Description

There were two main sources of inspiration when I wrote Fourrures: a poem by Osip Mandelstam and the musicians of the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble. I think Mandelstam’s poetry has many musical qualities which come from his personal way of writing and also from Russian language. The way how the musicians of MCME interpret contemporary music combines a strict precision and a broad sense of tradition. I like very much their warm and intense sound.

The title Fourrures means "furs". I had an image from Mandelstam's poem: in a cold hostile world we need sometimes a warm maternal hiding place to feel protected. It’s like in a fur’s sleeve. But the destiny of Mandelstam wasn't to hide himself. He was one of the few who had the courage to expose openly their deepest thoughts. He understood that a language is a living presence, nobody has the right to control it, to fix its borders. I'd like to see my piece Fourrures like a synthesis of many elements. I've been trying to create an overall continuity where many levels interact. Especially rhythmically there are several passages with smooth transitions from one speed to another.

© Juha T. Koskinen 7.6.2007

clarinet, violin, cello and piano

Chamber Works

Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, Jekaterinburg (Russia), 18 May 2007.

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