Der Zeitgeist

Suite for piano

Description

Neliosainen pianosarja Der Zeitgeist (Ajanhenki) syntyi helmi-huhtikuussa 2022. Tämän ajanjakson pöyristyttävät tapahtumat vaikuttivat tekeillä olevan teoksen suuntaan ja sisältöön. Sävellyksen kahden ensimmäisen osan nimet viittaavat suoraan Ukrainan sotaan.

Ensimmäinen osa Der Zeitgeist-’Brutale’ etenee hakkaavasti ja agressiivisesti ja toinen osa In Memoriam-Lento e poco rubato toistaa B D ES A motiivia. Tämä lyyrinen, mietiskelevä ja melankolinen toinen osa viittaa Butsan kaupungin tapahtumiin maaliskuussa 2022.

Pianosarjan kaksi viimeistä osaa ’Intermezzo’ ja ’ Capriccioso’ reagoivat omalla tavallaan aikaisempiin tapahtumiin. Intermezzo yrittää käsitellä asiaa suuntaamalla ajatukset muualle ja hiljentymällä, Capriccio taas ironisella ja neuroottisella konemaisella toistolla.

The four-movement piano cycle Der Zeitgeist (The Spirit of the Age) was composed between February and April 2022. The shocking events of that time directly influenced the work’s direction and content. The titles of the first two movements refer directly to the war in Ukraine.

The first movement, Der Zeitgeist – Brutale, progresses in a hammering and aggressive manner. The second movement, In Memoriam – Lento e poco rubato, is built around the motif B–D–E–A. This lyrical, contemplative, and ♭melancholic music refers to the tragic events in the town of Bucha in March 2022.

The last two movements, Intermezzo and Capriccioso, respond in their own ways to earlier events. Intermezzo seeks to process the tragedy by turning thoughts elsewhere and toward quietude, while Capriccio reacts with ironic, neurotic, machine-like repetition.

Instrumentation

pno

Instrument codes

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

Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras

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