Louis Andriessen (1939-2021)

Workers Union (1975)

for any powerful instrument group

  • General information
    • Composition date: 1975
    • Duration: 20 mn
    • Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes

Premiere information

Observations

Enregistrement : Bang on a Can, cd Cantaloupe CA21012.

Program note

Workers Union was originally written for the orchestra De Volharding (Perseverance), in which I myself figured as a pianist at that time.

This piece is a combination of individual freedom and severe discipline: its rhythm is exactly fixed; the pitch, on the other hand, is indicated only approximately, on a single-lined stave.

It is difficult to play in an ensemble and to remain in step, sort of thing like organising and carrying on political action.

Louis Andriessen, 1990.