Music Finland Core

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When I looked at and listened to the musical material concealed within the name Paul Sacher, i.e. the notes A, E flat (S), A, C, B (H), E, the internal balance and strength of tensions encapsulated in these few notes made its impression on me. The tonal backbone, the intervals of a third and a fifth and the defiant exertion provided by the tritone and major seventh, or its inversion, the minor second: what a foundation on which to build a musical homage to an outstanding personality of 20th century music! This predetermined material weaves its way through the composition like a golden braid, at the same time seducingly inviting me to develop particular musical ideas within the limited timespan (5 minutes) prescribed by the commissioning body, the Basel Section of the ISCM.I chose to use an instrumentation comprising string quartet, one percussionist playing xylorimba and vibraphone, and piano. Within this grouping a natural balance exists between the strings on the one hand and the percussion and piano on the other. There is a contrast between the percussive quality of the xylorimba and the lyrical quality of the vibraphone, while the piano combines both of these elements, so that overall the percussion forces and the piano complement one another. Various instruments appear in a soloistic role, emphasising their own individuality and character. Meditative cantilena passages are set against virtuosic ones, dynamic eruptions against sensitive introversion. A variety of expressive uses for a single power field, A S-A-C-H-E.© Erik Bergman(translated by © Andrew Bentley - Fennica Gehrman)Als ich mir das musikalische Material ansah - und anhörte - das in dem Namen Paul Sacher verborgen ist, d.h. die Töne a, es, a, c, h, e, fiel mir auf, welch ein Gleichgewicht und gleichzeitig was für eine Spannung es in sich vereinigt. Das tonale Rückgrat, die Intervalle Terz und Quint, und die herausfordernde Forcierung im Tritonus und der großen Septime bzw, kleinen Sekund, ihrer Umkehrung, was für ein Fundament für eine tönende Verehrung einer herausragenden Persönlichkeit in der Musikwelt unseres Jahrhunderts! Das vorgegebene Tonmaterial zieht sich wie ein roter Faden durch meine Komposition und verlockt gleichzeitig dazu, individuelle musikalische Ideen auf engem Raum zu entwickeln, einer Zeitbegrenzung auf fünf Minuten, wie sie vom Auftraggeber, der ISCM, Sektion Basel vorgegeben war.Ich wählte als instrumentale Besetzung das Streichquartert, einen Schlagzeuger (Xylorimba und Vibraphon) und Klavier. Das ergibt ein ausgewogenes Gleichgewicht zwischen den Streichern und dem Schlagzeug mit Klavier. Hier ist das perkussive Element durch das Xylorimba vertreten, das lyrische durch das Vibraphon; im Klavier sind dann beide Elemente vereinigt. Auf diese Weise ergänzen Schlagzeug und Klavier einander. Verschiedene Instrumente treten solistisch hervor, mit ihrer eigenen Individualität, ihrem Charakter. Gesangliche, meditative Abschnitte sind gegen virtuose gestellt, dynamische Ausbrüche gegen zarte Introversion. Verschiedene Ausdrucksarten für das Kraftfeld A eS A C H E.© Erik Bergman(Übersetzung von © Heinrich Bremer - Fennica Gehrman)

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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

Hommage à Paul Sacher