Walter Steffens

Short bio Walter Steffens

Birthday: 1934

Genre: Classical

Period: Modern

Full biography Walter Steffens

Walter Steffens was a German composer born on October 31, 1934, in Burtscheid, Aachen, Germany. He was involved in various musical projects throughout his career, including chamber operas, orchestral compositions, and multimedia works.

Steffens was predominantly known for his work in opera. He composed "Eli, Op. 7," an opera in three acts with a libretto based on a biblical story. The opera premiered in 1964 in East Berlin and subsequently toured throughout Germany. Additionally, he composed "Two Cells in Seville," a new chamber opera, which for instance, was performed at the University of Texas in 1986.

Steffens was also an educator and held teaching positions in various institutions, including the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany. He was also a composer-in-residence at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

Throughout his career, Steffens was heavily inspired by art and used this inspiration to create compositions that reflected his unique approach to music. For example, he translated Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" painting into a composition for viola and orchestra.

Walter Steffens passed away in 2010, leaving behind a legacy of innovative compositions that continue to receive recognition and critical acclaim.

Compositions featuring Walter Steffens

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Two Cells in Sevilla, or Don Quixote Is Hungry, chamber opera for mezzo-soprano, baritone, bass, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, cello & piano, Op. 106	38:06 min	Opera	2016
2	Songs on Hölderlin (5), for mezzo-soprano & piano, Op. 95	12:21 min	Vocal Music	2008
3	Watercolors (4) after Paul Klee, for 3 recorders, Op. 63	10:31 min	Chamber Music	1991
4	Structure a la Rose, Op 20	3:16 min	Keyboard	1970
5	Ecstasy, for string quartet, Op. 2b	10:15 min	Chamber Music	1963
6	Guernica after Pablo Picasso, elegy for viola & orchestra, Op. 32	14:14 min	Orchestral	-
7	Hommage à Scarlatti, for piano	4:01 min	Keyboard	-
8	Le Cantique des Cantiques (The Song of Songs) after Marc Chagall, symphony for organ, Op. 84	40:45 min	Keyboard	-
9	Pintura del Mundo (The Garden of Earthly Delights) after Hieronymus Bosch, for orchestra	18:39 min	Orchestral	-
10	Siguiriya after Edvard Munch 'Skrik' (The Cry), for mixed choir, Op. 3c	3:59 min	Choral	-

Albums featuring Walter Steffens

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Walter Steffens, Marec Béla Steffens – Two Cells In Sevilla; Don Quixote Is Hungry(CD, Album)	2018	Navona Records
2	Guernica And Other Paintings(CD, Album)	2009	Labor
3	Transpositions Volume 1(LP, Album, Stereo)	1982	Labor
4	Walter Steffens . Heiner Stadler – Ecstasy	1975	Labor