Wolfgang Rihm
Chiffre V
Short instrumentation: 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 0 - perc(2), pno, vln, vla, vc(2), cb
Duration: 8'
Instrumentation details:
flute (+picc)
oboe (+c.a)
clarinet (+bass cl)
bassoon (+cbsn)
horn
trumpet (+bass tpt)
trombone
percussion(2) (+bells)
piano
violin(2)
viola
violoncello(2)
contrabass
Rihm - Chiffre V for orchestra
Sample pages
Audio preview
Work introduction
“Thrusts, pulses, convulsive
progression from the organic to the mechanical, time-atoms, contoured units,
steepled, returning to the elementary metallic (bell sounds, metallic
instrumental accents) and, recurrently, an outgrowth of feelers (like at the
end). The Finger.”
(Wolfgang Rihm)
Rihm also turns to Pascal to
help “explain” the piece: “An image contains absence and presence, pleasure and
displeasure. Chiffre has a double
meaning: a clear one and another one, of which it is said that a different
meaning is hidden within.” (From Pascal’s
Pensées).
Translation: Grant
Chorley