Christopher Franke
Encyclopedia
Christopher Franke is a German
musician and composer. From 1971 to 1988 he was a member of the electronic group Tangerine Dream
. Initially a drummer with The Agitation, later renamed Agitation Free
, his primary focus eventually shifted to keyboards and synthesizer
s as the group moved away from its psychedelic rock
origins. While he was not the first musician to use an analog sequencer
, he was probably the first to turn it into a live performance instrument, thus laying the rhythmic foundation for classic Tangerine Dream
pieces and indeed for the whole Berlin school
sound.
After his departure from the group, he founded the Sonic Images record label, a New Age music
label called Earthtone and the Berlin Symphonic Film Orchestra, and produced a number of solo music works. After leaving Tangerine Dream, his only live concert was on Oct 9, 1991 at the Royal Apollo Theatre in London. He performed on stage with Edgar Rothermich (aka Richard E. Roth) who is also his producer and engineer on all his solo projects and film music after 1990.
Christopher Franke moved to Los Angeles
, California
in 1991 to pursue film work. In 1995 he scored the AFI
short, Requiem
. He may be best known for composing the music for the science fiction television series Babylon 5
, as well as the score of the anime
movie Tenchi Muyo! in Love
and in 2005 the music for German musical Ludwig² (with Konstantin Wecker).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
musician and composer. From 1971 to 1988 he was a member of the electronic group Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
. Initially a drummer with The Agitation, later renamed Agitation Free
Agitation Free
Agitation Free was a German experimental krautrock band. The band was formed in 1967 with Michael "Fame" Günther , Lutz "Lüül" Ulbrich , Lutz Ludwig Kramer and Christopher Franke . They were initially called Agitation, a name they chose at random from a dictionary...
, his primary focus eventually shifted to keyboards and synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s as the group moved away from its psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
origins. While he was not the first musician to use an analog sequencer
Analog sequencer
Analog sequencers were early generation of electronic music sequencers. Their peculiarities and limitations left a lasting stylistic imprint on Berlin School electronic music, and hence, indirectly, in many later rhythmic synthesizer-driven music genres such as techno, trance music, 1980s synth...
, he was probably the first to turn it into a live performance instrument, thus laying the rhythmic foundation for classic Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
pieces and indeed for the whole Berlin school
Berlin School of electronic music
The Berlin School of electronic music, or just Berlin School, was a development of electronic music in the 1970s, shaped by Berlin-based artists like Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and Ashra....
sound.
After his departure from the group, he founded the Sonic Images record label, a New Age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
label called Earthtone and the Berlin Symphonic Film Orchestra, and produced a number of solo music works. After leaving Tangerine Dream, his only live concert was on Oct 9, 1991 at the Royal Apollo Theatre in London. He performed on stage with Edgar Rothermich (aka Richard E. Roth) who is also his producer and engineer on all his solo projects and film music after 1990.
Christopher Franke moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1991 to pursue film work. In 1995 he scored the AFI
AFI Conservatory
The AFI Conservatory is a division of the American Film Institute founded in 1969, located in Hollywood's Griffith Park. The school is the only existing Master of Fine Arts conservatory in advanced film education...
short, Requiem
Requiem (1995 film)
Requiem is a narrative short film directed by actress Elizabeth Sung, made in the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women...
. He may be best known for composing the music for the science fiction television series Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, as well as the score of the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
movie Tenchi Muyo! in Love
Tenchi Muyo! in Love
is the first of three movies set in the Tenchi Muyo! multi-verse.The film takes place after the conclusion of Tenchi Universe, and so varies from the original OVAs at several points...
and in 2005 the music for German musical Ludwig² (with Konstantin Wecker).
Solo discography
- Pacific Coast Highway (1991)
- Universal SoldierUniversal Soldier (1992 film)Universal Soldier is a 1992 American science fiction action film directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as soldiers who kill each other in Vietnam but are reanimated in a secret Army project along with a large group of other previously dead...
(1992) - London Concert (1992)
- New Music for Films Vol. 1 (1993)
- Raven (1994)
- Night of the Running ManNight of the Running ManNight of the Running Man is a 1995 American crime thriller film produced by Trimark Pictures and American World Pictures starring Andrew McCarthy and Scott Glenn. It is based on the 1981 novel by Lee Wells, who also wrote the screenplay for the film...
(1995) - Babylon 5Babylon 5Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
(1995) - Klemania (1995)
- Perry RhodanPerry RhodanPerry Rhodan is the name of a science fiction series published since 1961 in Germany, as well as the name of the main character. It is a space opera, dealing with several themes of science fiction. Having sold over one billion copies worldwide, it is the most successful science fiction book series...
- Pax Terra (1996) - The Celestine Prophecy (1996)
- Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo! in LoveTenchi Muyo! in Loveis the first of three movies set in the Tenchi Muyo! multi-verse.The film takes place after the conclusion of Tenchi Universe, and so varies from the original OVAs at several points...
(1996; rereleased in 2002) - Enchanting Nature (1996)
- Babylon 5, volume 2: Messages from Earth (1997)
- Babylon 5: In the BeginningBabylon 5: In the BeginningBabylon 5: In the Beginning is a science fiction television movie set in the Babylon 5 fictional universe. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Michael Vejar....
(1997) - Babylon 5: ThirdspaceBabylon 5: ThirdspaceBabylon 5: Thirdspace is a made-for-television film that is part of the Babylon 5 science fiction universe. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Jesús Salvador Treviño....
(1997) - Pacific BluePacific Blue (TV series)Pacific Blue is an American crime drama series about a team of police officers with the Santa Monica Police Department who patrolled its beaches on bicycles. The show ran for five seasons on the USA Network, from March 2, 1996 to April 9, 2000, with a total of one hundred and one episodes...
(1997) - Transformation of Mind (1997)
- Babylon 5: River of Souls (1997)
- Epic (1999)
- Babylon 5: Episodic CDs - 24 CDs x 30 minutes per CD (1997–2000)
- New Music for Films Vol. 2 (2000)
- The Calling (2000)
- The Best of Babylon 5 (2001)
- Music for Films Vol. 3 (2003) CD-R
- What the Bleep Do We Know!?What the Bleep Do We Know!?What the Bleep Do We Know!? is a 2004 film that combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative that describes the spiritual connection between quantum physics and consciousness...
(2004) - Ludwig² - Das Musical (2005)
- Babylon 5: The Lost TalesBabylon 5: The Lost TalesBabylon 5: The Lost Tales is an anthology show set in the Babylon 5 universe. It was announced by J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5, at the San Diego Comic Con in July 2006...
(2007)