Solitude-Sérénade

Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf (b. 1962), a German composer, is generally associated with the New Complexity movement, whose main exponent is Brian Ferneyhough, with whom Mahnkopf studied.

His works are strongly linked to the language of the avant-garde, so much so that he theorized the birth of a second Darmstadt school, but his music has its roots in the Germanic tradition, reaching back to Berg and Beethoven.

Solitude-Sérénade, from 1997, for piccolo oboe and Ensemble (2 Vla., Cb., Gtar., Hp., Perc), is a reworking of an earlier solo piece: Solitude-Nocturne from 1993 (Solitude refers to Solitude Castle near Stuttgart).

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