This CD documents compositions for strings that were commissioned from contemporary composers by the ARD International Music Competition in Munich and performed between 2004-16 by the prestigious competition’s prizewinners - both by soloists (violin, viola and cello solo) as well as string quartets. The recorded literature thus reflects the very latest status of the compositional repertoire for precisely these performance combinations. In the Competition, a contemporary work is always obligatory; it has to be specially created for the competition by renowned composers, and undergoes several different interpretations during the course of the competition - an invaluable opportunity for listeners to experience the most recent works in interpretations that often differ greatly. Since it is not always the first-prize winners who offer the “best interpretation of the commissioned work", a special prize is conferred for particularly excellent interpretations. It is also remarkable that the various award winners have gone through an astonishing development, and are now extremely successful on the international concert stage. The highly varied programme on this CD includes compositions by R. Shchedrin, N. Brass, W. Rihm, E.-P. Salonen, E.-S. Tüür, D. Sawer and J. Maria Staud. This is a representative cross-section of the current repertoire of contemporary music for strings, providing convincing proof of the high quality of musicianship among these young performers.