An arrangement of nine pieces from the 30 Miniatures op. 26.
After several successful performances of what were at first miniatures for two violins (from the first book of my violin method) I decided to arrange nine of these short pieces in various versions for concert performance. These versions—the first a septet for string quintet, clarinet, and harp or piano; the second for string orchestra; the third for piano; and the fourth for large orchestra—present variants of the materials from the selected duets, albeit in considerably different durations and with differing content. They include harmonic metamorphoses, formal restructurings, more complex contrapuntal processes, and precisionings of the rhythmic structure that were not at hand in the 1974-76 originals.
Each of these versions has been worked out in an individual way. The original duets became a quarry of materials for lighter compositions. Apart from weightier concepts I have been continually haunted by the idea that one could with the means of the musical avant-garde also create an entertainment music, trying out a modernization—if not indeed a revolution—of what currently exists (see also POP revolution). This work presents one of the many possibilities I have thought of for reaching this goal.
I Dance of the Koldunian Warlocks
II Dice game in Skopje
III South Slavic Leaping Dance
IV City man’s wooing song for a country girl
V Lullaby from Mostar
VI Night Music of the Smyrnian Smugglers
VII Dolls’ Dance
VIII Dracula’s Love Dance
IX Horó in Bulgarian Style
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First version for septet (clarinet, harp, and string quintet) [version a]
Published by Edition Contemp Art (Verlagsgruppe Hermann),
Obtainable via www.schott-music.com
Product number: VGH 1618-71 (Score and parts)
Second version for septet (clarinet, piano, and string quintet) [version a']
Product number: VGH 1729-71 (Score and parts)
Version for string orchestra [version b]
Premiere of the version for string orchestra: June 2008 in Schloss Hof
Duration: ca. 11 minutes
Product number: VGH 1619-12 (Score)
Product number: LVGH 1619 (Hire/performance material)
Audio samples:
|
René Staar - Würfelspiel |
|
Nr. II Dice game in Skopje (version for string orchestra)
Fritz Kreisler Ensemble
|
René Staar - Wiegenlied |
|
Nr. V Lullaby from Mostar (version for string orchestra)
Fritz Kreisler Ensemble
Concert version for piano (2008) [version c]
Product number: VGH 1762-70
Version for large orchestra (2008-2021, Vienna and Salzburg) [version d]
Duration: ca. 15 minutes
Parts and instrumentation:
I Dance of the Koldunian Warlocks (18.8.2008, Salzburg) 1’15’’
3-3 [3. also eh]-3-2+cbn / 0-3-0-0 / 3 perc / harp / str
perc I castanets
perc II snare drum, bass drum
perc III siren
II Dice game in Skopje (18.8.2008, Salzburg) 0’36’’
3-3-3[1. in E♭E flat, 2., 3. in B♭]-1 / 4-3-3-1 / 3 perc / harp / str
perc I timpani
perc II large suspended cymbals
perc III tam-tam, gran cassa
Audio sample:
|
René Staar - Würfelspiel |
|
Nr. II Dice game in Skopje (version for orchestra)
ORF-Sinfonieorchester, René Staar
III South Slavic Leaping Dance (25.9.2019, Vienna) 0'41''
3-2+eh-3-3 / 4-3-4-1 / 3 perc / harp / str
perc I bass drum
perc II 2 snare drums high-low, cowbell (high)
perc III medium suspended cymbals
IV City man’s wooing song for a country girl (29.11.2019, Vienna) 1’20’’
3-2+eh-3-2+cbn / 4-3-3-0 / 3 perc / harp / str
perc I 2 bongos
perc II claves
perc III medium-large triangle
V Lullaby from Mostar (24.12.2019, Vienna) 2’20’’
3-2[+cor anglais]-3-2+cbn / 4-3-3-1 / harp / str
VI Night Music of the Smyrnian Smugglers (26.4.2020, Vienna) 3’02’’
3[3. also picc]-3-3-2+cbn / 4-3-3-1 / 3 perc / harp / celesta / str
perc I timpani, bass drum, 2 bongos
perc II 2 tom-toms high-low, large suspended cymbals
perc III tambourine with skin and bells, tam-bam, low snare drums
VII Dolls’ Dance (9.9.2020, Vienna) 1’00’’
3-3-3-3 / 4-3-3-1 / 3 perc / harp / str
perc I bass drum
perc II 2 snare drums senza corde
perc III tambourine with skin and bells, 2 triangles high-low, pair of cymbals
VIII Dracula’s Love Dance (18.1.2021, Vienna) 1’05’’
3-3-3-2 / 4-3-3-0 / 3 perc / str
perc I bass drum
perc II large dymbals, 2 snare drums high-low con e senza corde
perc III tambourine with skin and bells, tam-tam
IX Horó in Bulgarian Style (28.3.2021, Vienna) 1’45’’
2+Picc.-3[3. also eh]-3-[3. also bcl]-2+cbn / 4-3-3-1 / 3 perc / harp / str
perc I castanets, bass drum, timpani
perc II vibraphone, 2 snare drums high-low, glockenspiel
perc III 1 bright, but not too high-pitched wooden block, low tom-tom, triangle, medium-large pair of cymbals