SKU: PR.342401440

ISBN 9781598067675. UPC: 680160055203. Octavo inches. Key: A major. English. Text: Walt Whitman. Walt Whitman.

SKU: HL.49046544

ISBN 9781705122655. UPC: 842819108726. 9.0x12.0x0.224 inches.

I composed the Piano Concerto in two stages: the first three movements during the years 1985-86, the next two in 1987, the final autograph of the last movement was ready by January, 1988. The concerto is dedicated to the American conductor Mario di Bonaventura. The markings of the movements are the following: 1. Vivace molto ritmico e preciso 2. Lento e deserto 3. Vivace cantabile 4. Allegro risoluto 5. Presto luminoso.The first performance of the three-movement Concerto was on October 23rd, 1986 in Graz. Mario di Bonaventura conducted while his brother, Anthony di Bonaventura, was the soloist. Two days later the performance was repeated in the Vienna Konzerthaus. After hearing the work twice, I came to the conclusion that the third movement is not an adequate finale; my feeling of form demanded continuation, a supplement. That led to the composing of the next two movements. The premiere of the whole cycle took place on February 29th, 1988, in the Vienna Konzerthaus with the same conductor and the same pianist. The orchestra consisted of the following: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, tenor trombone, percussion and strings. The flautist also plays the piccoIo, the clarinetist, the alto ocarina. The percussion is made up of diverse instruments, which one musician-virtuoso can play. It is more practical, however, if two or three musicians share the instruments. Besides traditional instruments the percussion part calls also for two simple wind instruments: the swanee whistle and the harmonica. The string instrument parts (two violins, viola, cello and doubles bass) can be performed soloistic since they do not contain divisi. For balance, however, the ensemble playing is recommended, for example 6-8 first violins, 6-8 second, 4-6 violas, 4-6 cellos, 3-4 double basses. In the Piano Concerto I realized new concepts of harmony and rhythm. The first movement is entirely written in bimetry: simultaneously 12/8 and 4/4 (8/8). This relates to the known triplet on a doule relation and in itself is nothing new. Because, however, I articulate 12 triola and 8 duola pulses, an entangled, up till now unheard kind of polymetry is created. The rhythm is additionally complicated because of asymmetric groupings inside two speed layers, which means accents are asymmetrically distributed. These groups, as in the talea technique, have a fixed, continuously repeating rhythmic structures of varying lengths in speed layers of 12/8 and 4/4. This means that the repeating pattern in the 12/8 level and the pattern in the 4/4 level do not coincide and continuously give a kaleidoscope of renewing combinations. In our perception we quickly resign from following particular rhythmical successions and that what is going on in time appears for us as something static, resting. This music, if it is played properly, in the right tempo and with the right accents inside particular layers, after a certain time 'rises, as it were, as a plane after taking off: the rhythmic action, too complex to be able to follow in detail, begins flying. This diffusion of individual structures into a different global structure is one of my basic compositional concepts: from the end of the fifties, from the orchestral works Apparitions and Atmospheres I continuously have been looking for new ways of resolving this basic question. The harmony of the first movement is based on mixtures, hence on the parallel leading of voices. This technique is used here in a rather simple form; later in the fourth movement it will be considerably developed. The second movement (the only slow one amongst five movements) also has a talea type of structure, it is however much simpler rhythmically, because it contains only one speed layer. The melody is consisted in the development of a rigorous interval mode in which two minor seconds and one major second alternate therefore nine notes inside an octave. This mode is transposed into different degrees and it also determines the harmony of the movement; however, in closing episode in the piano part there is a combination of diatonics (white keys) and pentatonics (black keys) led in brilliant, sparkling quasimixtures, while the orchestra continues to play in the nine tone mode. In this movement I used isolated sounds and extreme registers (piccolo in a very low register, bassoon in a very high register, canons played by the swanee whistle, the alto ocarina and brass with a harmon-mute' damper, cutting sound combinations of the piccolo, clarinet and oboe in an extremely high register, also alternating of a whistle-siren and xylophone). The third movement also has one speed layer and because of this it appears as simpler than the first, but actually the rhythm is very complicated in a different way here. Above the uninterrupted, fast and regular basic pulse, thanks to the asymmetric distribution of accents, different types of hemiolas and inherent melodical patterns appear (the term was coined by Gerhard Kubik in relation to central African music). If this movement is played with the adequate speed and with very clear accentuation, illusory rhythmic-melodical figures appear. These figures are not played directly; they do not appear in the score, but exist only in our perception as a result of co-operation of different voices. Already earlier I had experimented with illusory rhythmics, namely in Poeme symphonique for 100 metronomes (1962), in Continuum for harpsichord (1968), in Monument for two pianos (1976), and especially in the first and sixth piano etude Desordre and Automne a Varsovie (1985). The third movement of the Piano Concerto is up to now the clearest example of illusory rhythmics and illusory melody. In intervallic and chordal structure this movement is based on alternation, and also inter-relation of various modal and quasi-equidistant harmony spaces. The tempered twelve-part division of the octave allows for diatonical and other modal interval successions, which are not equidistant, but are based on the alternation of major and minor seconds in different