Cerha - Quellen for ensemble

The title is
a reference to the fact that in conceiving the piece I have attempted to
explore the roots from which my musical ideas are derived.  Perhaps this has also something to do with
the grave illness I had recovered from - I have felt the need to draw a balance
sheet of my musical means - to take a critical look at the repertoire of my
fantasy, so to speak, and to eliminate everything that seemed to have proved
itself too often in the past. There has remained more than enough in the way of  idiosyncrasies of the musical idiom, of
gestures and tools. But the "Sources" of my musical inspiration were
meant to come to the surface more clearly and distinctly - even (and
especially) there where they may not appear to be "up to date".

The
contemplative character of the piece corresponds to this particular phase in my
life: simplicity and stillness are called for. The first section ends
abruptly  with a series of fortechords which are to recur at the
ending of the piece. Polymetric strata placed on top of each other, based
primarily on African rhythms, build "busy" islands within the overall
meditative mood. A passage from Langegger
Nachtmusik No 3, my latest orchestral piece, has also been included.  What is unusual for me is the absence of bass
instruments over long stretches of music - something that makes the sound
"hang in the air".

Friedrich Cerha