Passacaglia for violin and piano was written in 2003 as a commission by the Hannover International Violin Competition. In honour of Gidon Kremer's 60th Birthday in 2007, Arvo Pärt arranged the work for 1 or 2 violins, vibraphone (ad lib.) and string orchestra.
SKU: HL.49033212
ISBN 9790001135894. UPC: 073999282085. 9.0x12.0x0.132 inches.
This Piano Trio Passacaglia is the 'junior' companion piece to my Cello Concerto Dunkle Saiten [Dark Strings], or more precisely to the concerto's large-dimensional introductory section with the indication 'Feierlich, schreitend' [solemnly, striding]. What in the Cello concerto then inescapably culminates in a catastrophe remains in this composition ostensibly largely conflict-free. This is in fact perhaps one of my most peaceful and conflict-free compositions; it consists of half an hour of almost exclusively tonal progressions. Here, passacaglia (stepping dance!) is taken literally: the step progressions themselves become the subject of the work. This also includes pausing, not being able to progress, feeling one's way, stumbling and taking compulsive steps forward.As familiar as the harmonic surface of the structure appears, for me the natural adaptation of the musical flow was new to a similar degree. This is my attempt to produce a linear tonal band (a horizontal) exclusively with the aid of harmonic - i.e. vertical - progressions.- Jorg Widmann.
SKU: HL.49045797
The first movement of my Piano Quintet is filled with drama and passion. Its atmosphere can be related to my Second Symphony Johannes Angelos. The second movement is a set of polyphonic variations in a form reminiscent of a passacaglia. The music seems to be hypnotized by a theme consisting of a chromatic cluster of ten notes. In the beginning of the last movement, materials from the previous movements start to reappear, but this time in a mysterious, incoherent way. The strings find new music resembling a fragmented hymn. Fast-moving triplets start to appear and the music reaches a joyful and ecstatic conclusion. Olli Mustonen.
SKU: HL.49033093
ISBN 9790001131773. 9.25x12.0x0.36 inches.
SKU: BA.BA11086
ISBN 9790006564446. 32.5 x 25.5 cm inches.
A suite whose movements always deliver something other than what they seem to promise. But throughout, the two instruments and respectively their players act like two people in very specific situations:I.: The opening movement is reserved for the piano; the initially earnest, solitary cantilena intensifies creating expectation. SuddenlyII.: the violin sounds. Its moving figures replace the now silent piano, also soloistically.III. „Passacaglia“: The title is taken literally – the two instruments/persons encounter each other in the street. Two musical characters who meet at a specific point, recognize each other, but move on again, each one by itself. IV. „Rondo“: The two of them dance together. Before me, I saw people dancing the Sardana – a round dance – in front of the cathedral of Barcelona. Four themes in different time signatures circle ceaselessly between the two instruments. V. „Fuga“: At last, regardless, panic flight – again the title is taken literally ... Human, only too human …
