Gruppe Neue Musik Hanns Eisler
| Company type | Ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Contemporary classical music |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Friedrich Schenker, Burkhard Glaetzner, Gerhard Erber |
| Defunct | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Leipzig , East Germany (now Germany) |
| Products | Performances, recordings |
Gruppe Neue Musik Hanns Eisler was an ensemble based in Leipzig, founded in 1970, dedicated to contemporary classical music. The group was known for numerous world premieres and extensive international tours before its dissolution in 1993.
History
The ensemble originated on 17 December 1970, established by composer and trombonist Friedrich Schenker, oboist Burkhard Glaetzner, pianist Gerhard Erber, among others, with a focus on modern classical repertoire. Conductors regularly collaborating with the group included Max Pommer, Friedrich Goldmann, and Christian Münch.
Repertoire
Their principal repertoire encompassed compositions by Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern, and Hanns Eisler, as well as works by composers such as Stefan Wolpe, Charles Ives, and Paul Dessau. The ensemble’s primary objective was to advance new music beyond performing Eisler’s own pieces. They premiered upwards of 250 compositions from over 70 different composers, including Edison Denisov’s Trio, Nicolaus A. Huber’s Demijour, Luca Lombardi’s Einklang, Wolfgang Rihm’s Kalt, Goldmann’s Trombone Concerto, Luigi Nono’s Kolomb, and Iannis Xenakis’ Alax. Additionally, they introduced East German audiences to international contemporary works like John Cage’s Piano Concerto, Denisov’s Chorale-Variations, Dieter Schnebel’s Glossolalie, Stockhausen’s Zyklus, Xenakis’ Nomos Alpha, Isang Yun’s Piri, and Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s Intercommunicatione.
Tours and disbanding
As one of the pioneering East German ensembles to perform outside the Iron Curtain, Gruppe Neue Musik Hanns Eisler toured extensively throughout Western Europe and Japan. Their presence was a regular feature at prominent contemporary music festivals such as the Steirischer Herbst, Warsaw Autumn Festival, Donaueschingen Festival, and Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik. Recognized as East Germany’s foremost ensemble for contemporary music, they stood alongside groups like ensemble intercontemporain and Ensemble Modern as one of the continent’s leading chamber music collectives specializing in new music. Following the political changes after the Berlin Wall fell, the group concluded its activities in 1993, having achieved its artistic goals.
Awards
- Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic (1980)
- Kunstpreis der Stadt Leipzig (1986)
- Schneider-Schott Music Prize (1991)
Film
The ensemble performed the score by Reiner Bredemeyer for the 1980 documentary Kampuchea – Sterben und Auferstehen.
Recordings
Their discography, issued through Wergo, includes works such as:
- Steffen Schleiermacher: Zeremonie
- Helmut Zapf: Zusammenklang II
- Nicolaus Richter de Vroe: Aus weißen Listen
- Reiner Bredemeyer: Septett 80 / Alle Neune
- Jörg Herchet: Kompositionen
- Friedrich Schenker: Die Friedensfeier
References
Sources