Symphony einer Stadt
Patetica
[orch] 1983 duration: 28' picc. 2. 2. cor ang. 2. B-clar. 2. dble bsn – 4. 3. 3. 1. – timp. perc(3) – hp – str
Description
To mark the 1100th anniversary of the city of Duisburg, Jürg Baur composed music for the festive occasion, but without resorting to a jubilant anthem. Klaus Kirchberg wrote about the premiere, which was enthusiastically received by the audience: Baur gave his half-hour work the title “Patetica” instead of paying light-hearted homage to the city. In the constructive nature of the outer movements of his symphony, he returns to magical sound effects. He does not simply adopt forms and formulas, but loads them with expression, relates them to reality (to the forward-pressing movement of a big city), and questions them. The slow movement (Melancholy), with its soloistic fanfare, sounds expressive, while the scherzo is tumultuous and virtuosic. The finale is the most festive, with a conclusion above the keynote D, which refers to Duisburg and even has an affirmative effect.
MM 2304137
hire material
Description
Description
To mark the 1100th anniversary of the city of Duisburg, Jürg Baur composed music for the festive occasion, but without resorting to a jubilant anthem. Klaus Kirchberg wrote about the premiere, which was enthusiastically received by the audience: Baur gave his half-hour work the title “Patetica” instead of paying light-hearted homage to the city. In the constructive nature of the outer movements of his symphony, he returns to magical sound effects. He does not simply adopt forms and formulas, but loads them with expression, relates them to reality (to the forward-pressing movement of a big city), and questions them. The slow movement (Melancholy), with its soloistic fanfare, sounds expressive, while the scherzo is tumultuous and virtuosic. The finale is the most festive, with a conclusion above the keynote D, which refers to Duisburg and even has an affirmative effect.
World premiere
World premiere: Duisburg, September 7, 1983
Bibliography
Abels, Robert: Annäherungen an Jürg Baurs sinfonisches Werk, in: Jürg Baur, edited by Ulrich Tadday (= Musik-Konzepte. Neue Folge, Heft 184/185), Munich: Edition Text+Kritik 2019, pp. 77-96
Discography
LP Duisburg Symphony Orchestra, cond. Lawrence Foster
LP EHA B-0756/7