Hans Abrahamsen

Publisher: Edition Wilhelm Hansen

Stratifications (1975),

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Publisher

Edition Wilhelm Hansen Copenhagen

Category

Orchestra

Sub Category

Large Orchestra

Year Composed

1975

Duration

8 Minutes

Orchestration

2.2.2.1/2.2.1.0/2perc/pf/str

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Programme Note

Hans Abrahamsen Stratifications (1975),

Stratifications was composed in the period 1973-75 and was premiered in the summer 1977 by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra at the Young Nordic Music Festival in Reykjavik.

The stratifications referred to in the title unfold two different levels. There is the stratification of the time dimension produced by the opposition of contrasting parts; at the same time the polyphony, the presence of several simultaneously sounding layers, is of great importance to the music. By garish colours and clear-cut outlines a polyrhythmic simultaneousness of simple melodies is produced with more gestic music and other material which give a peculiar 'set piece-like' effect in the sound picture. The 'new simplicity' details are here woven together in a new kind of complex whole.

Stratifications begins with a series of concretistic masklike 'pictures of the music'. It is like seeing lantern slides. But this 'fictive' form crackles and the music gets attentive and real. The music is in a night-mare condition, where it is not getting anywhere in spite of a great dynamic display. But finally is liberating itself and rising 'in triumph'.

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Discography - Stratifications

Ensemble
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor
Thomas Dausgaard
Dacapo:
8.226010

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Performances

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Reviews

Stratifications (1975) firmly gives the lie to any idea that the New Simplicity movement, of which Abrahamsen was a leading voice, was without a corresponding complexity

Richard Whitehouse, International record review,31/08/2005

Although he (Abrahamsen, ed.) began as an exponent of New Simplicity, even the early Stratifications is densely layered and complexly conceived

Paul Driver, The Sunday Times,22/02/2005

It was a joy to hear Abrahamsens nearly thirty years old "Stratifications" again... especially because it still sounds so fresh

Søren H. Schauser, Berlinske Tidende,03/03/2003