Andreas Grün

Works

Solo pieces • Chamber music • Vocal music • Tape music • Music for ensemble, orchestra or choir • Stage music • Arrangements

From the very beginning to create his own music has been of the same importance for Andreas Grün as to reproduce already existing works. So he did not only make his stage debut as a guitarist already before attending the Academy, but was successful also as a composer by 1978 (Music for "Weissagung – eine Text- und Spielmontage mit Musik", performed among others at the German-French Days of Theatre in Kehl).
Since that time his compositions and arrangements have been played in Germany, France, Switzerland, Israel, Lithuania, Belarus and the Ukraine in many concerts and festivals (Neue Reihe Musik im 20. Jahrhundert Freiburg, adevantgarde Munich, Darmstädter Frühjahrstagung, Internationale Festwochen Lucerne, versija 2–7 Vilnius and others).
Despite repeatedly referring to the musical past – be it purposefully dealing with ancient music (e.g. in Anmerkungen zu Vivaldis "Jahreszeiten"), be it in associating titles (as Die Hölderlin-Vertonungen des Josquin Desprez) or by raising the sounds of bygone ages (as in fragwürdig) – his oeuvre cannot be called backward-looking, but is in fact stylistically many-layered, reflecting a constant search for new approaches and ways, which however doesn’t fear to touch so-called hackneyed or "historically burdened" material.
So Grün explored in some of his compositions (… in die Nacht des Unbekannten …, … für des Menschen wilde Brust …, … wie der Sonne Strahl die Pflanzen …) the possibilities of micro-intervals up to six-fold dividing the usual semitone, while in others (Aria, Rhapsody) he handles in various ways tonal ingredients, or he uses in certain of his pieces beside of the common instruments electric guitars or computer-manipulated tape collages. Instrumental theatre (Hommage, "aleatoric" counterpoint (Eingang zu einem Steinbruch or the possibility to perform different compositions simultaneously), variable instrumentation ("Die Sonne") can be found among his works just as "conventional" pieces (Da es aber nicht so ist, Piano Trio). Strictly structured compositions (Capriccio on mi-chae-la, Orchesterstück) are taking their place alongside free creations (String Trio, Red Noise Blues), playful parts beside fathomless ones, significant thoughts beside "absolute" music, which is meaning "only" itself.
Maybe one typical feature of his art is, how persistently he again and again carries out his ideas in each case. Finally the constant in Grün’s work most likely is his effort to create a music of an evocative impact, a music, which would not only be "paper music", but could affect immediately, a music, which, though it could reveal more layers of meaning by explanation and analysis in the second instance, in the first – should be heard.

Solo pieces

Toccata & Fugue

for organ
1984 (première 27/6/1990 Karlsruhe)
variable duration (ca 30–40 min.)

Capriccio on mi-chae-la

for flute
1985/88 (première 13/6/1989 Karlsruhe, SDR radio recording 1991)
5 min.
published by Musikverlag Zimmermann Frankfurt, ZM 32300
more information 
score extract 
play 

Rhapsody

for oboe
1986 (première 14/2/1989 Karlsruhe, SDR radio recording 1991)
7 min.
score extract 
complete score  (PDF) 
play 

Aria

for violin
1986 (première 20/7/1990 Freiburg)
13 min.

Hommage

for violin
1986 (première 19/6/1991 Karlsruhe)
7 min.
more information (German) 

… in die Nacht des Unbekannten …

… into the night of the unknown …
for bass clarinet
1990 (première 10/2/1992 Karlsruhe, SWF radio recording 1994)
8 min.
(simultan performance possible together with … für des Menschen wilde Brust … and/or … wie der Sonne Strahl die Pflanzen …)
more information (German) 
score extract 
complete score  (PDF) 
play     play simultan performance 

… für des Menschen wilde Brust …

… for man’s wild breast …
for double bass
1990–91 (première 22/1/1994 Freiburg, SWF radio recording 1994)
7 min.
(simultan performance possible together with … in die Nacht des Unbekannten … and/or … wie der Sonne Strahl die Pflanzen …)
more information (German) 
score extract 
complete score  (PDF) 
play     play simultan performance 

