Alternative zur Flaschenpost-Kunst

Hochschule für Musik Basel

Hans Wüthrich's Genossin Cäcilia as a case study of aesthetic practices in social interstices

The research project Alternative zur Flaschenpost-Kunst explores Hans Wüthrich's concept Genossin Cäcilia (1976) with artistic and scientific methods: This yet unpublished typescript outlines a music creative practice in collaboration with people on the margins of society – a «composing with another self» that reflects their world and gives them a voice.

Wüthrich implemented the concept in two works, Brigitte F. (1978) and Procuste deux étoiles (1981), but contrary to his original intentions, the response remained largely confined to the circle of new music and was mixed even there. No wonder, these pieces were actually motivated by Wüthrich's discomfort with the aesthetic practices and cultural institutions of new music, whose social impact he described as «Flaschenpost-Kunst» (message-in-a-bottle art). In response, Genossin Cäcilia wanted to offer an alternative, anticipating highly topical issues such as relational inclusion, political empowerment and social sustainability.

The current research project subjects this concept to critical re-vision: in addition to studies on the original sources and aesthetic framework, it examines in practical terms how Wütrich's methodology can or must be updated today in the intersection of community music, social work and artistic research.

An interdisciplinary research team will develop a multidirectional critical perspective on Wüthrich, but also, based on Wüthrich's criticism, on the social relevance of contemporary music creation and its institutions.

The project Alternative zur Flaschenpostkunst is embedded in long-term studies in the field of acoustic ecologies, social responsibility of art and creative innovation.

The focus is on:

- Source-critical analysis of Wüthrich's work and related documents.

- Practice-led «Test Scenarios» of the concept Genossin Cäcilia with students and external partners.

- Development of new aesthetic formats beyond established concert formats.

- Evaluation with regard to sustainable creative practices and teaching formats.

Aktuell

Veranstaltungen

Autumn Semester 2025/26

8. Oktober 2025, 17-18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Kickoff Meeting with all interested participants

22. Oktober 2025, 17-18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Monthly Meeting Student Resonance Group

28. Oktober 2025, 16.15-17.45 Uhr, Universität Basel, Medienwissenschaft, Holbeinstrasse 12, Bluebox
Seminar on Hans Wüthrich’s Genossin Cäcilia with Stas Shärifullà and Michel Roth

04. November 2025, 16.15-17.45 Uhr, Universität Basel, Medienwissenschaft, Holbeinstrasse 12, Bluebox
Seminar on Hans Wüthrich’s Genossin Cäcilia with Stas Shärifullà and Michel Roth

26. November 2025, 17-18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Monthly Meeting Student Resonance Group

21. Januar 2026, 17-18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Monthly Meeting Student Resonance Group

Spring Semester 2026

16. Februar-29. Mai 2026, wöchentlich, montags, 10.15-11.45 Uhr, Philosophisches Seminar der Universität Basel, Steinengraben 5, Seminarraum gross 302 (3.OG)
Seminar Musikphilosophie: Partizipationskunst und Relationale Ästhetik
Dr. Christoph Haffter (Philosophie), Prof. Dr. Markus Klammer (Kunstgeschichte)

16. Februar–29. Mai 2026, wöchentlich, dienstags, 14.15–15.45 Uhr, Musikwissenschaftliches Seminar der Universität Basel, Petersgraben 27, Vortragssaal
Seminar Musikwissenschaft: Die Politisierung der Avantgarde. (Schwerpunkt: Hans Wüthrich)
Prof. Dr. Matthias Schmidt (Musikwissenschaft), Prof. Dr. Michel Roth (Komposition/Artistic Research)

18. Februar 2026, 17–18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Monthly Meeting Student Resonance Group
Guest: Prof. Dr. Anne Parpan-Blaser, Institute for Social Work FHNW (lecture and discussion)

25. März 2026, 17–18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Monthly Meeting Student Resonance Group

16. April 2026, 19 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
On experts of everyday life, collaboration, marginalisation and power, conflict and dissonance and the role of the artist.
workshop with Ulf Aminde, Moderation: Michel Roth
Further information: Lecture Series Society and Transformation

23. April 2026, 14.00–15.40 Uhr
Interdisciplinary Acts
Guest: Mirela Ivanova (University of Basel, Sociology)

23. April 2026, 19 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Open seminar on relational aesthetics, political art, the phantasm of community, criticism!
With Dr. Christoph Haffter with students from the University of Basel and HSM Basel
Further information: Lecture Series Society un Transformation

29. April 2026, 17–18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Monthly Meeting Student Resonance Group

27. Mai 2026, 17–18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Monthly Meeting Student Resonance Group

17. Juni 2026, 17–18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, 6-401
Monthly Meeting Student Resonance Group

31. August-2. September 2026, FHNW Campus Muttenz
Community Musicking. Awareness and change through music practice
Michel Roth, Stefano Grasso
Part of the Exploration Week on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the FHNW.

Ongoing: Test Scenarios by Students of Sonic Space Basel and MuST (tba).

