NDR Info

“Krimi” (short for the German word *Kriminalroman*) is a crime‑fiction audio format most commonly encountered as radio drama (*Krimi‑Hörspiel*) and related spoken-word productions. Musically, it is defined less by a single fixed style and more by functional scoring: suspense cues, noir‑leaning jazz colors, ominous drones, rhythmic ostinati, and “stinger” hits that underline reveals, danger, and scene transitions. A typical Krimi production blends dialogue, narration, foley/sound design, and short-to-medium musical segments that establish mood, pacing, and location (e.g., city-at-night jazz vs. rural tension beds).