Eingang zu einem Steinbruch

for guitar solo or guitar and speaker
see Vocal music

Die Hölderlin-Vertonungen des Josquin Desprez – 1. Buch

The Settings of Hölderlin by Josquin Desprez – First Book
for guitar
1997–99 (première 28/3/1999 Tel Aviv)
16 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts 
complete score  (PDF) 
play: I • II • III • IV • V • VI 

Die Hölderlin-Vertonungen des Josquin Desprez – 2. Buch

The Settings of Hölderlin by Josquin Desprez – Second Book
for piano
1992–2002 (première 25/1/2003 Karlsruhe)
20 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts 
complete score  (PDF) 

Chamber music

Bagatelles

for violin and guitar
1982 (première 23/5/1985 Karlsruhe)
2½ min.
more information (German) 
complete score  (PDF) 

Adagio

for flute and oboe (or flute and violin or violin and oboe)
1986/2020 (première 16/10/1988 Karlsruhe, SDR radio recording 1991; first performance of the new version 11/7/2020)
9 min.
more information (German) 
score extract 
play (version 1986) 

String Trio No 1: schatten … spuren … splitter … — …

shadows … traces … splinters … — …
1987 (première 6/7/1987 Tübingen)
17 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts 
play 

Hin

A concert for travers flute, viola da gamba and harpsichord with pieces by …
1988–91 (première 18/10/1991 Freudenstadt)
full-length concert (ca 20 min. plus ca 40 min. old music)

Three Pieces

for flute and guitar
1988–89 (première 10/2/1989 Kaiserslautern)
ca 8 min.
more information (German) 

Ricerca(r)

Fragment for alto flute, clarinet and bass clarinet
1989 (première 2/2/1990 Karlsruhe, SDR radio recording 1990)
commissioned with government support
20 min.
more information (German) 
complete score  (PDF) 
play 

Reflexionen

Reflections
Moment musical for flute, clarinet, percussion, harp, violin and viola
or for piano and speech
1990; 1990–91 (première 30/1/1991; 5/6/1992 Karlsruhe)
7 min.
score extracts

… in die Nacht des Unbekannten …

for bass clarinet
see Solo pieces

… für des Menschen wilde Brust …

for double bass
see Solo pieces

Piano Trio No 1

1990–91 (première 28/6/1992 Munich)
15 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts 
complete score  (PDF) 
play: I • II • III 

Da es aber nicht so ist

For it is not so
Five movements for string quartet
1991 (première 4/10/1991 Lucerne)
8 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts 
complete score  (PDF) 
play: I • II • III • IV • V 

MiniMusic 2/3

A trip to the mountains for 4 electric guitars
1991/92 (première 23/10/1992 Karlsruhe)
5 min.
more information (German) 
complete score  (PDF) 
play 

Ein scheinbares Thema, neckischer Ernst, abrupte Chromatizismen und herzliche Grüsse

A seeming theme, roguish earnestness, abrupt chromaticisms and warm regards
A change of direction for two guitars
1993 (première 2/5/1993 Essen)
7 min.
more information (German) 
complete score  (PDF) 
play 

… wie der Sonne Strahl die Pflanzen …

… as the sun’s ray the plants …
for bass flute and piano
1993 (première 22/1/1994 Freiburg, SWF radio recording 1994)
commissioned with government support
6 min.
(simultan performance possible together with … in die Nacht des Unbekannten … and/or … für des Menschen wilde Brust …)
more information (German) 
score extract 
complete score  (PDF) 
play     play simultan performance 

Red Noise Blues

for flute, viola and guitar
1993 (première 19/5/1995 Karlsruhe)
12 min.
more information 
score extracts 
complete score  (PDF) 
play 

Odyssey

for cello and piano
2001–02 (première 25/1/2003 Karlsruhe)
commissioned with government support
14 min.
score extracts 
complete score  cello part  (PDF) 

d’autres jeux interdits

a trio for two duos for guitar and flute and/or cello
2002–03 (première 25/1/2003 Karlsruhe)
15 min.
more information (German) 
complete score  guitar part  flute part  cello part  (PDF) 

Vocal music

„Der Bann“

"The Ban"
for baritone and piano (words by F. Grillparzer)
1988 (première 8/12/1989 Karlsruhe)
11½ min.

