- Nico Muhly
Berceuse with seven variations (2018)
- St. Rose Music Publishing (World)
Commissioned by Elizabeth Kenny
Programme Note
Berceuse with seven variations is constructed around a cycle of twenty-four chords, spaced with maximum distance between the lowest and highest notes. Each variation explores various paths through this cycle, but always keeping the idea of a cradle-song, a berceuse, in the background. Some of the variations treat this music subtly and calmly, and other times, exploding the chords into fast-moving notes found at the extremes of the instruments. The piece ends with the chords dispersed, inverted, and made gentle again.
Media
Berceuse with Seven Variations: I. Cycle
Berceuse with Seven Variations: II. First Berceuse
Berceuse with Seven Variations: III. Second Berceuse
Berceuse with Seven Variations: IV. Scattershot
Berceuse with Seven Variations: V. Lilt
Berceuse with Seven Variations: VI. Stutter
Berceuse with Seven Variations: VII. Coda