Ulrich Stranz

Musik für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 1 was premiered by pianist Margarita Höhenrieder, the symphony orchestra of the Bayerischer Rundfunk, conducted by Cristóbal Halffter, on 25 February 1983 in Munich in the series Musica viva.

Stranz spent two years at the electronic studio in Utrecht, by the German Academic Exchange Service. In 1974, he settled in Zürich, where he worked as a teacher and composer. In 1980/81, he spent half a year on a scholarship at the Villa Massimo in Rome. Stranz died in Zürich shortly before his 58th birthday of cancer. He was buried at the Fluntern Cemetery.

Stranz developed his own musical style during his studies with Bialas. His compositions focus on single tones and single phrases, aiming for a combination of inspiration and construction. He used this intimate approach (Innigkeit dieses Ansatzes) in the orchestral works Tachys (1974), Zeitbiegung (1977), Szenen Nr. 1–3 (three scenes, 1980/82), in his first symphony subtitled Grande Ballade for saxophone quartet and large orchestra, and in two works for piano and orchestra (1978/82 and 1992).

Born in Neumarkt-Sankt Veit, Upper Bavaria, Stranz grew up in Munich, obtaining the Abitur at the Musisches Gymnasium in 1966. He studied composition with Fritz Büchtger from 1965 to 1968, who taught him music theory, forming of melodies (Melodiebildung), counterpoint, and a twelve tone system with esoteric and anthroposophical background. He studied at the Musikhochschule München from 1968 to 1972, violin with Heinz Endres, and Günter Bialas. Bialas initiated a series Musik der Zeit (Contemporary music), which gave Stranz the opportunity of public performances.

Ulrich Stranz (10 May 1946 – 27 April 2004) was a German teacher and composer.