• Per Nørgård
  • Märchenfarben (1980)

  • Edition Wilhelm Hansen Copenhagen (World)

Märchenfarben is a virtuoso concert piece for accordion ensemble, based on Nørgård´s "infinity rhythms”.
Two percussionists (ad lib) may join, and the ensemble may add singing Nørgårds simple choral song "Abendlied" (text by Adolf Wölfli)as a slow, relaxed first part of the work - under the title "Abendlied und Märchenfarben".

  • acn ens. (2 perc. ad lib.)
  • 11 min

Programme Note

MÄRCHENFARBEN is a virtuoso piece for accordion ensemble, based on Nørgård´s “infinity series”, and a special multi-layered rhythm also heard in the composers well known choral work “Wie ein Kind” (second movement) from the same year, 1980.

This rhythm, with the onomatopoeic nickname ´pischop´, has a swaying and breathing quality, which seems well suited for an ensemble of accordions.Two percussion parts – to be added ad lib. - are composed into Märchenfarben´s tone music of the accordions.

The piece was composed in 1980 for the very talented Det Danske Harmonika Ensemble and its leader Jeanette Dyremose – an ensemble that enlarged the instrumental piece with an introduction (as suggested by the composer), singing and playing Nørgård´s choral song “Abendlied” (1980) to a sunset idyllic poem by Adolf Wölfli (1864-1930), including here the word ´märchenfarben´, the title of the shimmering and colorful instrumental music to follow with Märchenfarben. The duration of Abendlied & Märchenfarben is around 15-17 minutes (5-6´ + 10-11´)