Bernd Richard Deutsch — Murales

Unlike in the case of a solo concerto, composing for ensemble and orchestra cannot build upon historical models. Even the concertino in the concerto grosso, which we know from the tradition, is a much smaller formation than a complete modern-music ensemble. Naturally, for a number of years there have been examples for the combination of a larger ensemble with an orchestra (for instance by Wolfgang Rihm, Philippe Manoury and Georg Friedrich Haas), with very individual solutions to which one would like, however, to add one’s own. The greatest difficulty is audibly separating the ensemble from the orchestra. Except for the two pianos and the saxophone, it is indeed comprised of the same instruments that are also present in the orchestra; in a sense, it represents a scaled-down copy of the orchestra. This brought me back to the idea of the concertante style: there are question and answer situations between the ensemble and the orchestra as well as abrupt contrasts. At the same time, the ensemble is not only to be understood as the sum of the individual soloists, but also as an entity, as a “super instrument.” The experience of composing an organ concerto was a great help in this regard. I conceive of the ensemble – except for several short soloistic passages – as a kind of organ with sixteen stops. The ensemble part is naturally more demanding, extensive, and virtuoso than the orchestral part. The energies that result from the confrontation of the ensemble and the orchestra are enormous. They push their way on their own toward development in space and time. I often thought of Jackson Pollock, of the rhythm and swing in his works, of the nearly cosmic energy that he sets free and captivates. And, above all, of his large-scale “Mural” from 1943. But I would not say that my music is an equivalent to that which one calls abstract expressionism. Although while composing, however, I always think entirely abstract.
—Bernd Richard Deutsch, 2018

5 October 2018

7.30 p.m.

Graz, Helmut List Halle Musikprotokoll les concerts grandioses UA

Tickets

With RSO Wien and Klangforum Wien the two most important ensembles for contemporary music in Austria come together on one stage. The combination of the orchestra and the ensemble of soloists offer best preconditions for excellent New Music. (musikprotokoll)

Bernd Richard Deutsch — Murales World Premiere

RSO Wien
Klangforum Wien
Dimitrios Polisoidis, viola
Yaron Deutsch, electric guitar
Krassimir Sterev, accordion
conductor: Johannes Kalitzke

Unsuk Chin — Mannequin

RSO Wien

The composer Bernd Richard Deutsch on his new piece:
Bernd Richard Deutsch — Murales

Afterwards: Kurzzeit
9.00 p.m., Helmut List Halle, Graz

Artist Talk/Keynote: Chaya Czernowin
1 p.m., Palais Meran, Florentinersaal, Graz

The composition by Bernd Richard Deutsch was funded by the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung.