Bilder von Dorabira (2025)
for String Orchestra
[10 mins.]
Written for Christina Rigger and Guntram Simma
Op. 85. — A.S.C.A.P. work I.D. 934751724
SCORE
Premiere Pending
Op. 85. — A.S.C.A.P. work I.D. 934751724
SCORE
Premiere Pending
NOTES
I have spent quite a bit of time in Western Austria, specifically the State of Vorarlberg and cities like Viktorsberg, Bregenz, Feldkirk, and especially Dornbirn. These small cities sit at the base of the Austrian Alps. Actually, Viktorsberg is up there, near the top of these spiking young mountains. So dramatic, so beautiful, so peaceful. The Austrian Alps are directly mirrored to the west by the Swiss Alps, and, between the two mountain ranges, there is a completely flat plain, the Alpine Rhine Valley, separating the two mammoth ranges by only a few kilometers. This valley is also the natural boarder between the Switzerland and Austria.
So, part of my set of musical pictures (Bilder) is about all that beauty and peace. It begins like a slideshow, one scene after another, with the harmony and rhythmic activity emotionally representing the different views, separated by the silence similar to the Valley. I spent some time living and composing in an 800 A.D. Kloster up in those mountains. One evening, there was quite a violent rainstorm in the entire area. From my perch in the Kloster, I watched the storm, thunder, lightning, and drenching rain. I could see more than a dozen different rainstorms throughout the area, all separated by pockets of Alps, Austrian and Swiss.
There is another part of Vorarlberg that I tried to reference in this music. I learned about the forced Anschluß of Austria and then the conscription of Austrians into the Wehrmacht. This was the Nazis first offensive move of WWII. And I learned about this from those whose freedoms were annexed, —almost, i.e. I learned about this from the aging children (now my age) of those victims, who were forced to deal with it all. It is tough to think about all that when exploring such a euphoric place, during peacetime.
However, it is Dornbirn that seems most like a home away from home to me. I have had several musical moments there, working with the musicians. Mostly though, I have lifelong friends, Christina and Guntram, for whom this piece was written. Both dedicated to music as performers and teachers, extremely talented, fun and wonderful people.
And by the way, the true Austrians from Dornbirn affectionately call their city – DORABIRA.
I have spent quite a bit of time in Western Austria, specifically the State of Vorarlberg and cities like Viktorsberg, Bregenz, Feldkirk, and especially Dornbirn. These small cities sit at the base of the Austrian Alps. Actually, Viktorsberg is up there, near the top of these spiking young mountains. So dramatic, so beautiful, so peaceful. The Austrian Alps are directly mirrored to the west by the Swiss Alps, and, between the two mountain ranges, there is a completely flat plain, the Alpine Rhine Valley, separating the two mammoth ranges by only a few kilometers. This valley is also the natural boarder between the Switzerland and Austria.
So, part of my set of musical pictures (Bilder) is about all that beauty and peace. It begins like a slideshow, one scene after another, with the harmony and rhythmic activity emotionally representing the different views, separated by the silence similar to the Valley. I spent some time living and composing in an 800 A.D. Kloster up in those mountains. One evening, there was quite a violent rainstorm in the entire area. From my perch in the Kloster, I watched the storm, thunder, lightning, and drenching rain. I could see more than a dozen different rainstorms throughout the area, all separated by pockets of Alps, Austrian and Swiss.
There is another part of Vorarlberg that I tried to reference in this music. I learned about the forced Anschluß of Austria and then the conscription of Austrians into the Wehrmacht. This was the Nazis first offensive move of WWII. And I learned about this from those whose freedoms were annexed, —almost, i.e. I learned about this from the aging children (now my age) of those victims, who were forced to deal with it all. It is tough to think about all that when exploring such a euphoric place, during peacetime.
However, it is Dornbirn that seems most like a home away from home to me. I have had several musical moments there, working with the musicians. Mostly though, I have lifelong friends, Christina and Guntram, for whom this piece was written. Both dedicated to music as performers and teachers, extremely talented, fun and wonderful people.
And by the way, the true Austrians from Dornbirn affectionately call their city – DORABIRA.
Vorarlberg Austria
Foothills of the Austrian Alps
Foothills of the Austrian Alps