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<p>In Nymphea (water lily) for a string quartet and electronics, I continue the approach towards string instruments that I used in my earlier works Lichtbogen and Io and also develop musical processes through the use of the computer and my specific computer programs (the subtitle of the piece Jardin secret III describes this, connecting it to a series of similarly named works). With this approach I especially refer to the broadening of vocabulary of the colour or tone of string instruments and the contrast of limpid, delicate textures with violent, shattering masses of sound. In preparing the musical material of the piece, I have used the computer in several ways. The basis of the entire harmonic structure is provided by complex cello sounds that I have analysed with the computer. The basic material for the rhythmic and melodic transformations are computer-calculated in which the musical motifs gradually convert, recurring again and again. I have used sounds of an original string quartet that are manipulated in the concert situation. Some images that evolved in my mind while composing: the image of the symmetric structure of a water lily, yielding as it floats on the water, transforming. Different interpretations of the same image in different dimensions; a one-dimensional surface with its colours, shapes, and, on the other hand, different materials that can be sensed, forms, dimensions a white water lily feeding from the underwater mud. © Kaija Saariaho, ca. 1988 Teoksessa Nymphea (Lumme) jousikvartetille ja elektroniikalle jatkan toisaalta samanlaista lähestymistapaa jousisoittimiin kuin kappaleissani Licbtbogen ja Io ja toisaalta musiikillisten prosessien toteuttamista tietokoneella oman ohjelmaverkostoni avulla (tästä kappaleen alaotsikko Jardin Secret III, joka liittää sen samannimisten teosten sarjaan). Lähestymistavasta puhuessani tarkoitan erityisesti jousisoitinten sointiväriä koskevan sanaston laajentamista ja kirkkaiden, hentojen tekstuurien vastakkainasettelua väkivaltaisten, särkyvien äänimassojen kanssa. Kappaleen musiikillisen materiaalin valmistelutyössä on käytetty tietokonetta usein tavoin; koko harmonisen maailman perustana ovat rikkaat sellon äänet, joita olen analysoinut koneella ja käyttänyt näin paljastuneita rakenteita pohjana harmonian rakentamiseen. Rytmisten ja melodisten transformaatioiden lähtömateriaalina ovat koneella lasketut prosessit, joissa musiikilliset aiheet vähittäisesti, yhä uudelleen toistuen muuttavat luonnettaan. Esityksessä kuullaan jousikvartetosta lähtöisin olevia ääniä, joita konserttitilanteessa muokataan. Joitakin mielessäni pyöriviä ajatuksia kappaletta säveltäessäni: kuva lumpeen symmetrisestä rakenteesta, joka aaltojen päällä uidessaan taipuu, transformoituu. Saman kuvan eriulotteiset tulkinnat; toisaalta yksiulotteinen pinta väreineen, muotoineen, toisaalta aistittavat eri materiaalit, olomuodot ja ulottuvuudet; valkoinen lumme saa ravintonsa vedenalaisesta mudasta. © Kaija Saariaho, n. 1988 Il brano Nymphea, per quartetto d’archi e live electronics, intende ampliare il vocabolario timbrico degli strumenti ad arco mediante il computer: maggiore contrasto della luminosità, violenta estensione delle tessiture strumentali e un’elaborazione quindi dei suoni prodotti dal quartetto che viene realizzata elettronicamente e contemporaneamente all’esecuzione dei brano stesso. Il materiale utilizzato per le trasformazioni ritmiche e melodiche è stato calcolato precedentemente da programmi computeristici generati per questo tipo di operazione ed in seguito personalizzati. Un’idea extramusicale mi ha accompagnato durante la composizione dei brano: l’immagine di una costruzione simmetrica di una ninfea che, fluttuando sulle onde, ne seguiva il movimento trasformandosi. Il processo compositivo ha quindi tradotto questa immagine in una ripetizione degli elementi originari che gradualmente e lentamente ne ha modificato l’aspetto ed il carattere musicale. © Kaija Saariaho, ca. 1988 (for the Italian premiere, Milano, December 1991) Le quatuor à cordes Nymphea porte le sous-titre Jardin secret III, qui la relie à la série des oeuvres de même titre utilisant un réseau identique de programmes informatiques développé par Kaija Saariaho au cours des années 80. La partie électronique traite les sons du quatuor en cours d'exécution. Vers la fin de la pièce, les musiciens récitent des fragments d'un poème d'Arseniy Tarkovski. © Risto Nieminen, 1994 © Ircam - Centre Georges-Pompidou, 1994 (From Kaija Saariaho, Ircam 1995)</p>

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Abbreviation	Instrument
Woodwind
acl	alto clarinet
afl	alto flute
arec	alto recorder
asax	alto saxophone
barsax	baritone saxophone
barhn	baritone horn
bcl	bass clarinet
bfl	bass flute
bob	bass oboe
bsax	bass saxophone
bsn	bassoon
cbsn	contrabassoon
cl	clarinet
ehn	English horn
fl	flute
hn	French horn
ob	oboe
pic	piccolo
rec	recorder
sax	saxophone
srec	soprano recorder
ssax	soprano saxophone
trec	tenor recorder
tsax	tenor saxophone
Brass
ahn	alto horn
atrb	altotrombone
barhn	baritone horn
btrb	bass trombone
cornet	cornet
euph	euphonium
fhn	flugelhorn
hn	French horn
tba	tuuba
thn	tenor horn
trb	trombone
trp	trumpet
Percussion
dr	drums
glock	glockenspiel
mar	marimba
perc	percussion
timp	timpani
vibr	vibraphone
xyl	xylophone
Strings
db	double bass
gamba	viola da gamba
str	strings
vla	viola
vlc	cello
vln	violin
Other
acc	accordion
cel	celesta
cemb	harpsichord
chords	chords
elbas	electric bass
elg	electric guitar
elorg	electric organ
elpno	electric piano
guit	guitar
harm	harmonium
hca	harmonica
hp	harp
instr	instrument
kantele	kantele
keyb	keyboard
live electr	live electronics
mand	mandolin
mel	melody
org	organ
pno	piano
synth	synthesizer
tape	tape
Vocal
alto	alto
baryt	baritone
basso	bass voice
ch	choir
chc	childrens choir
chf	female choir
chm	male choir
chx	mixed choir
cten	countertenor
mezzo	mezzo-soprano
sopr	soprano
speaker	speaker
ten	tenor
voc	vocal

Symphony orchestra
2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings
Wind band
2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists
Big band
221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums
Additional codes
+	fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo
/	pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ
lib	ad libitum
obl	obligato
str	str: 65432 = specified number of string players
str min	str min: 65432 = at least 65432
str max	str max: 65432 = not more than 65432
solo	vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin

Nymphea (Jardin secret III)