Clayface Theme

Volker Bertelmann is an avant-garde composer, to say the least. Under the name Hauschka, he’s released a string of solo albums for prepared piano — a piano with objects wedged between the strings. His work sits in the post-classical vein: the daring grit of Icelandic composers like Jóhann Jóhannsson and Hildur Guðnadóttir, combined with the melodic sense of Max Richter and Dustin O’Halloran.

I first noticed Volker as Dustin O’Halloran’s co-composer. Their scores for Lion, Ammonite, and A Christmas Carol (the 2019 miniseries with Guy Pearce) are beautiful. Especially A Christmas Carol; it’s one of…