Violinist Paul Giger's unusual freelance career encompasses contemporary concert music, jazz and other improvised music, and world music. He is a fixture of the ECM label's catalog. In his late teens, he traveled in various Asian countries and made a living as a street musician. Back in Switzerland, he earned music education and soloist degrees. Soon after, Giger won a place as a first violinist in the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra but left in 1983 to launch a freelance career. His recording debut was Chartres (1989). Some of his recordings make use of extended techniques such as microtonal playing as well as jazz. Giger performs and records both solo and with other musicians. He has also written cinematic scores and music for dancers. In 2017, he issued the album Trans Limen ad Lumen and returned to ECM for 2022's Ars Moriendi.