Three Aspects of Kurt Weill

For the project The Music of Kurt Weill, Peter Kleine Schaars rewrote a number of works by the German composer Kurt Weill (1900–1950) for the ‘Dreigroschen-Orchester’ (an occasional ensemble with the line-up that Weill hadprescribed for his Kleine Dreigroschenmusik).

Kleine Schaars became inspired by the three periods that characterize the life of Weill: he successively lived in Berlin, Paris and New York. Three Aspects of Kurt Weill (with the subtitle Drei Kurzweilige Impressionen) has one theme that comes forward in three totally different atmospheres, corresponding with the three mentioned periods.

Movement one is a “Berlin-tinted” protest march andparodies the fascist use of music. Movement two is a French musette (valse de Paris). Finally, the theme is featured in big band style in movement three: here, your ensemble transforms into a swinging Broadway band.