Composer

:

Sofia Gubaidulina

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Character Piece

Compose Date

:

1978

First Performance

:

1980

Average_duration

:

13:02

De profundis, for bayan, is a composition by the Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina. It was composed in 1978 and premiered in the same year in Moscow. The piece is written for the bayan, a type of Russian accordion, and is divided into three movements. The first movement, marked "Lento," begins with a series of slow, mournful chords played on the bayan. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the bayan player using a variety of techniques to create a range of sounds and textures. The movement reaches a climax before subsiding into a quiet, introspective coda. The second movement, marked "Allegro," is a fast and frenetic dance. The bayan player uses rapid-fire arpeggios and virtuosic runs to create a sense of urgency and excitement. The music is full of unexpected twists and turns, with sudden shifts in tempo and dynamics. The final movement, marked "Lento," returns to the mournful mood of the first movement. The bayan player uses a variety of extended techniques, including flutter-tonguing and glissandi, to create a haunting, otherworldly sound. The music gradually builds in intensity before reaching a powerful climax. The piece ends with a quiet, contemplative coda. Overall, De profundis is a deeply emotional and expressive work that showcases the versatility and virtuosity of the bayan. Gubaidulina's use of extended techniques and unconventional harmonies creates a unique and haunting sound world that is both challenging and rewarding for the performer and listener alike.

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