Michael Hoenig

Michael Hoenig
Born (1952-01-04) 4 January 1952
Hamburg, Germany
Genres Electronic
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Synthesizer
Years active 1971–present
Labels Warner Bros. Records
Associated acts Tangerine Dream, Agitation Free

Michael Hoenig (born 4 January 1952) is a German composer who has composed music for several films and games, in addition to two solo albums, including the highly-acclaimed 1978 album Departure from the Northern Wasteland. In 1997, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music for composing the theme to the science fiction series Dark Skies.[1]

Early career

As the editor of the underground magazine LOVE in the late sixties, Hoenig was part of the burgeoning progressive rock scene in Berlin, which fostered bands like Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel and Agitation Free. His interest in avant-garde music, sound generators and prepared tapes caught the eye of Michael Guenther, the bassist of Agitation Free, and he joined the band in February 1971. In March 1975, Hoenig was hired to replace Peter Baumann in Tangerine Dream for an Australian tour and a London Royal Albert Hall concert, and subsequently left Agitation Free, which broke up shortly after. Baumann rejoined Tangerine Dream soon after, and Hoenig went on to collaborate with Klaus Schulze on the short-lived project, Timewind. In 1976 he had a brief collaboration with Manuel Göttsching of Ash Ra Tempel; a recording of one of the sessions was released in 1995 under the title "Early Water". In 1977, he released his first solo album, the highly acclaimed Berlin School classic Departure from the Northern Wasteland, and left for Los Angeles shortly after it was released.[2]

Later career

Hoenig owns a recording studio in Los Angeles and through his company Metamusic Productions, he has composed the scores for several movies (see filmography below) and television shows. In addition to this, he has composed music for the extremely popular Baldur's Gate PC games by Bioware. In 1987, Hoenig released his second solo album, Xcept One. The track Bones on the Beach from the Xcept One album was installed in the roller coaster CHAOS at Opryland making the attraction the first roller coaster to be synced to music. In 1998 the roller coaster was removed from Opryland. The track Bones on the Beach has also been used in the similar roller coaster Revolution at Bobbejaanland, a family park in Lichtaart, Belgium since 2004. In 2008 the roller coaster was redecorated and renamed to Evolution. Another soundtrack was used until 26 August 2011, but since 27 August 2011 Bones on the Beach is being used again.

Discography

Albums

with Tangerine Dream

with Manuel Göttsching

Producer

Filmography

Films

Television series

Games

References

  1. ↑ "Dark Skies". Emmys.com. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Departure from the Northern Wasteland – Michael Hoenig". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
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