Birkenlicht
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birkenlicht (lit.: Birches' Light) is a cello sonata by Graham Waterhouse, composed in 2023 in memory of the poet Hans Krieger. It was premiered in Munich that year.
| Birkenlicht | |
|---|---|
| Cello sonata by Graham Waterhouse | |
| Period | contemporary |
| Dedication | In memoriam Hans Krieger |
| Performed | 29 September 2023: Gasteig Munich |
History
Waterhouse had set several poems by Hans Krieger to music, such as "Im Gebirg" for mezzo-soprano, alto flute, cello and piano in 2010,[1] and Krieger had written the text of Christmas cantata for him, Der Anfang einer neuen Zeit (The beginning of a new time).[2] He composed the cello sonata in 2023, on a request from Krieger's family after the poet had died on 9 January 2023.[3] The title of the sonata is also the title of a poetry collection by Krieger. His ninth poetry book, it was published in 2016 and illustrated by Christine Rieck-Sonntag. He introduced it in a public reading on 1 February 2016, where the original artwork was also shown.[4] The music is inspired by four of his poems, which were recited at the first performance.[3]
The sonata was premiered at the Gasteig in Munich on 29 September 2023, at Saal X of the HP8 location. The program was dedicated to works by Robert Schumann and Waterhouse and played by the composer and pianist Miku Nishimoto-Neubert in their series Entdeckungen (Discoveries).[3]