Composer

:

Bernd Alois Zimmermann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Oratorio

Compose Date

:

1970

Average_duration

:

34:47

"Ich wandte mich und sah an alles Unrecht" is a composition by Bernd Alois Zimmermann, a German composer known for his avant-garde style. The piece was composed in 1968 and premiered on October 17, 1969, in Cologne, Germany. The composition is a part of Zimmermann's "Requiem for a Young Poet," which is a musical work that combines elements of a traditional requiem with contemporary musical techniques. "Ich wandte mich und sah an alles Unrecht" is the fourth movement of the work and is an ecclesiastical action, which is a type of musical composition that combines elements of a religious service with contemporary musical techniques. The movement begins with a solo soprano singing a text from the Book of Ecclesiastes in German. The text translates to "I turned and saw all the injustice that is done under the sun, and behold the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter." The soprano is accompanied by a small ensemble of instruments, including a harp, vibraphone, and piano. As the movement progresses, the soprano is joined by a choir, which sings a text from the Book of Lamentations in Latin. The text translates to "Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace." The choir is accompanied by a larger ensemble of instruments, including strings, woodwinds, and brass. The music in "Ich wandte mich und sah an alles Unrecht" is characterized by Zimmermann's use of dissonance, complex rhythms, and unconventional instrumental techniques. The piece also features elements of aleatoric music, which is a type of music in which some element of the composition is left to chance. Overall, "Ich wandte mich und sah an alles Unrecht" is a powerful and emotionally charged composition that reflects Zimmermann's unique musical style and his interest in combining traditional and contemporary musical techniques.

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