Ulrich Leyendecker

Ulrich Leyendecker (born 1946 in Wuppertal) is a German composer of classical music. His output consists mainly of symphonies, concertos, chamber and instrumental music.

Life
Leyendecker studied composition with Ingo Schmitt (1962-5) and Rudolf Petzold (1965-70), and piano with Günter Ludwig. In 1971 he became a lecturer at the Hamburg Academy for Music and Performing Arts, and in 1976 he was appointed Professor of Composition and Theory at the Hamburg Music and Theatre Hochschule. Since 1994 he has been Professor of Composition at the State Hochschule for Music and the Performing Arts of Heidelberg-Mannheim.

Music
Leyendecker's music is largely atonal, but often with subtle hints of tonality. He employs regular time signatures in his pieces, yet does not sound so for he utilizes carefully calculated and complex rhythms. His music often contains novel sonic architectures, while still managing to express powerful emotions directly to the listener.

Works

Orchestral
Symphonies
Symphony No. 1 (1974)
Symphony No. 2 (1985)
Symphony No. 3 (1990-1)
Symphony No. 4 (1997)
Symphony No. 5 (Concerto for Orchestra) (2000)
Verwandlung, five pieces for chamber orchestra (1980)
Impromptu (1981)
Erinnerung, symphonic movement (1995)

Concertante
Piano Concerto (1980)
Cello Concerto (1983)
Violin Concerto (1995)
Guitar Concerto (2004/05)

Vocal
Versunken in die Nacht, for soprano and chamber orchestra (1981)
Canción última, for alto and chamber ensemble (1983)
Hebrew Ballads, for mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble or piano (1993)

Chamber
String Trio No. 1
String Trio No. 2 (1972)
String Quartet No. 1 (1978)
String Quartet No. 2 (1987)
Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp (1988)
String Quartet No. 3 (1989)
Quintet for Bass Clarinet and String Quartet (2000)

Instrumental
Canto, for solo violin (1979)
Verso Parsifal, for guitar (1982)
Etude for Viola (1989)
Two Etudes for Bass Clarinet (1990)

Piano
Sonata for Two Pianos (1985)
13 Bagatelles, for piano (1989)
Impromptu, for two pianos (1994)