It was not until his late twenties that the pianist, Thomas Larcher, known as an expert of contemporary music, began his career as a composer. Among his most interesting works is the string quartet 'Cold Farmer'. This fifteen-minute work is characterized by moods changing in a blocklike manner. The features of minimal music can be recognized particularly in the fast repetitive sections. The two slow parts acknowledge a tonal language again and again. The first, astonishingly, begins openly in C major, the end of the string quartet fades away in C# Minor. 'Cold Farmer' is released on Larcher's second portrait CD on the renowned label ECM, as is his work 'Mumien' for violoncello and piano already available from Schott (CB 182).