Sir Harrison Birtwistle
*15.07.1934

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Sir Harrison Birtwistle
... agm ... | for 16 voices and 3 instrumental ensembles

Work Details
Year of composition: 1978-1979
Scored for: for 16 voices and 3 instrumental ensembles
Composer: Sir Harrison Birtwistle
Text Source: Text: The Fayum fragments of Sappho with translations by Tony Harrison.
Translator: Tony Harrison
Choir: 4 S, 4 A, 4 T, 4 B
Instrumentation: 2 2 2 2 - 1 2 2 1 - perc(3), hp(2), pno, Str(2 0 1 2 1)
Instrumentation details: high group: 1st flute (+picc); 2nd flute (+picc); 1st oboe; 2nd oboe; clarinet in Bb; horn in F; 1st trumpet in C; 2nd trumpet in C; 1st violin; 2nd violin; viola; low group: bass clarinet in Bb; bassoon; contrabassoon; 1st trombone; 2nd trombone; tuba; 1st violoncello; 2nd violoncello; contrabass; punctuationg group: piano; 1st harp; 2nd harp; percussion (3 players): 3 xylophones, 2 vibraphones, claves, high-pitched woodblock, 3x4 temple blocks, 3 hi-hats, 3.2 cowbells, 3x3 suspended cymbals
Commissioned by: Commissioned by Ensemble InterContemporain
Duration (min): 30
Dedication: Dedicated to Nicholas Snowman
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Licensing: Licensing Request
World Première
Location: Théâtre de la Ville Paris / France
Date: 09.04.1979
Orchestra: Ensemble Intercontemporain
Choir: John Alldis Choir
Conductor: Pierre Boulez
Work Introduction

Following two earlier works, Harrison Birtwistle returned to texts by Sappho, the great poetess of Lesbos, this time setting the texts in their original, and much more fragmentary, form. The title …agm… has various justifications: the three letters occur in many, if not all, of Sappho’s [...]

3 Ensembles that have played this work: