related works
Telegraphic : for ensemble and live electronics / Yannis Kyriakides
Genre:
Multimedia
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players) with multimedia
Scoring:
fl cl-b, trb keyb vc db tape
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments; Mixed choir and orchestra
Scoring:
GK4 2vl vla vc / GK4 str
Je vous le donne : for chamber choir and cello solo / Bernard van Beurden; lyrics by Paul Verlaine
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments
Scoring:
GK4 vc
Trans : for vocal and instrumental choirs, 1981-'82 / Daan Manneke
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments
Scoring:
4sopr 4sopr-m 4alt 4ten 4bar 4bas 2ob cl fg h 2trp trb-b org
composition
Ein Schemen (A Recomposition of Ein Deutsches Requiem) : for harp, electronics and choir / Yannis Kyriakides
Author(s):
Brahms, Johannes
(On a theme by)
Kyriakides, Yannis
(Composer)
Description:
This composition is a reworking of Ein Deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms. The seven movements, which flow seemlessly from one another, are each based on the corresponding movement from the original Brahms Requiem. The music focuses on a small number of elements from the original material and stretches it out into a landscape. Time is suspended and the listener can navigate in the space, moving through traces of Brahms. The music of the harp which frames the choir parts, is an encoding of the original texts from the Requiem. It creates a perspective on the static flow of the choir and electronic parts which changes gradually through the piece.
The title of this recomposition is a quote from a line in part III: ' Sie gehen daher wie ein Schemen.' 'Ein Schemen' is an old German word for shadow or apparition, probably derived from the Latin word 'Schema'. I find it an apt word to use in this context because it reflects the nature of this piece. It is both about the connection of the living to the dead, and at the same time, it says something about the relation of this piece to the original work of Brahms. It is composed in its shadow and it is permeated by his notes as ghostly presences.
Yannis Kyriakides