"I don't think it's fundamentally wrong for a composer to be interested in painting, literature, dance or film. Although I'm not always on the hunt for inspiration. I read books and look at pictures without any ulterior motives - and don't weigh up in advance what might be suitable for musical "reuse". It does seem that as a creative person you're always "on duty", but that's not a goal - at least not for me. 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 arrangement of Hanns Eisler's “Orchestral Suite No. 3 'Kuhle Wampe'”, an arrangement for two pianos and percussion.
In “Wunderlaut” a fifth hand enters the game of Andreas Grau and Götz Schumacher – this hand belongs to Steffen Schleiermacher.
"This little piece was created for this production. There was just some space left on the keyboard... Although the two don't really need a fifth hand," says the composer.