Arranger | Composer

Diverse genres, distinctive style.

I’ve been writing and arranging music for vocal soloists, choirs and instrumental ensembles throughout Germany since 1982. I kind of quit counting them when I got to 57. Age 57. There are at least twice as many pieces.

As an arranger I enjoy writing for specific ensembles – even unusual, eccentric ones. Tell me which instruments are available and how well you play them, and I’ll see to it that you sound good and have fun making music.

The Sherlock Musical (2018)

In 2018 I was commissioned by Urania Theater in Cologne to help create a new musical about Sherlock Holmes. It soon transpired that there was no lyricist for the project, so I did most of that too, then arranged the music for live performance by a six-piece ensemble (piano, drums, violin, clarinet, French horn and Hammond organ).

Set in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I, the story involves an aging and frustrated Sherlock Holmes, a few Sufragettes, a kidnapped French aviator, Mata Hari, international espionage, and a rootless young man who turns out to be the son of Irene Adler and Sherlock himself.

As principle composer I wrote 43 minutes of music for the production. After 26 sold-out performances, artistic differences about how to develop the show further put the project on ice.

During a window of opportunity in October 2020 we were able to record the two Mrs. Hudson songs, which you can watch here.

Starstruck (2020)

“Starstruck” is the first of a series of young adult novels by Brenda Hiatt.  Bethany Barber (book and lyrics) adapted it as a musical for the middle-school market, and originally planned to be performed in the fall semester of 2020 at John F. Kennedy High School in Berlin. As of 2022, we’re still hoping against hope…

You can hear our “I wish” number here. To learn more about the show, and to hear all the rest of the songs (with an 80s-style soundtrack arranged by Lionel Wharton), please visit our website.

Der Rotkäppchenreport (1989, 2022)

Der Rotkäppchenreport

A musical called The Red Riding Hood Report (Der Rotkäppchenreport) premiered at Comedia Colonia Theater in 1989 and played several months before going on to be performed in  hundreds of theaters throughout Germany and Switzerland. Starring in the show were Samy Orfgen, Isabel Trimborn, Gerd Krebber and the late, great comedian Dirk Bach.

Now the Kleines Theater in Bielefeld has commissioned “Rotkäppchenreport 2.0”, slated to premiere in 2022.

Frida Kahlo (Under development)

Kim Morales has approached me about developing a musical based on the life of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. Here’s a sample song.

Various Voices Dublin 2014

“Arise and Sing!” was the title of the Various Voices LGBT choir festival in Dublin in 2014. As artistic director of the festival, I also wrote the anthem for the event. You can hear it here.

Des Mannes bester Freund (1994)

One of my early classics was “Des Mannes bester Freund” (Man’s Best Friend), inspired by my favorite comedy film Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life.

Second European Festival of Gay Choirs,  Amsterdam (1986)

This historical footage is from “A Gay Odyssey,” the second European gay choir festival, which was held in Amsterdam in 1986. It was the international premiere of a song I wrote (and sang) in Gospel style for the Triviatas, Germany’s first gay men’s choir.

My compositions have been featured in the following productions:

The Sherlock Musical

The Dirk Bach Show (Title theme) (RTL)

Der Rotkäppchenreport (“The Little Red Riding Hood Report” Book: Angelika Bartram) (broadcast on West 3)

Edgar (Solo show by Dirk Bach; Book: Helmut Seliger) (West 3)

Welt ohne Schwerkraft (Variety show broadcast on West 3)
Die Schnauze voll (“I’ve Had Enough” solo show by Bügelbrett-founder Hannelore Kaub)

Schwester George lädt ein (“An Evening with Sister George”)
Odysseus. Und jetzt. (“Odysseus. And now. ” solo show by William Mockridge; Book: Helmut Seliger)

Springmaus improv troupe, Bonn (multiple shows)
Die Königs, improv troupe, Köln (multiple shows)
Triviatas, Cologne’s first gay men’s choir (multiple shows)

Sprungbrett, WDR workshop stage (for the shows
Ohne Federlesen and Ich lebe in der Dachrinne)

40 Jahre und ein bißchen heiser (Solo show by Samy Orfgen; Book: Ulrike Bliefert)

Alle Männchen werden prüder (Solo show by Anka Zink;
Book: Anka Zink and Margit Rogall)

Da gehen wir hin (Solo show by Anka Zink; Book: Anka Zink and Moritz Netenjakob)

Angels in America (Production of Studiobühne Köln;
Direction: Uwe Hotz)

Gabi Weiß. Nicht weiter (Solo show by Gabi Weiß;
Book and direction: Helmut Seliger)

Gabi Weiß in Florida: Ein Abend mit Irmgard Knüppel (solo by Gabi Weiß; Book and direction: Karin Döhrbaum)

Eine Frau namens Wanda (solo show by Wanda Rumor)
Misery (Production of Cologne Comedy Festival 2001) (Book: Stephen King; Direction: Jonathan Briefs)
Diva a.D. Auf immer Wiedersehen (farewell show by Wanda Rumor)

Das rosarote Spukschloß (LGBT Karneval spectacle, 2002)
40qm² Heimat (Die Kutschallas, 2002)

R(h)ein texanisch (solo show by Steve Nobles, 2004)

Janz persönlich! (Charlotte Rettig and Steve Nobles,
Direction: Dagmar Bedbur, 2005)

Nette Renee (Andreas Swoboda and Jeanette
Urzendowsky, Direction: Dagmar Bedbur, 2007)

Arise and Sing! (Festival anthem for Various Voices Dublin 2014)

Kein Beinbruch

One of my favorite songs, performed by Wanda Rumor. Lyrics: Pelle Pershing. Cello: John Simon.

Dann schlag ich zu

Let’s translate this piece as “Sieze the Chance.” Written by me and Wanda Rumor for a theater production of Stephen King’s Misery.

Du riefst an

Another great lyric by Pelle Pershing. This is a live version recorded at a charity benefit.

Ich will nimmie ‘ne Immi sinn

My first song written and performed in the Cologne dialect.

Click to hear Wanda Rumor singing “Kein Beinbruch”.

Click to hear me singing “Dann schlag ich zu”.

Click to hear my 1997 live performance of “Du riefst an”.

Click to hear me singing Kölsch.