Andreas Kunstein

Andreas Kunstein (born June 25, 1967) is a composer who was born in Brühl (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). In his youth, he received piano lessons and wrote his first compositions. After finishing high school, he studied History and Philosophy in Düsseldorf.

He also had private composition lessons with David Graham and Ratko Delorko. During 1992 - 1998 he studied composition at the Folkwanghochschule in Essen, with Wolfgang Hufschmidt. At the Rotterdam Hogeschool voor Muziek en Dans, he completed his studies in composition with Peter-Jan Wagemans and Klaas de Vries in April 2002. He participated in masterclasses of Manfred Trojahn, Edison Denisov and George Crumb, amongst others.

His "13 Epigrams for Orchestra" were nominated for the Dutch Young Composers Prize in 2000. In 1998, Andreas Kunstein received the scholarship of the Otmar Alt Foundation and in 2003 he received a scholarship of the Kulturfonds Foundation for the "Künstlerhaus Lukas".

Andreas Kunstein is counted as one of the Rotterdam School composers.

Works (Selection)

* "Toccata" for piano (1980/1991)
* "Fantasy in G-minor" for piano (1991)
* "String quartet No. 1" (1992)
* "10 Epigrams for toy piano" (1992) (Version for piano: 1996)
* "Quintet woodwinds" (1993)
* "String quartet No. 2" (1994)
* "Mutter denkt nach" for mezzo soprano and piano (text: Hedda Zinner, 1929) (1995)
* "2 Portraits" for piano (1995-1997)
* "13 Epigrams" for orchestra (1998) (New version: 2000)
* "String trio" (1992/1999)
* "Szenen aus einem Studentenleben" for orchestra (2001-2002) (Version for piano: 2001)
* "String quintet" (2002)
* "Suite for orchestra" (2002) (Version for 2 pianos: "Suite for 2 pianos")
* "Music for 2 Pianos and Percussion" (2003)
* "Turbulences" for big band (2003)

His "10 Epigrams for toy piano" appeared on CD SST 31112 played by Bernd Wiesemann and his "10 Epigrams for piano" appeared on NCC 8007 played by Ratko Delorko.