Reflexionen

Reflections
Moment musical for flute, clarinet, percussion, harp, violin and viola
or for piano and speech
see Chamber music

on the verge / requiem for holofernes

for electric guitar, percussion, flute, soprano, clarinet, string trio, trumpet, harp, accordion and double bass
see Ensemble

„Die Sonne“

"The Sun"
for any human voice(s) and instruments (words by Georg Trakl)
1992 (première 23/10/1992 Karlsruhe, SDR radio recording 1993)
5½ min.
more information (German) 
complete score  (PDF) 
play 

Eingang zu einem Steinbruch

Entrance to a Quarry
for guitar and speaker or guitar solo (the speaker’s part may be performed by tape or CD)
1992 (première 23/10/1992 Karlsruhe)
duo version ca 13 min., solo version ca 11 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts 
play 

„Gesang zur Nacht“

"Songs for the Night"
12 Lieder for low voice and piano (words by Georg Trakl)
1992–93 (première 27/10/1994 Karlsruhe)
35–40 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts 
play: I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII  

Volkslieder und andere Alltagsgeräusche

Folk Songs and other Everyday Noises
11 pieces for mezzo soprano, flute, piano, percussion and tape
1992–93 (première 19/3/1993 Heidelberg)
20 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts
play: I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI  

Tape music

Heisse Luft

Hot Air
for tape (resp. CD) and hot air ventilator
1996 (première 10/2/1996 Karlsruhe)
20 min.

Music for ensemble, orchestra or choir

Orchesterstück (aufhebung)

(3.3.3.3-4.0.0.1-timp-str)
1983
9 min.
more information (German) 
score extracts 

Pavane blanche

(2.2.2.2-4.0.3.1-hp-perc-timp-str)
1987
17 min.

Drei Gedichte von Enzensberger und ein Intermezzo

Three Poems by Enzensberger and an Intermezzo
for choir
1988/89 (première 23/10/1992 Karlsruhe)
5 min.

fragwürdig

questionable
episode for violin, trumpet and string orchestra
(alternative version: violin, clarinet and string orchestra)
1989 (première 27/6/1993 Karlsruhe, SDR radio recording 1993, first performance of the alternative version: 26/5/1998 Vilnius)
24 min.
more information (German) 
complete score (PDF) 
play 

MiniMusic 1/2 (trial and error)

for 11 instruments (fl-ob-clar-fag-trp-pos-pno-2perc-v-db)
1989 (première 24/3/1990 Blaubeuren)
10 min.

Anmerkungen zu Vivaldis „Jahreszeiten“

Comments about Vivaldi’s "Seasons"
for solo violin and strings (6v-2va-2vc-db)
1990/2011 (première 21/4/1990 Karlsruhe, SDR radio recording 1990; first performance of the new version 17/7/2011 Karlsruhe)
30 min.
more information (German) 
complete score  (PDF) 

on the verge / requiem for holofernes

for electric guitar, percussion, flute, soprano, clarinet, string trio, trumpet, harp, accordion and double bass
1991–92 (première 5/6/1992 Karlsruhe)
13 min.
more information (German) 
complete score  (PDF) 

„Die Sonne“

for any human voice(s) and instruments (words by Georg Trakl)
see Vocal music

Adieu

a trifle for mandolin orchestra (and other instrumentations)
1998 (première 16/5/1998 Karlsruhe)
4½ min.
more information (German) 
complete score (mandolin orchestra)  parts  (PDF) 
complete score (version for guitar ensemble)  parts  (PDF) 

Stage music

Music for "Weissagung – eine Text- und Spielmontage mit Musik"

for different vocal and instrumental groups and electronic sounds
1977–78 (première 6/5/1978 Pforzheim)
full-length performance

Arrangements (selection)

Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata C major BWV 1033

for flute and guitar
10 min.
complete score  (PDF) 

Ludwig van Beethoven: Two tiny Sonatinas

for flute (violin) and guitar
2x5 min.
published by Musikverlag Zimmermann Frankfurt, ZM 33960

Wolfgang Rihm: Ländler (1979)

for mandolin orchestra
9 min.
published by Universal Edition Vienna, UE 31364 (score) and 31365 (parts)
more information (German) 

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