‘David-Maria Gramse, violinist and member of Ensemble Resonanz, responds to Meet the Artist’s questions:
Who or what inspired you to take up [your chosen instrument], and pursue a career in music?
Passion for music, lust for communication and a pinch of irrationality.
Who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?
Our identity as an ensemble feeds from two important tendencies of the 20th century: historically informed performance practice and contemporary music, especially music after 1945 such as compositions by Helmut Lachenmann.
What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?
To stick to the previous question, combining and connecting these tendencies or trends make up a a dynamic field of tension, which is maybe our greatest challenge.
Which performance/recordings are you most proud of?
Our latest release ‘Haydn’ with the Label Harmonia Mundi, and our new album ‘Tenebre’ with string works by Bryce Dessner, which is our first worldwide release on our own label resonanzraum records.
Which particular works do you think you play best?
Enno Poppe and CPE Bach.
How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?
Always too late 🙂
Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?
We opened our own urban chamber music club in Hamburg. We felt this kind of venue was missing; a space that combines club atmosphere with outstanding acoustics and is open for limitless experiments and creativity – along with an exquisite bar!
Who are your favourite musicians?
Nick Cave and Django Reinhard.
What is your most memorable concert experience?
The opening of the Elbphilharmonie in 2017 was certainly a milestone.
As a musician, what is your definition of success?
Experiencing resonance with all our surroundings – musicians, audiences, musical pieces, space and time.
What do you consider to be the most important ideas and concepts to impart to aspiring musicians?
Follow your dreams. For real.
What is your present state of mind?
Questioned.
Ensemble Resonanz and composer Bryce Dessner, lead guitarist of The National, will released their first joint album “Tenebre” on 11 October 2019 with resonanzraum records
Since its inception in 1994, Ensemble Resonanz has been captivating fans with their re-defining projects. Their new album with Dessner contains his most significant string compositions entirely reworked for the ensemble.
The resultant album crosses European American avant-garde works for strings with classical music in an innovative and highly artistic way.
MEET THE ARTIST 