An Den Mond. Schubert Labyrinth for octet

The octet "To the Moon. Schubert Labyrinth" was composed in 2016 at the suggestion of violinist Helena Berg as a complementary piece for a concert that was also to include Schubert's Octet. Two Schubert settings of Goethe's poem "To the Moon" from 1815 provided Johannes X. Schachtner with motifs that he takes up and develops in his octet. In his octet, the wind instruments clarinet, bassoon, and horn are juxtaposed with two violins, viola, cello, and double bass. Additionally, the wind players must use their feet to operate percussion instruments such as the hi-hat, snare drum, and bass drum. The subtitle "Labyrinth" refers to the processing of the Schubert motifs, which are transformed and placed in a contemporary context.
The world premiere took place on June 8, 2016, in Berlin.