Bertold Hummel composed this two-movement work for 12 strings (7 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos and 1 double bass) in December 1980 and at the beginning of 1981. The first movement (quarter = 60) builds up cluster chords from the piano, effects such as glissandi, trills and tremolos bring the colours of the instruments to bloom, which fade out again in pianissimo at the end. The 2nd movement (ostinato) fascinates with its rapid motorisation, which is only brought to a halt at the end of the short work with a striking Bartok pizzicato. Klangfarben was premiered with the "Deutsches Solistenensemble" under the direction of the composer at the European Centre for Scientific, Ecumenical and Cultural Cooperation in Askri (Greece) on 13 September 1981.