Peters Contemporary Chamber Series
SAUNDERS
Breath for Violin Duo
ISSUU Version
For perusal only
For perusal only
REBECCA SAUNDERS Breath
for Violin Duo (2018/23)
LEIP ZI G · L ONDO N · NE W YOR K
ISSUU Version
For perusal only
Breath (2018/2023)
for violin duo
Breath explores quiet timbral nuances at the top of the lower strings.
ISSUU Version For perusal only
Fragments of a two-part melody are fragile, intimate, and expressive which are mostly played sempre molto autando, either at sul tasto extreme or at sul pont.
Imagine each fragment is framed in silence.
Silence is the canvas – all threads of sound surface out of, and disappear into, silence. The silences should be carefully weighed - they are never static and always in motion.
There are eight sections, each tracing a fragmented melody, shared between the two violins. The sixth to eight sections overlap.
A palette of timbres explores speci c modes of vibrato, articulation, timbre, and dynamic. Every detail is important! - carefully trace and shape each fragment, exploring exact timbral nuance, differentiation, and extremes.Please note at mp the sound opens, is no longer so intimate and should be projected to the very back of the hall.
There are no time signatures. Some bar lines frame the melodic fragments and help co-ordination between the two violins.
The graphics of the score shows the proportions of durations.
Tempo 52 is the initial central tempo, but it is only a guideline. The basic pulse should vary from section to section. Minimum tempo can be circa 42.
Further faster tempi are necessary moving on to reinforce the phrasing of the gestures. Explore the melodies to nd your own tempo and interpretation. Keep the pulse always in motion, never stagnant - timeless, but avoid melancholy.
Breath rst appeared in a more elementary form, Hauch Duo, in the spatial collage, Myriad III (2023) whereby the violin solo Hauch was spatially split between two players.
With many thanks to Sarah Saviet and Chatschatur Kanajan!
Breath was commissioned by the Kunststiftung NRWand Musikfabrik for rst performance by Hannah Weirich and Sarah Cubarsi on 19th of November 2023, at WDR Funkhaus, Cologne.
RS, Berlin, Sept .2023
ISSUU Version
For perusal only
ISSUU Version
For perusal only
Rebecca Saunders
ISSUU Version For perusal only
Rebecca Saunders (b. 1967) studied with Wolfgang Rihm at the Musikhochschule in Karlsruhe, Germany, and for a doctorate in composition with Nigel Osborne at Edinburgh University. She lives in Berlin. Saunders’ numerous composition prizes include three Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards, two BASCA British Composer Awards and the 2019 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. Her works have been performed at festivals including the Huddersfield Festival, the Berlin Biennale and the Darmstadt International Summer Course. In 2009 she became a member of the Berlin Academy of Arts. Saunders’ works include chroma, for chamber groups distributed throughout the performance space; void, a concerto for percussion duo and orchestra; and Yes, a spatial performance for soprano, 19 soloists and conductor.
Rebecca Saunders (*1967) studierte Komposition bei Wolfgang Rihm an der Musikhochschule Karlsruhe und promovierte an der Edinburgh University bei Nigel Osborne. Sie lebt in Berlin. Saunders wurde für ihr Schaffen vielfach ausgezeichnet, u. a. mit drei Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards, zwei BASCA British Composer Awards sowie mit dem Ernst von Siemens Musikpreis 2019. Ihre Werke erklangen bei zahlreichen Festivals, wie dem Huddersfield Festival, der Berliner Biennale und den Darmstädter Ferienkursen für Neue Musik. 2009 wurde sie zum Mitglied der Berliner Akademie der Künste ernannt. Zu ihren Werken zählen chroma für räumlich verteilte Kammergruppen, ein Konzert für Schlagzeugduo und Orchester mit dem Titel void sowie die Raumperformance Yes für Sopran, 19 Solisten und Dirigent.
The Peters Contemporary Chamber Series offers the opportunity to discover new works to programme, study and play. Representing the full breadth of our library of modern chamber music, this curated series of performance materials ranges from established repertoire to pieces recently premiered.
Mit einer sorgfältigen Auswahl aus unserem breitgefächerten Katalog moderner Kammermusik lädt die Peters Contemporary Chamber Series dazu ein, neues Repertoire zu entdecken, zu erkunden und zu Gehör zu bringen. In Form von Aufführungsmaterialien umfasst sie etablierte Werke ebenso wie erst kürzlich uraufgeführte Kompositionen.
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