"I don't think it's wrong for a composer to be interested in painting, literature, dance, or film. That said, I'm not constantly on the hunt for inspiration. I usually read books and look at pictures without any ulterior motives—and I don't weigh up in advance what might be suitable for musical ‘reuse’. It may seem that creative people are always ‘on duty’, but that is not my intention, at least. Fortunately."
Steffen Schleiermacher
For this CD, the GrauSchumacher Piano Duo has recorded several of his compositions for two pianos. Four of the works are inspired by visual artists: “Wund-Gestein – Hommage à Gerhard Altenbourg,” “Zeichen Im Klang – Hommage à Paul Klee,” “Triptychon – Hommage à Max Beckmann,” and “Drei Grotesken mit Paul Scheerbart.”
The program is complemented by Steffen Schleiermacher's adaptation of Hanns Eisler's “Orchestral Suite No. 3 ‘Kuhle Wampe’,” an arrangement for two pianos and percussion.
In “Wunderlaut,” a fifth hand joins Andreas Grau and Götz Schumacher – this hand belongs to Steffen Schleiermacher. “This little piece was written for this production. There was just a little space left on the keyboard... Although the two of them don't really need a fifth hand,” says the composer.