I was inspired to compose 'Bride of the Wind' when I saw the painting of the Same name by Max Ernst. I was fascinated by this surrealistic mythical creature - it made a striking Impression on me. 'Bride of the Wind' is of heathen origin. She symbolises nature's eternal cycle: The coming into existence and the inevitable passing, love and death, natural eroticism, intense longing for all that is alive and well, the Clearing away of all that is bad and sick, making room for fresh breath and new life. The composition is based an a nine-note tone row from which the themes and the harmonic structure are derived. The interval of a fifth plays a major part in the music, both technically and aesthetically. 'The Bride of the Wind' is dedicated to Kurt Masur who not only conducted the Premiere in Munich, but also subsequent Performances in Tel Aviv with the Israeli Philharmonic, the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra.
Note by the composer
translated by Ursula Badminton


CD:
Berliner Sinfonieorchester, cond. Siegfried Matthus
Musik in Deutschland 1950-2000
CD RCA 74321 73612 2