BOOK OF BODIES (2017/2020)

BOOK OF BODIES (KNJIGA TELES, 2017)

for soprano and chamber string orchestra
Based on poems by Aleš Šteger

voice: S
ensemble: strings 4.3.2.2.1
duration: 15 min
première: January 30, 2018, National Gallery of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
The Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra, Nika Gorič – soprano
Conducted by Vito Žuraj

Commissioned by the Slovene Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra, funded by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.

BOOK OF BODIES (BUCH DER KÖRPER, 2017/2020)

for soprano and ensemble
Based on poems by Aleš Šteger/ translated by Matthias Göritz

voice: S
ensemble: 1*.1.1*.1*/1.1.1.0/perc/arp/1.1.1.1.1
duration: 15 min
première: July 26, 2021, Münchner Opernfestspiele, Cuvilliés-Theater München, Germany
Orchesterakademie des Bayerischen Staatsorchesters

Commissioned by Freunde und Förderer der Musikalischen Akademie des Bayerischen Staatsorchesters e.V.

BOOK OF BODIES

score preview

BOOK OF BODIES (KNJIGA TELES)

(full recording)

The Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra
Nika Gorič – soprano, Conducted by Vito Žuraj
Production by RTV Slovenia

BOOK OF BODIES (KNJIGA TELES)

(excerpt)

The Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra
Nika Gorič – soprano, Conducted by Vito Žuraj
Production by RTV Slovenia

Additional performances

April 13, 2019, Music Biennale Zagreb, Croatia
The Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra
Nika Gorič – soprano
Conducted by Vito Žuraj
April 13, 2019, Music Biennale Zagreb, Croatia
The Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra
Nika Gorič – soprano
Conducted by Vito Žuraj

VIDEO

BOOK OF BODIES: Full recording
The Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra
Nika Gorič – soprano
Conducted by Vito Žuraj
Produced by RTV Slovenia
Directed by Urša Menart
©2018 by RTV Slovenia
BOOK OF BODIES: Full recording
The Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra
Nika Gorič – soprano
Conducted by Vito Žuraj
Produced by RTV Slovenia
Directed by Urša Menart
©2018 by RTV Slovenia

ABOUT

BOOK OF BODIES (“Knjiga teles”) is a series of five monologues for soprano accompanied by twelve solo strings. The strings are generally treated as a single mass, providing accents, varied textures or concerted gestures in which tightly woven bundles of similar but distinct lines or percussive notes generate the impression of a viscous mass, or a cascade of droplets. Variations in texture and perspective are achieved by varying the number of instruments playing at any given time, often thinning the ensemble down to just two instruments, frequently in extreme registers, so that a sort of searching, ponderous counterpoint suddenly emerges from the prevailing collective texture.

The vocal part is dominated by sung declamation in wide intervals, at times lapsing into speech or the even percussive effect of single consonants, with occasional rapid arabesques in cascading legato semiquavers. For much of the fifth and final piece, the prevailing convoluted textures of the strings give way to synchronised figures, rushing upwards and downwards in rapid, driving rhythms.

Alwyn Tomas Westbrooke

BOOK OF BODIES (“Knjiga teles”) is a series of five monologues for soprano accompanied by twelve solo strings. The strings are generally treated as a single mass, providing accents, varied textures or concerted gestures in which tightly woven bundles of similar but distinct lines or percussive notes generate the impression of a viscous mass, or a cascade of droplets. Variations in texture and perspective are achieved by varying the number of instruments playing at any given time, often thinning the ensemble down to just two instruments, frequently in extreme registers, so that a sort of searching, ponderous counterpoint suddenly emerges from the prevailing collective texture. The vocal part is dominated by sung declamation in wide intervals, at times lapsing into speech or the even percussive effect of single consonants, with occasional rapid arabesques in cascading legato semiquavers. For much of the fifth and final piece, the prevailing convoluted textures of the strings give way to synchronised figures, rushing upwards and downwards in rapid, driving rhythms.