Stefan Esser: Diabelli-Contest 2014

Stefan Esser Stefan Esser was born April 25th, 1966 in Leverkusen, Germany. His main job is as codirector of a school for the mentally retarded in Leverkusen.
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He has been active as pianist and composer since 1985. His works have been performed mostly in Leverkusen and the surrounding area, but also abroad. Some have been published in print. His compositions have recourse to traditional forms and are characterized by the thorough processing of themes, which develop partially from small "seminal motives"; the use of contrapuntal techniques, and the application of free tonal harmony.
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His largest works are the symphonic impressions "Sarnia" for orchestra, the "Concertino" for alto saxophone and orchestra (premiered in Cologne)as well as the large-scale Sonata for cello and piano. He also composed many stage works for the Junges Theater Leverkusen. His music for "Leonce und Lena" was heard at the Bregenzer Festspiele 1999. His Singspiel for children, "Felix," a commission from the Bayer-Kulturabteilung (cultural department of Bayer) enjoyed great success.
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In the past few years Stefan Esser has worked closely with the Duo Pianoworte, for whom he has composed several works. Since 2006 he has been vice-president of the Joseph-Marx-Gesellschaft (Joseph Marx Society, Vienna). www.joseph-marx-gesellschaft.org
His orchestrations of the Marx compositions "Ein Neujahrshymnus" ("A New Year's Hymn") and "Berghymne" ("Mountain Hymn") appeared in January 2009 as a CD on the CHANDOS Label.
His Sonata for Violoncello and piano was recorded in 2009 by Michael Schlechtriem and Noriko Kitano on the GENUIN Label.
Selected Works:
„Meditation“ for violoncello and piano, 1985/91 (also with organ accompaniment, edited 1995)
7 Songs of Love and Peace for low voice with piano accompaniment 1985/87 (UA: 1989)
Theme and Variations, conducting study for a chamber music group 1988 (UA: 1989, Köln)
"Sonata ostinata" for bassoon and piano, 1991 (UA: 1992, Solingen)
"Sarnia", symphonic impressions for orchestra, 1991 (UA: 1992, Köln)
Concertino for alto saxophone and small orchestra, 1992 (UA: 1993, Köln)
"Fantasie on a theme of Eduard Tubin" for piano, 1992 (UA: 1996, Bonn)
"Die Frage" ("The Question"), melodrama for speaker and piano, 1993 (UA: 1994, Leverkusen)
Sonata for violoncello and piano, 1994-96 (UA: 1997, Leverkusen)
Nachtgesang (Nightsong) I, for soprano and piano, 1997
"Leonce und Lena", 4 Charakterstücke für Klavier (UA: 1998, Leverkusen)
"Variationen für Zwei" ("Variations for Two"), for two celli, 1999 (UA: 1999, Witzhelden)
2 Elegies for piano trio, 1999
"Nachtgesang II (Nightsong II)" for soprano, flute, violoncello and piano, 2001 (UA: 2001, Münster)
„Felix“, a Singspiel for children (Text: Christian Sabisch) with orchestral accompaniment 2001/02, (UA: Juli 2002, Leverkusen)
„Herbstbilder“ ("Autumn Pictures"), Drei Poems für Violoncello solo (3 Poems for violoncello solo), (2000/2002) (UA: 2.2.2003, Leverkusen)
„Wo die wilden Kerle wohnen“ ("Where the Wild Things Are"), a tale for young and old with piano accompaniment 2003/04, (UA: 6. November 2004, Leverkusen)
Des Kaisers neue Kleider“, a tale for young and old with piano accompaniment 2005, (UA: Juli 2005, Brühl)
Betrachtungen eines romantischen Realisten (Observations of a romantic realist) for Speaker and piano or piano solo 2006, (UA: 12.5. 2007, Vienna)
Tiergeschichten (Animal Stories) after Wilhelm Busch for speaker and piano 2006, (UA: 3.6. 2007, Brühl)

The following works have been published by Tonger-Verlag, Köln-Rodenkirchen:
"Sonata ostinata" for bassoon (bass recorder) and piano, PJT 2431
„Meditation“ for violoncello (or alto saxophone) and piano, PJT 2363
Concertino for Alt-Saxophon und small orchestra, PJT 2393
„Die Frage“ ("The Question"),melodrama for speaker and piano accompaniment on request

Contact information: [email protected]