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Birkenlicht

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Birkenlicht
Cello sonata by Graham Waterhouse
Periodcontemporary
DedicationIn memoriam Hans Krieger
Performed29 September 2023 (2023-09-29): Gasteig Munich

Birkenlicht (lit.: Birches' Light) is a cello sonata by Graham Waterhouse, composed in 2023 in memory of the poet Hans Krieger. It was premiered in Munich that year.

History

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Waterhouse had set several poems by Hans Krieger to music, such as "Im Gebirg" for mezzo-soprano, alto flute, cello and piano in 2010,[1] and Krieger had written the text of Christmas cantata for him, Der Anfang einer neuen Zeit (The beginning of a new time).[2] He composed the cello sonata in 2023, on a request from Krieger's family after the poet had died on 9 January 2023.[3] The title of the sonata is also the title of a poetry collection by Krieger. His ninth poetry book, it was published in 2016 and illustrated by Christine Rieck-Sonntag. He introduced it in a public reading on 1 February 2016, where the original artwork was also shown.[4] The music is inspired by four of his poems, which were recited at the first performance.[3]

The sonata was premiered at the Gasteig in Munich on 29 September 2023, at Saal X of the HP8 location. The program was dedicated to works by Robert Schumann and Waterhouse and played by the composer and pianist Miku Nishimoto-Neubert in their series Entdeckungen (Discoveries).[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Komponisten-Matinee: Graham Waterhouse" (in German). Gasteig. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  2. ^ "Graham Waterhouse" (in German). Münchener Biennale. 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Klavierquartette – Kammermusik von Mozart, Beethoven und Waterhouse" (in German). Gasteig. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Birkenlicht". lyrik-kabinett.de (in German). 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
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