Thomas Asanger

Sternengucker

The term 'Sternengucker' ('stargazer') is used to describe babies that were born in the so-called 'occipito-posterior presentation'. Most children are born face down. 'Sternengucker' however, look upwards, and therefore they have their eyes directed towards the stars.

The Austrian composer Thomas Asanger captures this phenomenon in a musical way and makes it the theme of his polka that goes by the same name. The first part of the piece is full of humour and lightness. The playful main theme creates the image of a small child that is ingeniously playing before the mind's eye. The Trio, on the other hand, presents a dreamy cantilena that captures the wonder of nature, a slowly growing baby in the mother's womb, in a particularly imaginative way.

This polka is dedicated to Clara-Sophie, the composer's niece. She is one of the children who saw the light of day as a stargazer.