Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Sinfonie in einem Satz

The WDR Symphony Orchestra (replete with gothically thunderous organ) throw their considerable weight behind the original, still-unpublished version which outraged critics at its premiere two... — Gramophone Magazine, October 2016 More…

Release Date: 29th Jul 2016
Catalogue No: WER73402
Label: Wergo
Length: 63 minutes

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Zimmermann, B A: Sinfonie in einem Satz (1. Fassung)

Work length18:12

Album only

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Peter Hirsch

Zimmermann, B A: Giostra Genovese

Work length15:21

$5.00

$7.00

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Peter Hirsch

I. Introduzione (nach Tilman Susato)

Track length1:47

$1.00

$1.40

II. Pavane I (nach Orlando Gibbons)

Track length3:04

$1.00

$1.40

III. Moresca (nach William Byrd)

Track length3:30

$1.00

$1.40

IV. Pavane II (nach Orlando Gibbons)

Track length3:20

$1.00

$1.40

V. Finale

Track length3:40

$1.00

$1.40

Zimmermann, B A: Konzert fur Streichorchester

Work length12:22

$3.00

$4.20

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Peter Hirsch

I. Introduktion

Track length1:39

$1.00

$1.40

II. Aria

Track length6:52

$1.00

$1.40

III. Finale

Track length3:51

$1.00

$1.40

Zimmermann, B A: Musique pour les soupers du Roi Ubu

Work length17:48

$8.00

$11.20

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Peter Hirsch

Entrée de l’académie

Track length1:48

$1.00

$1.40

I. Ubu Roi, Capitaine Bordure et ses partisans

Track length3:03

$1.00

$1.40

II. Mère Ubu et ses gardes

Track length1:46

$1.00

$1.40

III. Pile, cotise et l’ours

Track length1:07

$1.00

$1.40

IV. Le cheval à Phynances et les larbins de Phynances

Track length1:04

$1.00

$1.40

V. Pavane de pissemblock et pissedoux

Track length3:18

$1.00

$1.40

VI. Bercuese des petits financiers qui ne peuvent pas s’endormir

Track length1:05

$1.00

$1.40

VII. Marche du décervellage

Track length4:37

$1.00

$1.40

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About

Bernd Alois Zimmerman began to study school music in Cologne a year before the outbreak of the Second World War, but was drafted into the army in 1939. He served for three years, finally being discharged because of chronic skin problems as a result of exposure to poison. This experience, his analysis of the war and the phenomenon of time, characterizes an oeuvre that developed in a startlingly short period of time.

The works compiled on this CD emphasize, in a richly varied manner, Zimmermann’s conception of music as the ultimate 'art of time' in which different temporal layers permeate each other, thus eliminating historicity.

The premiere of his Sinfonie in 1952 was harshly criticized; Zimmermann then promised to present himself as a “more experienced orchestrator” in the future and immediately thereafter rewrote the piece, making major revisions and changing the title to Sinfonie in einem Satz [Symphony in One Movement] – the title we know today. In his revision of the Sinfonie, Zimmermann shortened and tightened certain formal elements. In a later commentary, he said that 'the strongly rhapsodic character … was restrained in favour of a more compressed presentation'.

The ballet suite Giostra Genovese is a piece made up entirely of collages, based on dances from the 16th and 17th centuries and interspersed with quotations from historical and contemporary composers. “The principle of this arrangement is that of a deliberate anachronism” (Zimmermann).

The result of collage and decollage, after many revisions, finally culminated in the Musique pour les soupers du Roi Ubu [Music for King Ubu’s Dinner]. Zimmermann rightly referred to this work as a ballet noir. To this day, it has remained one of the darkest, most provocative, and “politically incorrect” works of New Music ever written.

Reviews

October 2016

The WDR Symphony Orchestra (replete with gothically thunderous organ) throw their considerable weight behind the original, still-unpublished version which outraged critics at its premiere two years earlier. Peter Hirsch conducts an account of implacable momentum, aided in untangling some thorny textures by Wergo’s wide sound stage

25th August 2016

all performed with a meticulously menacing, deadpan sense of drama...This music has a terror that shouldn’t be softened, and conductor Peter Hirsch squares up unflinchingly.

1st October 2016

Hirsch’s WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln revel in the craziness. Ear-tickling details emerge again and again – the cowbell and guiro in the second movement are especially telling, before Zimmermann throws in a few seconds of Fifties jazz noodling…stunning, terrifying stuff, superbly performed and recorded – if you buy just one disc of 20th century orchestral music this year, choose this one

Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Sinfonie in einem Satz

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