(with Anya Yermakova ) Born in 1913, Witold Lutosławski created a new musical language by incorporating elements of folk songs, 12-tone serialism, atonal counterpoint, and controlled improvisations reminiscent of aleatory compositions while retaining elements of conventional harmony and melody. Lutosławskis life spanned two World Wars, Stalins Communist takeover of Poland, and the fall of Communism that ended the Cold War. He grew up in a politically-active Polish family that faced constant political turbulence, tensions, and tragedy. Lutosławski himself escaped from a POW camp during World War II, and his father and brothers lost their lives in military action. During the years of political oppression in Poland, Lutosławski secretly continued to explore and invent new techniques of composition. Though he was not able to publicly pursue or introduce them, due to the threat of political-cultural silencing, he kept refining these methods, some of which are evident in Subito, which was his final composition. Stylistically, this piece is based on his refrain-episode. The refrains are easily recognizable by their declamatory boldness. The episodes are different each and every time, and are, for the most part, in distinct contrast to the refrains. Lutosławski uses chromaticism as the defining characteristic for the violin, while the piano exploits two vertically symmetrical chords in various forms.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:10:25 +0000
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