Composer

:

György Kurtág

Genre

:

Vocal

Average_duration

:

38:19

The "Sayings of Péter Bornemisza, Op. 7" is a song cycle composed by Hungarian composer György Kurtág. The work was composed in 1963 and premiered in Budapest in 1964. The cycle consists of 15 short movements, each based on a different saying or proverb attributed to Péter Bornemisza, a 16th-century Hungarian preacher. The first movement, "The wind blows," sets the tone for the cycle with its sparse, haunting melody and fragmented phrases. The second movement, "The world is a city," features a more rhythmic and lively melody, with the voice and piano alternating between short bursts of sound and longer, sustained notes. Other movements in the cycle include "The devil is a liar," which features a dissonant, angular melody and a sense of unease; "The world is a wheel," which has a circular, repetitive melody that builds in intensity; and "The world is a dream," which is characterized by a dreamlike, ethereal quality. Throughout the cycle, Kurtág employs a wide range of vocal techniques, from whispered and spoken text to full-throated singing. The piano part is equally varied, with percussive, staccato chords and delicate, shimmering arpeggios. Overall, the "Sayings of Péter Bornemisza, Op. 7" is a challenging and complex work that showcases Kurtág's unique musical language and his ability to create evocative, emotionally charged music with just a few notes.

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