Composer

:

Louis Andriessen

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Piece

Compose Date

:

1975

Average_duration

:

17:27

"Worker's Union" is a composition by Dutch composer Louis Andriessen, written in 1975. The piece was premiered on May 9, 1975, by the Orkest de Volharding in Amsterdam. It is a single-movement work that lasts approximately 16 minutes. The piece is characterized by its repetitive and driving rhythms, which are reminiscent of the music of Steve Reich and Philip Glass. The instrumentation is for any group of instruments, and the score is written in a graphic notation style, which allows for flexibility in the choice of instruments and the interpretation of the music. The piece is divided into several sections, each with its own distinct rhythmic and melodic material. The opening section features a driving rhythm in the percussion and low instruments, with the upper instruments playing a repeating melody. This section gradually builds in intensity, with the addition of more instruments and a faster tempo. The middle section of the piece features a slower, more contemplative melody, played by the upper instruments. This melody is accompanied by a pulsing rhythm in the lower instruments, which gradually builds in intensity until it reaches a climax. The final section of the piece returns to the driving rhythm of the opening section, with all of the instruments playing together in a frenzied and chaotic manner. The piece ends abruptly, with a sudden cutoff of all sound. Overall, "Worker's Union" is a powerful and intense work that reflects Andriessen's political and social concerns. The repetitive rhythms and graphic notation style of the score are characteristic of Andriessen's minimalist style, and the piece has become a staple of the contemporary classical repertoire.

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