Photoptosis
Photoptosis. Prelude for large orchestra is an orchestral work by Bernd Alois Zimmermann . It was written in 1968 and was premiered on February 19, 1969 in the Musiktheater im Revier by the Gelsenkirchen City Orchestra under the direction of Ljubomir Romansky . In its sections, the piece can be understood as a sound surface composition as well as a collage .
background
The work was commissioned by Stadt-Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen to mark its centenary. The title of the piece is taken from Greek and can be translated using the incidence of light. Zimmermann describes the connection to music as follows:
“In the case of the Prelude, this process refers to the changes in color surfaces as they occur due to the way light falls: here in the area of timbres in the broadest sense. The composition was inspired by the monochrome wall surfaces of the foyer in the Musiktheater im Revier, Gelsenkirchen, designed by Yves Klein . "
occupation
As already indicated in the title, the score provides for a large, richly orchestrated line- up . These include in the woodwinds 4 flutes (3rd, 4th and piccolo ), 3 oboes (1st, 2nd and oboe d'amore , 3rd also English horn ), 4 clarinets (2nd, 3rd and basset horn ; 4. also bass clarinet ) and 3 bassoons (3rd also contrabassoon ). For brass players , 5 horns (5th also tube in Bb), 4 Bb trumpets (4th also bass trumpet in D), 4 trombones (4th also double bass trombone ) and 1 tuba are required . The percussion section is served by two games and includes 3 triangles of different sizes, crotales in a flat 4 , cymbals (alone and as pair cymbals ), tam-tam , 3 tom-toms , stirring drum , snare drum , bass drum , 2 gongs , maracas and a glockenspiel . The string apparatus consists of 12 first and 10 second violins , 7 violas , 6 cellos and 5 double basses . The other instruments include harp , piano (also celesta ) and an organ with the largest possible work .
music
The work has a three-part structure. The composition makes extensive use of quarter tones , double and flutter tongues in the woodwinds, clusters and polyrhythms . The performance lasts about 13 minutes.
In the first part, the inserts of various instrument groups are set over shimmering strings, while the structure in terms of scoring and dynamics is constantly increasing until the sound is dominated by brass, organ and percussion .
The beginning of the fourth set the ninth symphony of Beethoven marks the transition to the second part, the music quotes from different epochs collages . The cited pieces of music include Scriabin's Le Poème de l'Extase , the hymn Veni creator spiritus , Wagner's Parsifal , the 1st Brandenburg Concerto by Bach and Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Fairy .
The transition to the third part succeeds almost seamlessly, which in its crescendo-like course swells more and more, oscillates and gradually encompasses the entire orchestra. In the midst of the network of sounds, the glockenspiel, triangles and occasional blows from the wind stand out in particular. A coda is notated, but is optional. The piece ends abruptly in a twitching, flickering overall sound.
literature
- Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Photoptosis . Study score, Schott Music, Mainz, ISMN 979-0-001-06714-0.
- Harenberg, cultural guide concert . Meyers Lexikonverlag, Mannheim 2006, ISBN 978-3-411-76161-6 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry on the work on the publisher's website, accessed on December 20, 2017.