- General information
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Composition date :
1994
- Duration : 15 mn
- Editor : Boosey & Hawkes
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Composition date :
1994
- Type
- Musique instrumentale d'ensemble [Ensemble instrumental mixte de 5 à 9 instruments]
- flûte, clarinette, marimba, vibraphone, piano, violon, violoncelle
Creation information
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Date :
11 January 1995
Location :États-Unis, Los Angeles, Modern Art Museum.
Program note
The idea behind Zilver was to write a chorale variation as Bach did for organ: a long, slow-moving melody, combined with the same melody played faster. The ensemble is divided into two groups: the wind and strings play the sustained melody in chorale-like four-part harmony, and the rest of the instruments – vibraphone, marimba and piano – play increasingly fast staccato chords. The two groups play in canons.
Zilver is one of a planned series of chamber pieces named after a type of physical matter. Hout (‘wood’) is the first, and Zilver (‘silver’) is the second. The title also refers to the two silver instruments – flute and vibraphone – which start and end the piece.
Louis Andriessen.