In vain (Haas)

Last updated
in vain
by Georg Friedrich Haas
Period Contemporary
Composed2000
Durationc. 70 minutes
Scoring Orchestra
Premiere
DateOctober 29, 2000 (2000-10-29)
LocationFunkhaus Wallrafplatz, Cologne
Conductor Sylvain Cambreling
Performers Klangforum Wien

in vain is a 2000 composition for 24 instruments by Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas. It was premiered on October 29, 2000 by Sylvain Cambreling and the Klangforum Wien and lasts approximately 70 minutes. [1] The piece is one of Haas' best-known works. [2]

Contents

Background and composition

in vain was commissioned by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk for Sylvain Cambreling (to whom the work is dedicated) and Klangforum Wien. [1] [3] Haas wrote the piece in response to the rise of the far-right in Austria. [4] [5]

The piece deals extensively with microtonality. [1] The light levels in the hall are specified in the score; some sections of the piece are played in very bright light, and about twenty minutes are played in complete darkness. [1] [5]

Instrumentation

The piece is scored for the following ensemble: [1] [3]

Reception

Simon Rattle has hailed in vain as "one of the first masterpieces of the 21st century", [4] [5] and the Austrian newspaper Die Presse has called it a "classic". [6] The piece was named the greatest work of art music since 2000 in a Classic Voice poll. [7]

In his 2007 book The Rest Is Noise , Alex Ross wrote that the piece "may mark a new departure in Austro-German music, joining spectral harmony to a vast Brucknerian structure". [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Haas - in vain for 24 instruments". Universal Edition. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  2. Fairman, Richard (2019-12-06). "What does a Bridget Riley painting sound like?" . Financial Times . Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  3. 1 2 Haas, Georg Friedrich. in vain. 2000. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2000.
  4. 1 2 "Contemporary composer: Georg Friedrich Haas". Gramophone. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  5. 1 2 3 "Interview: Sir Simon Rattle talks about "in vain" by Georg Friedrich Haas". Digital Concert Hall. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  6. Weidringer, 04 08 2020 um 15:15 von Walter (2020-08-04). ""in vain": Klangtreppen ohne Ausweg". Die Presse (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  7. "A music referendum". Ricordi. Retrieved December 2, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. Ross, Alex (2007). The Rest is Noise. New York, N.Y.: Picador. p. 590. ISBN   978-0-312-42771-9.