Erythraean Fields
for mezzo-soprano and ensemble (2014)
The five songs for mezzo-soprano and ensemble were composed in 2014. Fragments taken from Jakob Reichsöllner’s poem Fieberträume — «deliriums» — form the textual basis of the songs. Erythraean Fields is an orchestrated version of my work Farben des Mohns for mezzo-soprano and piano, composed previously in 2014.
It was freely transformed for a broader orchestration, including the traditional Chinese instruments Sheng, Pipa and Erhu. I attempted not to make the ensemble sound particularly Chinese, but to aim at finding new shades of orchestral colours within my very own music.
The work was commissioned by Mrs. Ailin Huang and the association “Internationale Musikbrücke”.
INSTRUMENTATION:
mezzo-soprano, flute, sheng, bass clarinet, bassoon, percussion (1 player), piano, pipa, erhu, viola, violoncello
PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS:
large tam-tam, bass drum, wood blocks (three pitches), crotales, tubular bells, vibraphone
DURATION:
14 minutes
PERFORMANCE MATERIAL:
info@chrenhart.eu
PREMIERE:
April 20, 2015 • Graz, Helmu List Halle • Shanghai Sinfonietta • Zhang Liang, conductor • Annette Schönmüller, mezzo-soprano
RECORDING:
ORF • info@chrenhart.eu