SAUNDERS
Hauch II
for viola solo
ISSUU Version
For perusal only
ISSUU Version
For perusal only
REBECCA SAUNDERS
Hauch II
(2018/2021) for viola solo
With my thanks to Carolin Widmann, Ashot Sarkissjan and Hannah Weirich for Megumi Kasakawa
Commissioned by Ensemble Modern for first performance on 3rd November 2021 at NOW! Festival, Philharmonie Essen, as part of a dance project, ‘Hauch’
POD PETERS on demand
ALLE RECHTE VORBEHALTEN · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
LEIP ZI G · L ONDO N · NE W YOR K
Hauch II (2018)/2021
study for viola solo
ISSUU Version For perusal only
Hauch n. (German):
Hauch has no exact transla;on in English. It is a trace, touch, hint, ;nge, soupçon, tang, wisp, or a breath of something.
It implies a sugges;on or in;ma;on of the thing: a shadow, an aura, a glimmer hidden beneath the surface.
Hauch is a solo study exploring pianissimo ;mbral nuances at the top of the lowest viola strings; tracing fragments of melody, drawn on a thread in and out of silence.
Surface, weight and touch of musical performance: the bow drawing the sound out of silence; the slightest differen;a;on of touch on the string; the expansion of the muscles between the shoulder blades; the player´s in-breath preceding the played tone...
The fallible physical body behind the sound: feeling the weight of sound, exploring the essence of a ;mbre.
RS, Berlin, April 2021
ISSUU Version
For perusal only
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.
Photo © Astrid Ackermann