SPRICH AUCH DU (2006)

SPRICH AUCH DU (2006)

for mixed choir
On a poem by Paul Celan

voices: SATB
duration: 6 minutes
première: November 5, 2006, Radialsystem V, Tenso Days Berlin, Germany
RIAS Kammerchor
Conducted by James Wood

Commissioned by RIAS Kammerchor

SPRICH AUCH DU

score preview

SPRICH AUCH DU

(full recording)

November 11, 2006, Philharmonie Essen
RIAS Kammerchor, Conducted by James Wood
Recording published on CD – Crosscourt by Edicije DSS

Additional performances

November 11, 2006, Philharmonie Essen, Germany
RIAS Kammerchor
Conducted by James Wood

ABOUT

SPRICH AUCH DU (“Speak, You Also”), to a poem of the same name by the German-Romanian poet Paul Celan, represents a departure from the manner of Žuraj’s earlier choral compositions. Perhaps in keeping with the title, the emphasis here is more on the developing vocal line, rather than the chord and sonority orientated soundscapes of Žuraj’s earlier works for choir. Beginning with a single vocal line, outwardly simple but vocally challenging, SPRICH AUCH DU wends a tortuous and highly contrapuntal path as more and more voices are added, rising in intensity to a chordal climax, in which the voices suddenly and momentarily join forces to declaim the text in rhythmic unison. Following this, the voices disperse rapidly, receding into a murmur, then to a whisper and, at last, into silence.

Alwyn Tomas Westbrooke

Crosscourt (2008)

Published by Edicije DSS

Slovenian Philharmonic, RIAS Kammerchor, various artists

recorded pieces:
ODTRG, PERPETUUM, AIRPHONES, CONCERTINO, CROSSCOURT, SPRICH AUCH DU, CONCERTO, IN MEDIAS RES