N. 06 Klanggruppen

Klanggruppen (sound groups) is an introductory piece. This is true for the utilised playing techniques as well as for the method of composition. For instance, the durations of the of the vertical bowing motions on the common bowing positions (sul ponticello, ordinario and sul tasto) are depicted by means of a notation system in treble clef placed above the actual system. This system is at a later point used to notate the positions of the bow on the fingerboard. Hence the widely used vertical bowing motion on the ordinary playing positions is used as an introduction for the extended bowing motion on the fingerboard. The title Klanggruppen refers to the sound group technique: for every movement a sound group, i. e. a number of playing techniques, is defined. By doing so, any movement is characterised by a particular sound-wise quality that clearly distinguishes it from the other movements. However, these sound groups also partially refer to each other, meaning that certain techniques are taken up again at a later stage or, respectively, resemble each other. Inter alia this approach preserves the uniformity of the work. For instance, the vertical bowing motion, harmonics and glissandi can be defined as the sound group of part A. In the following movement, harmonic fingering is used as well. But here the cellist does no longer touch nodes. Hence the strings are muted and grinding noises of different brightness are produced.