Detlev Müller-Siemens

Born in Hamburg, Müller-Siemens began with piano lessons at age six and began composing.[1] He was invited to a composition class at the Musikhochschule Köln at age 13.[1] He studied piano, composition and theory at the Musikhochschule Hamburg from 1970 with Günter Friedrichs.[1][2] From 1973 to 1980, he studied with György Ligeti.[2] He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1977/78 with Olivier Messiaen. Back in Hamburg, he studied piano with Volker Banfield, and conducting with Christoph von Dohnányi. In 1985, he studied conducting further with Klauspeter Seibel.[2]

In 1981, he was an assistant at the Paris Opéra for Ligeti's Le Grand Macabre. He was Kapellmeister of the Städtische Bühnen Freiburg from 1986 to 1988.[2]

From 1991 to 2005, he was professor of composition and music theory at the Basel Music Academy, then professor for at the University of Vienna.[2]

An engagement with the work of Samuel Beckett since 1999 has been reflected in his opera Bing, the composition the space of a step for orchestra as well as in the chamber music works Light blue, almost white and ... called dusk.[2]

• 1980/1982: Villa Massimo, Rome[2]
• 1986: Schneider-Schott Music Prize[2]
• 1988: Rolf-Liebermann Grant[2]
• 1990: Rolf-Liebermann prize[2]

Compositions by Müller-Siemens were published by Schott Music, including:[2]

• Under Neonlight I for ensemble, 1980/81
• Under Neonlight II for piano, 1980–83
• Piano Concerto, 1980–1981
• Viola Concerto, 1983–1984
• Under Neonlight III for piano, 1987
• Quatre Passages for orchestra, 1988
• Horn Concerto, 1988–1989
• Die Menschen, opera, 1989–1990[3]
• Carillon for orchestra, 1991
• Double Concerto for violin, viola and orchestra, 1992
• Phoenix 1,2,3 for ensemble, 1993–1995
• Maiastra for orchestra, 1995–1996
• Cuts for alto saxophone and ensemble, 1996/97
• Light blue, almost white for ensemble, 1998
• Bing, musical theatre, 1998–2000
• String Trio, 2002
• Die Aussicht for choir and ensemble, 2003/04
• the space of a step for orchestra, 2003/04
• distant traces (in memoriam György Ligeti) for violin, viola and piano, 2007
• lost traces for piano quartet, 2007
• ...called dusk (in memoriam György Ligeti) for violoncello and piano, 2008
• Kommos for large ensemble, 2008/09
• Privacy (in memoriam László Polgár) for clarinet, violin and piano, 2010
• ...called dusk II for string quartet, 2011
• Three piano pieces, 2012
• ... called dusk IV for orchestra, 2012/13
• ... called dusk III for ensemble, 2014
• ... called dusk V for violin solo, 2014
• Subsong 1 for ensemble, 2015

• Official website