Wolfgang Rihm
Klangbeschreibung 1
Short instrumentation: orch 1: picc, bass cl, cb.cl, perc(1), hp(2), pno, vln(2); orch 2: cl(4), cbsn, hn(4), tbn(2), tuba, perc(2), vc(4), cb(4); orch 3: fl(5), ob(3), tpt(5), tbn(2), perc(3), pno
Duration: 20'
Instrumentation details:
orchestra 1: piccolo
bass clarinet in Bb (+cl(Eb))
contrabass clarinet in Bb
percussion (1 player)
1st harp
2nd harp
piano
2 violins
orchestra 2: 1st clarinet in A
2nd clarinet in A
3rd clarinet in A
4th clarinet in A
contrabassoon
1st horn in F
2nd horn in F
3rd horn in F
4th horn in F
1st trombone
2nd trombone
contrabass tuba
percussion (2 players)
1st violoncello
2nd violoncello
3rd violoncello
4th violoncello
1st contrabass
2nd contrabass
3rd contrabass
4th contrabass
orchestra 3: 1st flute (+picc)
2nd flute (+picc)
3rd flute
4th flute
5th flute
1st oboe
2nd oboe
3rd oboe
1st trumpet in C
2nd trumpet in C
3rd trumpet in C
4th trumpet in C (+picc.tpt)
5th trumpet in C (+picc.tpt)
1st trombone
2nd trombone
percussion (3 players)
piano
Rihm - Klangbeschreibung 1 for 3 orchestral groups
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Wolfgang Rihm
Rihm: Klangbeschreibung IOrchestration: for 3 orchestral groups
Type: Studienpartitur
Wolfgang Rihm
Rihm: Klangbeschreibung IOrchestration: for 3 orchestral groups
Type: Partitur
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Work introduction
The Klangbeschreibung cycle is a key work in the music of the 1980s, and not only in the oeuvre of Rihm himself. Despite the large forces, the sound remains supple, “described” in that almost every note has a different colour, giving listeners the impression that instruments and groups of them are signalling one another or exchanging material. In doing so, they take their time; the tempo is slow for the most part, the notes are separated by pauses, there are sudden outbursts typical of Rihm which seem to be inconsequential. It is difficult to elucidate the sonic description (= Klangbeschreibung) – it has its own laws. The composer has an explanation at the ready: “Nothing is described.”
Translation: Grant Chorley