I don’t know how much of Martin Zeichnete’s story is true, but if it is, what a fascinating story it is! From his Bandcamp site:
“While he worked as a sound editor for DEFA (Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft), Martin Zeichnete (Kosmischer Läufer) spent eleven years leading a secret, parallel life writing music to train and inspire East Germany’s athletic elite.
The first part of this selection features a 180 BPM running program in four sections. Following the uplifting ‘Zeit zum Laufen 180’ (1976) we blast off with two of Martin’s most pulsating compositions. The motorik gallop of ‘Der kosmische Strahl’ (1980) and the fizzing, buzzing sequence of ‘Schreibmaschine’ (1979) keep the body and mind on track. The program ends with the hazy drift of ‘Im Herzen des Universums’ (1976) bringing the runner back down to earth.
The second part gives us our first listen to what could perhaps be called a secret within a secret. While work on Projekt Kosmischer Läufer gave Martin access to equipment and studio time few others in the DDR enjoyed, he yearned to have his music released to a wider audience. Repeatedly denied the chance to publish his music, Martin began recording demos at his makeshift home studio. Then, in late night sessions at the DDR Radio Studio when his supervisors had lost interest and left, he and his engineer would work on these more personal songs. One such project has been assembled here.“
