Steiger-Variationen was written on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the „Bergkapelle Saar“, one of German’s oldest miner bands. The „Steigerlied“ is the most famous German miner song (Steiger = miner), and it serves here as a source for a set of variations inspired by some of the most famous music of various eras and styles. Successively, the „Steigerlied“ sneaks into the following pieces: Carl Orff’s „O Fortuna“ from Carmina Burana, Handel’s „Hallelujah Chorus“, Mozart’s „Rondo alla turca“, Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Schubert’s „Ave Maria“, Tchaikovsky’s waltz from Swan Lake, Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung“, John Williams’ “Imperial March”from Star Wars and finally the brilliant finale of Dimitri Shostakovitch‘s 5th symphony.

Note to the conductor: It is recommended to have the horn, trumpet and trombone parts executed by one player only during the Handel, Mozart and Beethoven variations in order to match the specific sound of a Baroque or Classical orchestra.