Autumn Semester 2026/27

31. August–4. September 2026, FHNW, Campus Music Academy Basel und Campus Brugg-Windisch
Community Musicking. Awareness and change through music practice
Michel Roth, Stefano Grasso
Part of the Exploration Week on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the FHNW.
Further information: Community Musicking – Exploration Week FHNW

13. September 2026, 9.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Brunchlecture
Yotam Peled and Nicolas Fehr
Part of the Lecture Series Society in Transformation
Further information: Society in Transformation – Programme HS 2026/27

14. September 2026, 13 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Lunchlecture
Prof. Dr. Dr. Aylin Yildirim Tschoepe
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

21. September 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: The History of Avant-Garde Art
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

24. September 2026, 18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Lecture
Prof. Dr. Dr. Aylin Yildirim Tschoepe
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

28. September 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: The Artist as Provocateur/Trickster/Interventionist
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

1. Oktober 2026, 17–19 Uhr, online
Online Talk
Heinrich Horwitz and Jchj V. Dussel
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

5. Oktober 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: The Musician as Provocateur/Trickster/Interventionist
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

6. Oktober 2026, 14–17 Uhr, HSM Basel, Campus Music Academy Basel
A Sonic Space Basel LAB on the early social works of Georges Aperghis
Michel Roth and Sarah Maria Sun

10. Oktober 2026, 10 Uhr, Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe
Composing with Another Self. Artistic Identity as Social Reflexivity
Michel Roth
Im Rahmen des Symposiums Artistic Research – Reflexive Perspektiven in künstlerischer Praxis: KÜNSTLERISCHE IDENTITÄT IN FORSCHUNGSVORHABEN (8.–10. Oktober 2026).
Further Information: https://hfm-karlsruhe.de/symposium-artistic-research

15. Oktober 2026, 13.30 Uhr, Mesh Festival, Campus HGK
Talk
Prof. Johannes Paul Raether
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

16. Oktober 2026, 9–13 Uhr, Mesh Festival, Campus HGK
Workshop
Prof. Johannes Paul Raether
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

22. Oktober 2026, 17–19 Uhr, Schaulager, Münchenstein
Tour / Talk
Schaulager with Andy Blättler
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

26. Oktober 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: The Theatre Maker as Provocateur/Trickster/Interventionist
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

28. Oktober 2026, 18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Artist Talk
Göksu Kunak
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

29. Oktober 2026, 9–13 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Workshop
Göksu Kunak
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

2. November 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: Composition as Social Practice
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

9.–13. November 2026, täglich 9–18 Uhr
Community Musicking with MuST, Mosaik and Children from BAZ
Workshop week with MuST students, guest lecturers (Heinrich Horwitz and Jchj V. Dussel), Mosaik staff and children from the Bundesasylzentrum Bässlergut Basel

16. November 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: Relational Aesthetics by Nicolas Bourriaud
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

23. November 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: Artificial Hells by Claire Bishop
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

25. November 2026, 17–18.30 Uhr, HSM Basel, Campus Music Academy Basel
Inclusive Composing
Michel Roth
In preparation of [in]operabilities at Gare du Nord Basel

26. November 2026, 18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Talk
Christoph Marthaler in conversation with Angela Osthoff and Inga Schonlau
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

30. November 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: Dada and Surrealism
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

7. Dezember 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: Theatre of the Absurd and Commedia dell’Arte / Fasnacht
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

14. Dezember 2026, 16–18 Uhr, HSM Basel, MuST Studio Letzi // St. Alban Vorstadt 93/95, Basel
Composing the Social – Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art: Summary
Dakota Wayne, Assistant Lecturer
Part of the seminar Composing the Social: Theory and Aesthetics of Relational Art

22. Januar 2027, 17 Uhr Lecture, 20 Uhr Showing, Gare du Nord, Basel
[in]operabilities
Lecture and Showing
Part of the lecture series Society in Transformation

Summer 2027

Final evaluation of the findings, conclusions and project documentation.

Links

Video Portrait of Hans Wüthrich, Swiss Music Prize 2016:
https://neo.mx3.ch/t/1h4O

Akademie der Künste Berlin:
https://www.adk.de/de/news/?we_objectID=55128

Mathias Spahlinger on Hans Wüthrich:
https://www.dissonance.ch/upload/pdf/diss111.hb_48_57_ms_wuethrich.pdf

Thomas R. Rath, Kritik des freien Falls. Hans Wüthrichs neues Musiktheater:
https://library.positionen.berlin/secure/Pos35/Rath_35.pdf

Michel Roth's Dissertation featuring a chapter on Hans Wüthrich on pp. 217–223:
https://www.wolke-verlag.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Roth_Aufs_Spiel_gesetzt_Ebook_2024.pdf

Hans Wüthrich Playlist:
https://neo.mx3.ch/hanswuethrich

Projektdetails

Typ: Forschungsprojekt
Forschungsfeld: Sounding Futures
Hochschule/Institut: Hochschule für Musik Basel / Klassik
Partner: Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit FHNW (HSA),
Pädagogische Hochschule FHNW (PH),
Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW,
Musikwissenschaftliches Seminar der Universität Basel,
Philosophisches Seminar der Universität Basel,
Seminar für Medienwissenschaft der Universität Basel,
Internationale Gäste aus Musik, Theater, Kultur, Philosophie und Soziale Arbeit
Förderung: Maja Sacher-Stiftung
Laufzeit: September 2025 – August 2027
Leitung: Prof. Dr. Michel Roth
Team: Quellenforschung: Dr. Michael Kunkel,
Musikpädagogik: Prof. Dr. Anne Günster,
Musikästhetik/Musikphilosophie: Dr. Christoph Haffter,
Elektronisches Studio Basel: Cédric Spindler,
Projektbegleitung Soziale Arbeit: Prof. Dr. Anne Parpan-Blaser (FHNW/Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit HSA),
Lehrveranstaltungen/«Test Scenarios»: Prof. Dr. Anne-May Krüger (MaR), Prof. Raphael Sbrzesny (MuST), Prof. Dr. Wiktoria Furrer (PH)