for a septet formation consisting of flute, clarinet, string trio, accordion and piano
Composed in the fall of 2025
Duration: 8'30''

Autobiographical elements have been playing an increasingly important role in the development of my ideas. Several allusions to my personal life and biography are especially revealed in the completion of the cycle “Divertissements Suisse” (Op. 10) and the cycle of homages (Op. 14) that I have been working on since 1985 for various occasions.
The most recently composed homage is entitled “63” and is dedicated to my dear mother: she supported me for 63 years and accompanied me throughout my life, from the time I was born until her death on my 63rd birthday.
The number 63 is divisible by 3, but also by 7. Therefore, I thought it was appropriate to divide life into 9 times 7 years as a means of numerical symbolism. An introductory section presents the essential harmonic elements and thus subdivides the piece into 1 plus 9 parts.

The various homages in the Op. 14 cycle share a basic harmonic structure that is complemented or contrasted by a particular set of notes unique to each piece and derived from the musical letters of the dedicatees. Thus, the letters H, E, A, D, and S contained in the name Hermine Walland-Staar produce the sequence of fourths B-E-A-D and the dissonant E flat (in German musical notation, H stands for the note B, and Es for E flat). Phase shifts in the introduction also provide essential rhythmic impulses and become the seeds of all subsequent musical figures and harmonies.