contemporary music for various sizes of flute. His original works for these instruments feature numerous extended techniques. In order to allow for the production of a buzzing timbre, he has installed small PET film membranes similar to the dimo used on the Chinese dizi on several of his instruments; he calls flutes so equipped "matusiflute." In addition, he plays quarter tone flutes.

Ziegler is also proficient with jazz and improvised music, and frequently performs in an electroacoustic setting. He amplifies his flutes with microphones installed directly into the instruments, and utilizes electronic loop devices to allow him to layer sounds. About his work, he states: "All sounds usually neglected on the flute are amplified. There is a whole orchestra inside the flute, which allows me to play solo-polyphonic music." Noting a similarity in tone between his large flutes and the viola da gamba, he also performs Renaissance music originally composed for viola da gamba.

Ziegler has toured with Andreas Vollenweider and George Gruntz, and performed with Pierre Favre and Mark Dresser. In a classical context, he was formerly the solo flautist for the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.