Composer

:

Kaija Saariaho

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1996

First Performance

:

Jul 6, 1996

Average_duration

:

4:11

Die Aussicht is a contemporary classical music composition by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. The piece was composed in 1996 and premiered on October 17, 1996, at the Helsinki Festival in Finland. The composition is written for a chamber orchestra consisting of 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, 1 tuba, 1 percussionist, and strings. Die Aussicht is a single-movement work that lasts approximately 15 minutes. The title of the piece translates to "The View" in English, and the music is intended to evoke the feeling of looking out over a vast landscape. The piece is characterized by its use of extended techniques, such as glissandi, harmonics, and microtonal inflections, which create a sense of otherworldliness and ethereality. The composition begins with a series of soft, sustained chords in the strings, which gradually build in intensity and complexity as the other instruments enter. The music ebbs and flows, with moments of intense activity followed by periods of calm and reflection. The percussionist plays a prominent role in the piece, providing a rhythmic pulse and adding color and texture to the music. Throughout the composition, Saariaho uses a variety of timbres and textures to create a sense of depth and space. The music is often characterized by its shimmering, translucent quality, with individual instruments blending together to create a unified sound. The piece ends with a series of soft, sustained chords in the strings, which gradually fade away into silence. Overall, Die Aussicht is a hauntingly beautiful work that showcases Saariaho's unique compositional style. The piece is characterized by its use of extended techniques, its shimmering textures, and its evocative sense of space and landscape.

More....