After early instrumental tuition in piano (later violoncello) and his first attempts in composition Alexander Strauch was taught in composition from 1985 until 1992 by Konrad Jäger and Prof. Kay Westermann.
1992 until 1998 Studied and graduated from the Munich School of Music under Prof. Hans-Jürgen von Bose (composition with diploma and master classes), and directing under Prof. Ulrich Nicolai.
1992 until 1994 - Attended various courses in composition including at the 'Jugendfestspieltreffen' in Bayreuth and the libretto workshop at the 4th Munich Biennale.
1996 - World premiere of 'Narrow Rooms' after James Purdy at the opening of the Academy Theatre within the 'Prinzregententheater' in Munich, and the world premiere of Adamic Songs by the Munich Chamber Orchestra.
1998 until 2001 - Studied under Prof. Hans Zender and Prof. Isabel Mundry at the Frankfurt am Main School of Music.
1998 - Received a postgraduate scholarship from the free state of Bavaria.
2000 - Instigated his own production using parts of the musical theatrical pieces 'Schöne Zeiten' based on 'Der Heideknabe' by F. Hebbel and 'Phädra' by J. Racine at the 'Neuen Theater' in Munich.
2001 - World premiere of the chamber opera 'Beau Rivage' at the 'A*Devantgarde' festival and the world premiere and live broadcast on German Radio of 'Harre! Singe!' at the 'Fredener Musiktagen'.
2001 until 2002 Scholarship holder of the International Artists Villa Concordia in Bamberg. In 2003 he received a financial award from the city of Munich.
Alexander Strauch has written commissioned works for the Munich Chamber Orchestra, for the 50th anniversary of the 'Jugendmusikschule' in Chemnitz, for concerts in the 'Haus der Kunst' in Munich and for the German Youth Philharmonic Orchestra in Frankfurt am Main. As a choirmaster he conducts again and again for various singing ensembles.
Work list
Ultima Thule (1992)
Chamber opera
Texts: S. Grabinsky
Chamber opera based on S. Grabinsky for Tenor, Bass, orator and a small ensemble (1.01.sx.0/0.0.1.0/0.0.1.1.1).
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
Trio (1992)
Instrumentation: for clarinet, vibraphone and viola
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
...eingeschlossen (1993)
Instrumentation: for oboe solo
Duration: 5' 00" Manuscript
Oeffnung (1993)
Instrumentation: for clarinet, violoncello and piano
Duration: 30' 00"-40' 00" Manuscript
Combattimento (1993-1995)
Instrumentation: for flute, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, piano and double-bass
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
The Diary of Samuel Pepys in 1666 (1994)
Instrumentation: for mezzo-soprano, baritone and a small percussion
Texts: Samuel Pepys
Based on poems by Else Lasker-Schüler.
The singer can play the percussion.
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
Duo (1994)
Instrumentation: for viola and violoncello
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
2 Présences (1995)
Instrumentation: for harpsichord
Duration: 5' 00" Manuscript
Anrufung des Grossen Bären und Schatten Rosen Schatten (1995)
Instrumentation: for Mezzo-soprano, accordion and violoncello
Based on Ingeborg Bachmann.
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
Drei Walt-Whitman-Gesänge (1995)
Instrumentation: for tenor and orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.2.1/timp/hp/0.0.6.4.2)
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
Narrow Rooms (1996)
Opera
Texts: J. Pudry
An opera based on J. Purdy for mezzo-soprano, two tenors, two baritones and chamber orchestra (1.1.2.sx.1/1.1.1.1/2perc/pf.acn/egtr/1.1.1.1.2).
Manuscript
2 Agréments (1996)
Instrumentation: for clarinet and violoncello
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Adamic Songs (1996)
Instrumentation: for Tenor, horn and deep strings (0.0.4.3.2)
Based on Walter Whitman
Duration: 14' 00" Manuscript
Der Nachhauseweg (1997)
Instrumentation: for Soprano, violin, accordion and electronic
Texts: Franz Kafka
Based on Franz Kafka.
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
CHNOSPONCI (1997-1999)
Instrumentation: for viola and mezzo-soprano
From old high German sayings.
Duration: 20' 00" Manuscript
Von Innen nach Aussen (1998)
Show window/contact advertisement performance
Instrumentation: for baritone, electric guitar, accordion and slide projector
Duration: 30' 00" Manuscript
Nouvelles Agréments (mit 2 Agréments) (1998)
Instrumentation: for clarinet (bass clarinet) and violoncello
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Nachtgefühl (1998)
Instrumentation: for flute, oboe, clarinet, trombone, percussion, harp and double-bass
Based on Friedrich Hebbel.
Duration: 18' 00" Manuscript
Verzicht (1999)
Instrumentation: fro violoncello solo
Duration: 18' 00" Manuscript
When I met Zenders cat (1999)
Instrumentation: for piano and vibraphone
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
Die Heimkehr (1999)
Instrumentation: for Soprano and harpsichord
Based on Franz Kafka.
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
XXL (2000)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.1.2.2/2.1.0.0/8.6.4.2.1)
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Der Heideknabe (2000)
Instrumentation: for boy soprano, baritone, bass and electronic tape
Texts: Friedrich Hebbel
Based on Friedrich Hebbel.
Manuscript
Anhörung (2000)
Instrumentation: for bass zither solo
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Paraphrase über: - Bist Du net bei mir - (2000)
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, trumpet, string trio and double-bass
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
Der Hügel (2000)
Instrumentation: for Mezzo-soprano and piano
Based on Diana Kempff.
Duration: 4' 00" Manuscript
Beau Rivage oder Uwe & Elisabeth (2001)
Musical-scenic poetology
Instrumentation: for mezzo-soprano/actress, five instruments (flute, percussion, piano, bass zither, cello) and props
Duration: 25' 00" Manuscript
Harre! Singe! (2001)
Instrumentation: for singing saw, percussion and string trio
Duration: 18' 00" Manuscript
Wien! G-spenster! Dritte Art! (2001)
Instrumentation: for a minimum of two solo concert zithers (can be more) and zither choir (min. three concert zithers and one bass zither)
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
HIN UND HER (2002)
Instrumentation: for three electronically amplified zithers, sampler and small - large orchestra with a number of woodwind/brass (min. flutes of all kinds, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets and much more ad lib.), percussion/keyboard instruments (1woodblock)
Duration: 10' 00"-15' 00" Manuscript
SINGEND HAUCHEN, auch: PFEIFEND (2002)
Instrumentation: for flute solo
Duration: 20' 00" Manuscript
GESETZT... UNSEREINS (2002)
Instrumentation: for violoncello and alto zither
Duration: 20' 00" Manuscript
DEUTUNG (der NUAGES GRIS von Franz Liszt) (2002)
Instrumentation: for violoncello and alto zither
Duration: 7' 00" Manuscript
Kleine Concordia (2002)
Abstinance mass
Instrumentation: for horn, organ and mixed choir
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
metroUNIVERSAL (2003)
Music with action
Instrumentation: for violoncello, zither, metro-samples and interactive audience
Duration: 6h 00" Manuscript
Petite Solfège Spéctrale (2003)
Instrumentation: for bass recorder and discant zither