works

This piece explores the resonant soundscapes of the Swiss Alps, fusing traditional yodeling motifs and alphorn drones with spectral harmonies. Inspired by the way sound echoes through the mountains, Schkiebert employs slowly shifting overtones and microtonal glissandi to create an evolving auditory mirage.

At the core of Schwyzer Klangwelten (Swiss Sound Worlds) is the tension between past and future, the organic and the synthetic. Schkiebert meticulously recorded live performances of yodeling choirs, alphorns, hackbrett (dulcimer), and Schwyzerörgeli (Swiss accordion). These traditional sounds were then manipulated through spectral processing, granular synthesis, and modular synthesis techniques, resulting in a surreal, otherworldly reimagining of Swiss musical identity.

Schkiebert sought to capture the sonic essence of glacial movement, presenting the Aletsch Glacier not just as a geographical formation but as a dynamic, resonant body. Using contact microphones and hydrophones, he recorded deep ice fractures, melting waterflows, wind interactions, and subsonic vibrations within the ice. These raw sounds were then processed in real-time during performances, altered through granular synthesis and spectral morphing to highlight the glacier’s evolving state.

Schkiebert’s take on the “Four Seasons” concept, this orchestral suite vividly portrays Switzerland’s changing landscapes. Rather than a mere pictorial representation, the work explores how human emotions change with the seasons—from the tranquility of winter’s isolation to the chaotic bursts of summer tourism.

Alpenlichter (Alpine Lights), composed in 2023 for the Montreux Jazz Festival, is a mesmerizing fusion of modular synthesis and live chamber ensemble. Known for his ability to blur the boundaries between the natural and the electronic, Schkiebert’s latest work explores the interplay between the organic warmth of acoustic instruments and the ever-shifting textures of modular synths, drawing inspiration from the ethereal glow of the Alps at dusk and dawn.

Fallaciloquus (Latin for "deceptive speaker") is a six-movement piano. It is a bold, avant-garde reflection on the manipulation of truth in the modern world, exploring themes of fake news, propaganda, mass hysteria, and media distortion. Each movement delves into different aspects of how misinformation spreads, using unconventional piano techniques and rhythmic distortions to create a soundscape that is both unsettling and hypnotic.