groups. The tempered system also allows for the use of the anhemitonic pentatonic scale (the black keys of the piano). From equidistant scales, therefore interval formations which are based on the division of an octave in equal distances, the twelve-tone tempered system allows only chromatics (only minor seconds) and the six-tone scale (the whole-tone: only major seconds). Moreover, the division of the octave into four parts only minor thirds) and three parts (three major thirds) is possible. In several music cultures different equidistant divisions of an octave are accepted, for example, in the Javanese slendro into five parts, in Melanesia into seven parts, popular also in southeastern Asia, and apart from this, in southern Africa. This does not mean an exact equidistance: there is a certain tolerance for the inaccurateness of the interval tuning. These exotic for us, Europeans, harmony and melody have attracted me for several years. However I did not want to re-tune the piano (microtone deviations appear in the concerto only in a few places in the horn and trombone parts led in natural tones). After the period of experimenting, I got to pseudo- or quasiequidistant intervals, which is neither whole-tone nor chromatic: in the twelve-tone system, two whole-tone scales are possible, shifted a minor second apart from each other. Therefore, I connect these two scales (or sound resources), and for example, places occur where the melodies and figurations in the piano part are created from both whole tone scales; in one band one six-tone sound resource is utilized, and in the other hand, the complementary. In this way whole-tonality and chromaticism mutually reduce themselves: a type of deformed equidistancism is formed, strangely brilliant and at the same time slanting; illusory harmony, indeed being created inside the tempered twelve-tone system, but in sound quality not belonging to it anymore. The appearance of such slantedequidistant harmony fields alternating with modal fields and based on chords built on fifths (mainly in the piano part), complemented with mixtures built on fifths in the orchestra, gives this movement an individual, soft-metallic colour (a metallic sound resulting from harmonics). The fourth movement was meant to be the central movement of the Concerto. Its melodc-rhythmic elements (embryos or fragments of motives) in themselves are simple. The movement also begins simply, with a succession of overlapping of these elements in the mixture type structures. Also here a kaleidoscope is created, due to a limited number of these elements - of these pebbles in the kaleidoscope - which continuously return in augmentations and diminutions. Step by step, however, so that in the beginning we cannot hear it, a compiled rhythmic organization of the talea type gradually comes into daylight, based on the simultaneity of two mutually shifted to each other speed layers (also triplet and duoles, however, with different asymmetric structures than in the first movement). While longer rests are gradually filled in with motive fragments, we slowly come to the conclusion that we have found ourselves inside a rhythmic-melodical whirl: without change in tempo, only through increasing the density of the musical events, a rotation is created in the stream of successive and compiled, augmented and diminished motive fragments, and increasing the density suggests acceleration. Thanks to the periodical structure of the composition, always new but however of the same (all the motivic cells are similar to earlier ones but none of them are exactly repeated; the general structure is therefore self-similar), an impression is created of a gigantic, indissoluble network. Also, rhythmic structures at first hidden gradually begin to emerge, two independent speed layers with their various internal accentuations. This great, self-similar whirl in a very indirect way relates to musical associations, which came to my mind while watching the graphic projection of the mathematical sets of Julia and of Mandelbrot made with the help of a computer. I saw these wonderful pictures of fractal creations, made by scientists from Brema, Peitgen and Richter, for the first time in 1984. From that time they have played a great role in my musical concepts. This does not mean, however, that composing the fourth movement I used mathematical methods or iterative calculus; indeed, I did use constructions which, however, are not based on mathematical thinking, but are rather craftman's constructions (in this respect, my attitude towards mathematics is similar to that of the graphic artist Maurits Escher). I am concerned rather with intuitional, poetic, synesthetic correspondence, not on the scientific, but on the poetic level of thinking. The fifth, very short Presto movement is harmonically very simple, but all the more complicated in its rhythmic structure: it is based on the further development of ''inherent patterns of the third movement. The quasi-equidistance system dominates harmonically and melodically in this movement, as in the third, alternating with harmonic fields, which are based on the division of the chromatic whole into diatonics and anhemitonic pentatonics. Polyrhythms and harmonic mixtures reach their greatest density, and at the same time this movement is strikingly light, enlightened with very bright colours: at first it seems chaotic, but after listening to it for a few times it is easy to grasp its content: many autonomous but self-similar figures which crossing themselves. I present my artistic credo in the Piano Concerto: I demonstrate my independence from criteria of the traditional avantgarde, as well as the fashionable postmodernism. Musical illusions which I consider to be also so important are not a goal in itself for me, but a foundation for my aesthetical attitude. I prefer musical forms which have a more object-like than processual character. Music as frozen time, as an object in imaginary space evoked by music in our imagination, as a creation which really develops in time, but in imagination it exists simultaneously in all its moments. The spell of time, the enduring its passing by, closing it in a moment of the present is my main intention as a composer. (Gyorgy Ligeti).

