Rolf Gehlhaar

Rolf Gehlhaar 1943 - 2019, born in in Breslau, Germany, emigrated with his family in 1953 to the USA, grew up in New Mexico and California, attended Yale University class of ‘ 65 and the University of California, Berkeley.

After working closely with Stockhausen during the period 1967-71, he concentrated on composition and performance of over 50 commissioned electronic and instrumental works. In 1974 he also began to carry out research in the area of digital sound synthesis, automation of musical processes and computer-aided composition.

As a result of this research during 1976 - 1983, his ideas led him in 1984 to develop SOUND=SPACE, the world's first truly creative interactive musical environment, a commission in 1985 from La Villette, the new French national museum of science, for the permanent installation of SOUND=SPACE in the museum. After global temporary installations and live projects with performers & dancers, it became obvious in 1989 that SOUND=SPACE would be an empowering creative resource for the disabled.

During the period 1989 – 1998 SOUND=SPACE was the focus of Gehlhaar's installations, compositions and performances, benig employed not only as a creative resource for the disabled, dancers, musicians, actors, etc.. but also as an evolving control system for immersive environments involving sound and visuals.

Rolf Gehlhaar lived in London and Coventry, where he was Postgraduate Course Leader in Design & Digital Media at Coventry School of Art & Design.