Transcending Beethoven volume 1

In this time of climate change, the urge to cherish nature is stronger than ever. Although Beethoven lived a great deal of his life in two cities, Bonn and Vienna, he had a profound respect and admiration for nature as witnessed by one of his masterpieces, the sixth symphony. Beethoven made no effort to popularize his Piano Sonata opus 28 by naming it “Pastorale”. It was the Hamburg publisher, August Cranz, who gave the subtitle to this sonata. Beethoven’s publishers had a tendency to name his sonatas without consulting Beethoven himself. The StarkLinnemann Trio shares the same respect and admiration for nature that Beethoven had. Inspired by the overwhelming beauty and fragility of our Earth, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Opus 28 is recomposed with spontaneous improvisations and recorded with lots of percussion. Our hope is to accentuate this strong universal phenomenon as it connects to the sounds of nature.

Personnel on record
Paul Stark – piano
Maciej Domaradzki – acoustic bass
Jonas Linnemann – drums & percussion

If you haven’t added Transcending Beethoven Volume 1 to your collection, please visit our revamped webshop at ucm-records.com for StarkLinnemann’s entire catalog. Buying directly from us, especially after concerts or through the webshop, ensures fair payment and helps fund future albums. Some volumes are also available on Spotify and other platforms, but it takes about 2,500 Spotify plays to earn €10. Your direct purchase makes a significant difference. Thanks again for supporting our music! Jonas Linnemann & Paul Stark 2025

Press quotes

Those who think of stiff music with Beethoven will be pleasantly surprised by the trio's smooth dynamics. 
Bert Vuijsje - Jazzbulletin 2020

The band StarkLinnemann is aptly named,Linnemann's multiple percussion instruments are just as important in these variations as the piano. Bells, congas, udu, and small percussion instruments color the music from start to finish.
Claude Loxhay-Gilon - Jazzhalo 2020

The Pastoral features intricate twists, rhythm shifts, and unexpected accents, showcasing a sophisticated and dynamic musical composition.
Rinus v/d Heijden - Jazznu 2020

The trio's long piece captivates and amazes with every second, showcasing their strength in elevating crossover to an art form. It is remarkable that they achieve this with only three instruments.
Johan Pape - Draai om je oren 2020

Rightly sublime in bridging classical, jazz, and world rhythms; boundless, world-class! 
Bernard Lefèvre - Jazzhalo 2020

A Beethoven arrangement like this is incredibly rare and thrilling!
Jeroen de Valk- Jazzflits 2020