When everything seems to have been said, it might be better to keep silent – or possibly try to view the past anew with the endless means that are at the disposal of a contemporary composer?
This passacaglia is such a “contemplation”. As this is a gaze back into the past, the piece starts with the last variation and ends with the theme alone in the Pedals.
The first part of the theme, the so-called passus duriusculus or “somewhat hard pace”, is fundament of many Baroque compositions. The second part of the theme is inspired by Romantic passacaglia themes. The key of f minor has a long tradition in the history of the passacaglia. The theme presents all the 12 chromatic notes in the western classical musical scale.
In this passacaglia, Baroque, Romantic and Modern composition techniques are used side-by-side. This creates a sort of musical “patchwork” – very appropriate for our time –, held together by the theme only.
The registration indications are not obligatory. The manual indications signify: I = Great; II = Choir (Positif); III = Swell.
The piece was commissioned by Inger-Lise Ulsrud and was composed with kind support of the Norwegian Composers’ Fund.
Duration:8 min.
