Christian Biegai

Christian Biegai (born 14 December 1974) is a German composer and saxophonist. He is primarily known for his work in film and television music and for his compositions for saxophone and chamber ensembles.

Education

Biegai studied saxophone at the Berlin University of the Arts and the Royal College of Music in London. He subsequently studied at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he completed a Master of Music degree with a focus on orchestration, electroacoustic music and composition.

Career

Biegai began working as a composer and sound designer in the early 2000s. His early work included the short film Whistle (2002), directed by Duncan Jones, and the film Sunday, in August, which was broadcast by France 3. He also worked with digital artist and multimedia producer Helena Bulaja, composing music for the animated project Regoch (2006).

In 2004, Biegai worked in New York with audio engineer and producer Frank Verderosa at Planet V. He later worked as a music editor and composer at Park Road Post in Wellington, New Zealand. During this period he collaborated with composer and sound designer Dave Whitehead and musician Riki Gooch on the television documentary series The Big Picture. Their music received the 2008 Qantas Television Award for Best Original Music in General Television.

Saxophone

Alongside his work as a composer, Biegai has performed as a saxophonist with orchestras and ensembles including the Berlin Philharmonic, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra Leipzig and the saxophone quartet clair-obscur. He has also performed with musicians and groups including Michael Nyman, Antony and the Johnsons, DM Stith, Edison Woods and Barbara Morgenstern.

Installation

In 2009, Biegai composed Dwelling for Norduung, a four-channel music installation for a sculpture by Gregor Kregar.

Selected filmography

Feature films and television films

Whistle (2002) – short film

Wir sagen Du! Schatz. (2007)

Nacht vor Augen (2008)

Der Brand (2011)

Grenzgang (2013)

Das kalte Eisen (2013)

Ellas Entscheidung (2015)

Mi America (2015)

Ku'damm 59 – Im Urwald (2018)

Television

Tatort – Im Sog des Bösen (2009)

Löwenzahn (2011–2019)

Tatort – Die Pfalz von oben (2019)

Blutige Anfänger (2020–2024)

Der Barcelona-Krimi – Blutiger Beton (2020)

Tatort – Rhythm and Love (2021)

Tatort – Propheteus (2022)

Tatort – MagicMom (2023)

Tatort – Unter Gärtnern (2024)

Tatort – Fiderallala (2025)

Awards and nominations

2008: Qantas Television Award for Best Original Music in General Television, for The Big Picture, with Dave Whitehead and Riki Gooch.

Discography

Film and television music

Blutige Anfänger (2020)

Der Barcelona-Krimi (2020)

Tatort: Propheteus (2022)

Tatort: Unter Gärtnern (2024)