Biography

Henry Wolfe Carradine is a composer and musician whose work blends the rich tradition of Western classical music with forward-looking techniques, all within a tonal and culturally grounded framework. Born in Los Angeles, California, and immersed in the Austrian musical world since moving to Vienna at the age of fifteen, he has cultivated a voice that bridges past and present with clarity, depth, and emotional resonance.

Initially trained as a classical pianist, Carradine began composing at thirteen and pursued formal studies in Vienna. He studied composition with Ernst Wally, Walter Haberl, and Josef Stolz, and also took part in a masterclass with Hollywood composer and orchestrator Conrad Pope. These diverse influences helped shape his distinctive musical voice, rooted in tradition but open to innovation.

His body of work spans concert music, theater, and media. Notable compositions include Piano Trio in G-Phrygian for members of the Vienna Philharmonic, incidental music for Die Schönen und Verdammten at the Festspiele Reichenau, Suite in G for Flute and Guitar for Rainer Maria Nero, and the string quartet While Summer Lasts for the Taos Chamber Music Society. He is also the founder of Musica Universalis, a popular YouTube channel dedicated to music education and appreciation.

Carradine’s approach to music is rooted in the belief that compelling music arises from the intricate balance between consonance and dissonance. He views tonality as a powerful means of emotional communication while embracing the need to explore new sonic directions. However, he draws a clear distinction between exploration and abstraction for its own sake, maintaining that the mere presentation of noise does not, in itself, constitute music. His aim is to move listeners through music that is both grounded in tradition and oriented toward the future.