SKU: PR.41641614L

UPC: 680160642458. 11 x 17 inches.

Time is one of the main factors impacting the world and our lives. Einstein saw time as the relationship of the motion of one object relative to the position of another object, as measured through observation. But can we really measure time objectively? Music, the art which moves through time, can affect our perception of time, and can affect each person's perception of time differently. Depending on the emotion it stimulates, music can make time seem to pass quickly or slowly. A composer can use music to convey time to an audience and different musical ideas can create different sensations of time. Absence of Time is a concerto for woodwind quartet and orchestra. It has three main sections (fast, slow, fast), recalling traditional concerto form, but it does not use the solo instruments in the traditional way, i.e., as soloists in contest with the orchestra. Inspired by the idea of juxtaposing different experiences of time, I divided the instruments into two groups: the four soloists and the orchestra. The orchestra functions mostly as the keeper of time (real time) while the quartet of soloists fluctuates (in imaginary time or in the absence of time) around the orchestra's time. While the quartet's instruments do play solos, they also play in ensemble with the orchestra. You could say that they play in both imaginary time (as soloists) and in real time (with the orchestra). In addition to this, the woodwind section of the orchestra plays in conversation with the solo quartet, calling it back to real time. Fusion is achieved at the end of the piece through the use of strong, driving rhythm. Absence of Time was commissioned by the Pacific Symphony and was first performed by the Pacific Symphony and the Pacific Symphony Woodwind Quartet with Carl St. Clair as conductor on October 20, 2016.

SKU: CA.1631000

ISBN 9790007242800. Language: all languages.

