Rolf Riehm

Rolf Riehm (15 June 1937 – 3 January 2026) was a German composer who wrote stage and orchestral works as well as music for ensembles and solo instruments. He began as an oboist and music teacher and was later a professor of music theory at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main from 1974 to 2000. He joined the wind ensemble Sogenanntes Linksradikales Blasorchester from 1976 to 1981 as oboist and arranger; they played at political demonstrations. His opera Sirenen was premiered at the Oper Frankfurt in 2014.

Life and career Riehm was born in Saarbrücken on 15 June 1937 and grew up in Frankfurt. His father, Karl Riehm, was a school music teacher, and his mother, Elly, was a piano teacher. During his schooling he served already as organist at the American Central Chapel. He completed school with the Abitur in 1957.

Riehm worked first as a solo oboist.

Riehm's opera Sirenen had its premiere at the Oper Frankfurt in 2014.

Stage music

Das Schweigen der Sirenen, premiered by Staatsoper Stuttgart (1994)

Music for ensemble Uncertain Melody (1989) for eight instruments Double Distant Counterpoint (J. S. Bach, Kunst der Fuge, Contrapunctus XI) (1994) for large ensemble and keyboard Sarca – il fiume Sarca (1995) for 7 wind instruments and double bass Schlaf, schlaf, John Donne, schlaf tief und quäl dich nicht (1997) for violin, bass clarinet, accordion, keyboard Hawking (1998) for piano, bass drum and six instruments aprikosenbäume gibt es, aprikosenbäume gibt es (2004) for double bass clarinet, violin, trumpet, violoncello, trombone and playbacks (dedicated to Wolfgang Stryi) Der Faden ist gerissen (2005) for seven instrumentalists in der luft waren vögel, im wasser waren fische (2006) for piano and eight instruments Lenz in Moskau (2011) for trombone, guitar, cello, piano, two percussionists and feeds Adieu, sirènes (2015) for mezzo-soprano, 2 cellos, 2 trumpets

Chamber music Ein Sommerabend am Lindleinsee (1976) for violin, cello, piano and playbacks Tempo strozzato (1978) for string quartet "Ich denk viel." / Mr. President / pizz / 13 (1987) for viola, cello and double bass Gracieusement (1990) for viola, cello and double bass FIORETTI Within My Bosom (2000) for clarinet, cello and piano Short Message Piece (2001) for flute and tenor recorder Adieu, Marie, mon amour – Drei Liebeslieder in den Tod (2002) for viola and accordion No Velvet Mute For Lullabies (2005) for four trombones Pasolini in Ostia (2012) for soprano, piano, cello and percussion

Solo music Ungebräuchliches (1964) for oboe Notturno für die trauerlos Sterbenden (1977) for guitar Don't cry, mummy isn't here anyway − memories of a temptingly morbid summer (1982) for viola Scheherazade (1990) for accordion Toccata Orpheus (1990) for guitar Weeds in Ophelia's Hair (1991) for alto recorder

Discography

The Contemporary Accordion Teodoro Anzellotti, Koch Schwann