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Christopher Wilke

Christopher Wilke; lute, theorbo, guitar, composer

About Me

Called by the Cincinnati Enquirer, "A master of several instruments," Christopher Wilke is an eclectic musician who concentrates on music for plucked strings, both modern and historical. As such, he plays electric and acoustic guitars, renaissance and baroque lutes, and theorbo. These fields of activity have naturally lead him to participate in such diverse areas of performance as contemporary music festivals, baroque operas, rock bands, and solo performances in North America and Europe. His most recent CD release for Centaur Records, "Charles Hurel, Theorbo Works," features the world debut recording of the complete solo music of the 17th-century French composer, Charles Hurel, performed on the 14-string theorbo. In addition to his work with traditional repertoire, Mr. Wilke is also a composer, having studied with Robert Denham and Angelo della Picca. His compositions are published by Les Productions d'Oz of Quebec, Canada. Mr. Wilke is a member of the Cincinnati chapter of the MacDowell Society. He teaches music at Xavier University and the College of Mount Saint Joseph in Ohio and at Northern Kentucky University.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/20/2006
Band Members: Me, my baroque and renaissance lutes, my theorbo, my guitar. In addition to my interests in early music, I'm also partial to contemporary music and compose new pieces in a modern idiom for all sorts of combinations, including choral and symphonic works.
Influences: Ockeghem, Bach, Stravinsky and Black Sabbath
Sounds Like: "Wilke plays with conviction, sensitivity, and a warm, singing tone" - Howard Posner, Lute Society of America Quarterly, Feb. 2008."The sound Wilke produces from his instrument is absolutely gorgeous... Christopher Wilke plays with an expert feel for this style." - American Record Guide, 2008."There is a whole gamut of instructions for the performer to get their head around including bent notes, Bartok pizzicato, slapping the strings, tapping the notes (a la Eddie van Halen) and several other percussive effects: all of these are used to good effect in a composition of frenzied activity and excitement. This is ideally suited to the classical guitarist who wants a serious change of direction... This is a piece to have fun with and enjoy yourself." - Steve Marsh, review of Wilke's original composition for solo classical guitar, 'Emperor Romulus Augustus, His Serious Funk,' in Classical Guitar (England), March 2006.
Record Label: Centaur Records
Type of Label: Indie