Richard McGregor:
Interpreting Compositional Process in Wolfgang Rihm's Chiffre Cycle
[Part 1: 1,4 MB, PDF] [Part 2: 2,1 MB, PDF]
Jg. 10 (2007), S. 26-70
The article is in two parts. The first part explores
analytically Chiffre [I] and Chiffre II from Wolfgang
Rihm's series of eight compositions bearing that
title. The analysis sets in place a vocabulary (based
on the composer's own poetics found in the collected
edition of his writings) with which to interrogate his
compositional style in these works. The works are also
contextualised within the composer's output and the
article explores the nature of Rihm's declared intent
in these works of 'seeking a new means of expression'.
The second part of the article uses the foregoing
analytical vocabulary to examine the sixth work in the
cycle which is both a climax and an anti-climax, and
offers some suggested interpretations of Rihm's
compositional processes within the context of 'the
cycle' at a key point in his compositional career.
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Page created on 29/9/2007 / Dokument erstellt am 29. September 2007