1989. Stay in Aix-en-Provence, France, doing a language course. Reading, discussing and analyzing Les Georgiques; this pursuit is going to be the foundation of the multiple intellectual and literary levels of my composing. 2. THE WOODEN PLATFORM IS COVERED WITH FINE WHITE SAND (OR SALT), THE TWO SHELVES WITH BLACK CLOTH ... At the time I work on my first serious piece, still a far cry from the under-standing of writing music I have today. << tellement froid que >> (georgiques I) for bass flute, electronics and scene (1995-96), sections 1-7. << comme si le froid >> (georgiques II) for baritone saxophone, timpani and piano (1998), sections 18-24. << n'etait le froid >> (georgiques III) for orchestra (2000-2002), sections not yet decided. 3. THE INTERPRETER WILL BE DRESSED IN BLACK AND WHITE, MAINLY WHITE IF BLUISH LIGHT IS AT HAND ... The enormously rich vocabulary and the accuracy of expression - in temporal, spatial and material terms - is particularly impressive. To comprehend all of it, a reading on three different levels is called for: a first reading of one passage, then the acquisition of unknown vocabulary; thirdly a repeated - knowing - reading, which points out the utopia of precise expression: The text is treated in a rather problematic (cold: le froid?) manner: it's not the semantic content that is primarily dominant, but rather the outward appearance, the mise en page and the syntactic structure. 4. THE INTERPRETER ENTERS THE STAGE WITH ALL THE FLUTES (S)HE WILL PLAY DURING THE CONCERT AND DEPOSITS THEM - EXCEPT FOR THE BASS FLUTE - ON SHELF B; IF (S)HE ONLY PLAYS THIS PIECE, (S)HE SHOULD PUT THE PROGRAMME OF THE CONCERT THERE; IN ANY CASE THE INSTRUCTIONS IN BAR 195 MUST BE FOLLOWED ... In concrete terms the 10 centimetres of a line in the minuit edition correspond to 10 seconds of musical structure (which is three times as slow as the average reading speed). Only seven years later is the term / expression casse ferique changed into casse ferrique, and thus its secret is revealed, which almost becomes - due to its unreadability - the key to the planned musical cycle. The text is measured from section to section (big format: each section is marked with a continuous, ,,cold chord by the bass flute, played on tape recorder), from full stop to full stop (new entry of keynote material), from comma to comma (tripling of continuous resonances) etc. 5. DURING THE PERFORMANCE UP TO BAR 195, THE INTERPRETER WILL TRY - IN A KIND OF THEATRICAL ADAPTATION - TO EXPRESS HIS/HER OWN FEELING OF IRREPRESSIBLY GROWING FRUSTRATION; FROM BAR 195 ONWARDS (S)HE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE PUT UP WITH THE BASS FLUTE ... Brackets in the text bring about a reduction of sound (the differentiating micro tones are no longer used), the syntactical progression to subordinate clauses of the remotest degree has its immediate effect on dynamics (degree of volume). Then: the perception of a logical and yet erratic syntax, vastly progressive layers of subordinate clauses and brackets (lowering tone of voice?), a polyphony of ,,memoire, which leads to a maelstrom of attention, a tonally centric / concentrated (main material?) and progressive (subordinate and brackets-material?) reading, listening and proceeding. The different levels are constantly in touch - transferring the sensuous moment of scenes of bodily encounter (Tryptique) that are evoked again and again - in perpetual excitement of text and imagination, memory and remembering sensitivity. 6. THE BODY MOVEMENTS AND FIXATION (FIGE) , BOTH CLEARLY PERCEPTIBLE, WILL EVOKE AND SUPPORT THE SAME EMOTIONS ... The basic moods of the text will be reflected in the relationship (which is very important here) of the interpreter to the music; (s)he is somehow at the mercy of given (and not always transparent) structures on the one hand and the complexity of musical sensations on the other, which has to be defeated inspite of exhaustion. It's not only here that semantic agreement (besides the materialistic structure) of music and text can be felt: On top of that there's the existential helplessness in view of the mercilessly flowing polyphony of levels and events -- as a mirror of this there are the remembered scenes of the Flemish cold in the second chapter (Les Georgiques). The interpreters are confronted with unusual directions which correspond to the adjectives in the respective passages of the text: anachronique, engourdi, glace et acre, monotone et desert etc. The possibilities of interpretation are amplified, the ability to perceive and personal reaction is opened. The impression of this inexorability is multiplied in the extremest way by the fact that the particular layers can be found in Simon's complete works. It's a continuous work of art in which each novel turns into a chapter of a complex, cyclic whole; its title denoting only one main strand, as it were. A personal comment is made also as regards the clearly defined stage; the mise en scene points out the extra-musical elements and the correlation between text, human being and music. 7. THE INTERPRETER IS ASKED TO MOVE FREELY WITHIN A DEFINED SPOT WITHOUT LOOKING ARTIFICIAL; SOUNDS CAUSED BY THE FEET MOVING ON THE SAND ARE WELCOME DURING THE WHOLE PIECE ... And here the idea of a cycle is born, an attempt to transfer these nuances of memorized structures, this clarity and coldness, to transform the text into musical material. Walter Feldmann.

SKU: HL.49045320

ISBN 9781495082559. UPC: 888680656683. 9.0x12.0x0.16 inches. Vocalise.

In writing Music for Eight Lungs I wanted to treat the voice similarly to the instruments, so that the piece would weave all four parts into a fabric equally. But I also wanted to play with our perception of the voice as a vehicle for communication and language. So the vocal part is given various phonemes which seem quite word-like at times, and in fact are often drawn from the vowel sounds from Henry Purcell's 'Dido's Lament'. As I played with my own musical materials, the idea of a descending lament figure kept recurring in different ways, propelling the music forward. Hannah Lash.