In using the late medieval poems of the trouvère, a class of poets who lived in northern France during the 12th and 13th centuries, it seemed necessary to me to employ historical musical stylistic devices. Among other things, this meant incorporating the basic dance attitude into the rhythmic structure of Miroirs. Borrowing from church music tonalities, I developed scales that allowed for diatonic melodic progressions in narrowly defined tonal ranges. Structurally, symmetries dominate over long passages, sometimes on several levels.
Commissioned by SWR Radio for Donaueschingen 1989
©Breikopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden.
INSTRUMENTATION
After medieval and late-medieval poems from northern France
for six vocalists (2 sopranos, 1 mezzosoprano, 1 tenor, 1 baritone, 1 bass
11 min.
FIRST PERFORMANCE
Donaueschingen, 21 October 1989
London Sinfonietta Voices, musical dir: Terry Edwards
About Michael obst
Michael Obst is a composer, pianist, and teacher. He began his successful composing career with electronic music and subsequently composed works for music theater, film and concert halls. His experience as a pianist with the Ensemble Modern, enriched his understanding of contemporary music. After 25 fulfilling years of teaching, he is now excited to once again concentrate on his own composition projects.
- INFO@MICHAEL-OBST.COM