Category:  Chamber Music

A homage to Karl Valentin (1882 - 1948) whose left-mindedness, bizarre logic, word acrobatics, escalating hindrances and destructive game with misunderstandings of musical material are portrayed.

Movements: 1: Gallop 1: Hypochondriac's Suberb
2: The Wuhwuh is coming...
3: Gallop 2: Revolution plumbs
4: Short speach, long meaning...
5: Gallop 3: Tingel-Tangel

Duration: 20 Minutes

Publisher of notes/sheet music: Schott Music , ED 20661 , 2009

Instrumentation: Trumpet (B), tenor trombone, piano

Solo instruments: Piano, Trombone, Trumpet

Introduction: ON THE SHORES OF REASON. VALENTINIADE was composed in 2008 for Hannes
Läubin (trumpet), Hansjörg Profanter (trombone) and Lukas Maria Kuen (piano), three
outstanding soloists with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. A tribute to Karl
Valentin (1882–1948), whose left-wing thinking, bizarre logic, verbal acrobatics,
escalating obstructions and destructive play on misunderstandings are transposed into
musical material: ‘This man is a thoroughly complicated, bloody joke’ (Bert Brecht). This
apparent humour, however, is veiled in the melancholy and sorrow of a fragile genius
who was plagued throughout his life by abysmal fear and obsessive thoughts. The
‘VORSTADT-HYPOCHONDER’ alludes to Karl Valentin’s fear of life and his dread of
travelling. ‘Perhaps people would laugh at me less if they knew how badly I usually feel!’
It begins with a trivial trombone solo (to be played with great feeling) in accordance with
a stage direction from one of Valentin’s plays. ‘DER WUHWUH’ refers to a ‘little game’
played by Karl Valentin’s mother: to punish him, as a small child he had a bucket placed
over his head, after which they drummed and made a racket, so that, in the darkness, he
was terrified. His fundamental fear of life may well be attributable to this relic from his
childhood. - The term ‘REVOLUTIONSZWETSCHGEN’ is a typical play on words by Karl
Valentin and Liesl Karlstadt, who saw themselves as ‘word-creators’ and systematically
engaged in linguistic and conversational sabotage. The absurd ‘Revolutionszwetschgen’
refers to the 1918 revolution, where everything was subordinated to… well, strangely
enough, the plums… “even though the fruit can’t be blamed for any of it!” “KURZER
REDE LANGER SINN” is another of Valentin’s sayings that bears witness to his linguistic
sabotage, and “TINGELTANGEL” refers to the music halls, variety theatres and
entertainment venues where Valentin loved to perform and which were his home as a
“folk singer”. – This ‘crazy’ chamber music trio is published by Schottverlag Mainz.

Dedication: For Hannes Läubin and our musical friendship of over 30 years

Additional remarks: Interpretation:

1st Movement: GALLOP 1: Begins with a trivial trombone solo which then breaks up and is taken over by a wailing tremolo. this movement is played mostly with mutes in miserable, wailing manner. The movement is strict and the tempo is wild: 1/4 = 180.

2nd Movement: Is a chaconne. In 'Strano' foreign and abnormal sounds break in. A trumpet with the valves half-pressed creates a miserable whimpering. More disturbing sounds are created by blowing through the mouthpiece alone and by tapping the instrument.

3rd Movement: GALLOP 2: This movement is connected to the first gallop and should also be played strictly in a 1/4 = 180 tempo.

4th Movement: Is a wild repetition with a metrical frame of 5+7+7+8 eighths, and is very accented, anarchistic, chaotic and unsettled. A bell like 1/4 beat creeps in. 1/4 = 55. The trio must almost hypnotize the audience and bring them to another world.

5th Movement: This movement is also a gallop but not related to gallops 1 & 2. The chords on the piano and the banging of wood by the wind players should bring the piece to an angry end.

World premiere:  12.06.2008 , Max Joseph Hall, Munich Residence

Performers at world premiere: 1. Bavarian Radio orchestra chamber concert
Hannes Läubin / Trumpet
Hansjörg Profanter / Trombone
Lukas Maria Kuen / Piano

Press reviews for world premiere: 9.12.2008 Süddeutsche Zeitung (South German Newspaper)
SOLOISTS OF THE BAVARIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

This world premiere in the Max Joseph Hall, Munich shows the sound language of the 1st chamber concert of the soloists from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra: the composer Enjott Schneider

Records:  Ambiente Audio,  2026

Performers on recording: Hannes Läubin Trp., Hansjörg Profanter Pos., Lukas Maria Kuen, pro auf der CD "OBSCURE, CRAZY & FASCINATING