FIRES/ UGNYS - Raminta Šerkšnytė, composer

FIRES/ UGNYS for symphony orchestra

I. Misterioso

II. Con brio

Raminta Šerkšnytė Fires/ Ugnys. Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Mariss Jansons

PROGRAMME NOTE:

When composing this piece, I had several sources of inspiration. First of all, I knew that in the premiere performance it will be played before Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, therefore a few motives from this symphony became the kernel for harmonic development of my music. It was also thoughts about the fateful circumstances of Beethoven’s life when he was writing this symphony (including increasing deafness), what induced me to compose a dramatic piece with an ever growing inner tension.

On the other hand, “Fires” continues the series of my symphonic works whose titles are related to elements and phenomena of nature (“Iceberg Symphony”, “Mountains in the Mist“, “Glow”); however, all possible associations with that word are no less important for the title. Here I tried to show various “faces” (“characters”) of fire, from mere anticipation of approaching turbulence till outbursts of accumulated energy, to express the multitude of colours and shapes emerging during the processes of heating, burning and melting. Therefore the piece is based on different harmonic, rhythmic, textural and timbral variations of initial motives, constantly evolving with every new turn.

Raminta Šerkšnytė

YEAR OF COMPOSITION: 2010

INSTRUMENTATION:

symphony orchestra (4343-4431-timp-4perc-hrp-pf/cel-str)

DURATION: ca. 11′

COMMISSIONED by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Germany)

PREMIERE: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Mariss Jansons

17 and 18 May 2012, Herkulessaal der Residenz, Munich (Germany)

AWARD: 2nd prize for the best work of the year 2012 at the competition, organized by the Lithuanian Composers’ Union (Lithuania)

SCORE (manuscript): please contact raminta.serksnyte@gmail.com

PERFORMING RIGHTS: please contact Mr. Stefan Fragner: fragner@rbartists.at

RELEASE: