Ausklang

Albert Ostermeier (G)

ausklang was created as part of the Neue Dichter Lieben - Munich Edition at the aDevantgarde Festival 2001, in which 20 composers participated, including myself (as composer and pianist); the songs were sung by Thomas Berau and Martina Koppelstetter. Albert Ostermaier's poem evokes the final hours of Franz Schubert, who is known to have read The Last of the Mohicans on his deathbed. The singer not only sings the text of Ostermaier, but silently marks real texts from North American natives and plays the strings inside the grand piano. A special feature of the song are extreme dynamic differences, ranging from the extreme pianissimo to fortissimo, the rattling background noises of the deep vibrating strings are intended here. Schubert himself also has his say – slightly alienated.
Moritz Eggert, 2021