Composer

:

György Kurtág

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1994

Average_duration

:

2:36

"Un brin de bruyère à Witold...in memoriam Witold Lutoslawski" is a composition by Hungarian composer György Kurtág. It was composed in 1994 as a tribute to the Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski, who had passed away the previous year. The piece was premiered on September 17, 1994, at the Warsaw Autumn Festival, with Kurtág himself conducting. The composition consists of three movements, each of which is based on a fragment of a poem by French poet Stéphane Mallarmé. The first movement, "Un brin de bruyère," is a short, delicate piece for solo piano. The second movement, "À Witold Lutoslawski," is a more complex and intense piece for string quartet. The final movement, "In memoriam," is a somber and reflective piece for piano and string quartet. Kurtág's composition is characterized by its sparse and fragmented textures, as well as its use of silence and space. The composer often employs short, isolated gestures and motifs, which are repeated and developed throughout the piece. The result is a highly concentrated and emotionally charged work, which reflects both the composer's admiration for Lutoslawski and his own personal grief. Overall, "Un brin de bruyère à Witold...in memoriam Witold Lutoslawski" is a powerful and poignant tribute to one of the great composers of the 20th century. Its spare and fragmented textures, combined with its emotional intensity, make it a fitting memorial to a man who was known for his own innovative and groundbreaking compositions.

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