Max Doehlemann
Signals from Shushan - Fantasy for solo violin and
inspiriert von einer jüdischen Kantillationsmelodie zu Buch Esther (2017)
for violin and ensemble (10+ players) or chamber orchestra or orchestra for violin and ensemble (10+ players) or chamber orchestra or orchestra
Short instrumentation: 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0, perc(2), str
Duration: 11'
Solos:
violin
Instrumentation details:
percussion (2 players)
violin I (6 players)
violin II (5 players)
viola (4 players)
violoncello (3 players)
double bass (2 players)
Signals from Shushan - Fantasy for solo violin and
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Translation, reprints and more
Max Doehlemann
Signals from Shushan - Fantasy for solo violin and string orchestra + percussion Available digitally
UES101191-000
Type: Dirigierpartitur
Max Doehlemann
Signals from Shushan - Fantasy for solo violin and string orchestra + percussion Available digitally
UES101191-020
Type: Klavierauszug
Max Doehlemann
Violine (Signals from Shushan - Fantasy for solo violin and string orchestra + percussion)
UES101191-110
Type: Solostimme(n)
Sample pages
Work introduction
"Signals from Shushan" is a 11 minute piece for string orchestra, solo violin and additional percussion. It was originally created in 2017 in response to a request by violinist Liv Migdal and premiered in 2018 in the context of the Berlin-"Neue Meister" series, where it was performed by her and the "Deutsches Kammerorchester (DKO)", conducted by the composer himself.
The title refers to the fictional city of Shushan from the biblical book of "Esther", a story which constitutes the basis for the Jewish Holiday of "Purim". Purim is roughly comparable to the Christian 'Carnival' - as people dress up in costumes, dance and drink alcohol, putting in place a lavish feast, entirely based on a blurry ancient-oriental story.
Musically the piece is based on the melody in which the first part of the book of Esther is traditionally sung in the synagogue. The lead violin picks up and develops this ancient, formulistic cantilena-melody, developing a musical narrative and a progression, which peaks in an ecstatic dance. Elements of Oriental-Jewish music culture including their specific rhythms are unleashed.
This is a highly exceptional and powerfully striking piece!