Born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1942; Michael Ranta works as a percussionist and composer. From 1960 to 1967 he studied percussion and composition at the University of Illinois and collaborated with Harry Partch, whose studio assistant he was in 1964/65. After moving to Cologne in 1967 he made music with Mauricio Kagel, Helmut Lachenmann and Karlheinz Stockhausen, among others, and in 1970 was part of Stockhausen’s ensemble at the World Exposition in Osaka. In the 1970s he worked in Japan and Taiwan; a stay of several years in Taiwan and his engagement with Taijiquan and Chinese philosophy shaped his performance practice and his composing. As founder of Asian Sound he also made Asian percussion instruments accessible to musicians and training institutions in Europe. His own works include “Yuen Shan” and “Azabu”, whose recordings were made in the Tokyo district of Azabu-Juban. In the Cybele recording with works by Johannes Fritsch he took the percussion part.
Michael Ranta
Percussion / Composer
