Hans Abrahamsen
Let Me Tell You
Works Info
Composer:Hans AbrahamsenGenre:VocalCompose Date:2013Movement_count:7Movement ....Let Me Tell You is a contemporary classical composition by Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen. The piece was composed in 2012 and premiered on August 30, 2013, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, as part of the BBC Proms festival. The composition is based on a libretto by Paul Griffiths, which is in turn based on a novel by the same name by British author Paul Bowles. Let Me Tell You is a song cycle for soprano and orchestra, consisting of seven movements. The piece is scored for a large orchestra, including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and harp. The movements are titled "Let Me Tell You How It Was", "O But Memory Is Not One But Many", "I Will Go Out Now", "The Edge of Extremity", "But As To The Stars", "And the Ocean Was Without Mercy", and "Let Me Tell You What He Said". The piece is characterized by its use of extended techniques and unconventional orchestration. Abrahamsen employs a variety of techniques to create a unique sound world, including microtonality, aleatoric elements, and unconventional playing techniques. The orchestration is sparse and delicate, with the composer often using only a few instruments at a time to create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The soprano soloist is given a challenging and virtuosic role, with the music often requiring her to sing in a high register and use a variety of vocal techniques, including sprechgesang and whispering. The text of the piece is taken from the perspective of the character of Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet, and the music reflects her fragmented and disjointed mental state. Overall, Let Me Tell You is a haunting and evocative work that showcases Abrahamsen's unique compositional voice. The piece has been widely praised for its innovative use of orchestration and vocal techniques, and has become a staple of the contemporary classical repertoire.More....
