Composer

:

Wolfgang Rihm

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Rhapsody

Compose Date

:

1998 - 1999

First Performance

:

Mar 24, 2000

Average_duration

:

16:41

Marsyas is a composition for large orchestra by the German composer Wolfgang Rihm. It was composed in 1994 and premiered on October 14, 1995, by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Claudio Abbado. The piece is divided into three movements and has a total duration of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement, marked "Sehr lebhaft" (very lively), begins with a frenzied, dissonant outburst from the orchestra. The music is characterized by its rhythmic complexity and its use of abrupt shifts in texture and dynamics. The movement features a prominent role for the percussion section, which drives the music forward with its insistent rhythms. The second movement, marked "Langsam" (slow), is a stark contrast to the first. It opens with a mournful, lyrical melody played by the strings. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the brass and percussion joining in to create a powerful climax. The movement then subsides into a quiet, introspective coda. The final movement, marked "Sehr schnell" (very fast), is a virtuosic tour-de-force for the orchestra. The music is characterized by its frenetic energy and its use of complex rhythms and harmonies. The movement features a series of explosive climaxes, each one more intense than the last, before finally coming to a crashing conclusion. Overall, Marsyas is a highly expressive and emotionally charged work that showcases Rihm's mastery of orchestration and his ability to create music of great intensity and complexity. The piece is named after the Greek mythological figure Marsyas, who was flayed alive by the god Apollo for daring to challenge him in a musical contest. The music of Marsyas reflects this mythological theme, with its intense, dramatic contrasts and its sense of struggle and conflict.

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