Description
Setting for alto and guitar of Ewald Oser’s translation of Reiner Kunze’s poem.
It describes a concert on a hot balmy day, but the audience is described in a wry and somewhat satirical way.
Ewald Osers wrote to me in appreciation of the setting many years ago and gave me permission to use it. He died in October 2011 so I release this setting in his honour and also in Reiner Kunze’s honour.
The melody that I wrote for the poem also appears in other works of mine, including Serenade for wind quintet (available on this site) and “Serenata nella residenza estiva” for ocarina septet and for flute septet.
Ewald Osers’ translation of the poem:
The sala terrena.
a heavy chandelier,
a parade of candles
for the Allegro,
which comes
through the centuries.
Eyes closed,
the harpsichord player
fingers his keys,
a man illuminated,
illumination bursting
from art and fugue.
We sit motionless,
as if in us too a candle,
a candle were burning.
Later in the park,
black beetles scurrying,
violin cases under their arms,
townwards they walk.
Under their overcoats,
for chillier ev’nings,
their black wings show.
We walk behind them,
looking for golden bridges.
Video of my performance: