"Funeral Music for Olof Palme" for Solo Violin and Accompanying Chamber Ensemble, op. 13a

by René Staar (1986)

In the midst of composing the "Fragments of a Dream Play: the Growing Castle" news of the murder of Swedish President, Olof Palme thrust itself upon the world. The composer, who grew up in Sweden, felt drawn into the mood of the Swedish people by this first political murder there since the famous ball murder of Gustav III at the end of the 18th century, and was moved spontaneously to compose Funeral Musc for Olof Palme. The first performance of this "Funeral Music" composed between the 3rd and 6th of March, 1986 was inserted as a 2nd movement of the "Growing Castle" on the occasion of a Swedish tour of the "Ensemble of the 20th Century" unter the baton of Peter Burwik.

In the Summer of this same year the composer decided to separate the "Funeral Music" from the "Fragments of a Dream Play" and to let it stand as an independent work. The work - built on the intervals of the tones f-a-e, a fifth and a minor second - begins with a musical and dramatic interpretation of a violent death. After the last heartbeats and breaths unfold a doloroso, an adagio morendo concludes the actual Fnuneral Music.

First performance 1986 Goeteborg (konzerthus), Stockholm, Malmoe
with the "Ensemble of the 20th Century" under Peter Burwik

Translation: Michael Ingham

comment of the translator: Trauermusik does not actually mean Funeral Music, but is traditionally so translated, as in Hindemith’s Trauermusik, and if correct Mourning Music is given, then there is the unfortunate confusion with Morning Music.