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2. summary

3. programme notes

4. details

5. performances

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summary

7 May 2023. bee sage (2023) is a new composition by Rozalie Hirs for cello and (contra)bass clarinet. The new duo was written at the request of the cellist Katharina Gross and the (contra)bass clarinettist Fie Schouten and is dedicated to them.

programme notes

bee sage for contrabass clarinet and cello (2023) by Rozalie Hirs is named after the plant Salvia apiana, also known as white sage, sacred sage, or bee sage. This aromatic plant, native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, is often associated with purification, healing, and spiritual practices. In choosing this title, Hirs evokes the plant’s connection to ritual, nature, and the delicate ecosystems in which it thrives.

The work was written at the kind request of cellist Katharina Gross and (contra)bass clarinettist Fie Schouten, to whom the piece is also dedicated. The parts of the two instruments are both contrasting and complementary. The deep, resonant tones of the contrabass clarinet anchor the piece, revealing the fundamental frequencies that underlie the harmonically rich language of the cello. Through this structure, Hirs explores the way the different timbres can fuse, intertwine, and engage in a constant dialogue.

bee sage builds upon Hirs’s earlier work article 10 [prismes] for solo cello (2021), commissioned by Radio France for cellist Marie Ythier. In bee sage, the cello part remains identical to the earlier work, preserving its complex, prismatic exploration of harmonics, overtones, and resonances. The addition of the contrabass clarinet transforms the solo into a duo, providing a new foundation as well as harmonic context. The contrabass clarinet’s low, almost subterranean tones create an underlying bedrock of sound, highlighting the shimmering, spectral textures in the cello.

A central feature of the cello part is its use of sum and difference tones, a phenomenon known from psychoacoustics. These are additional tones perceived by the listener, created by the interaction of two simultaneous pitches, where the frequencies of the two notes generate an additional perceived pitch at the sum or difference of their frequencies. Hirs uses this psychoacoustic effect, allowing the listener to directly experience the phantom tones. This adds a spectral richness and a sense of illusion to the work, as these tones seem to materialize from the air, blurring the line between physical sound and our auditory perception. In bee sage, these sum and difference tones contribute to the layering of textures, creating a shimmering, multi-dimensional soundscape that deepens the piece’s meditative quality.

The layering of frequencies allows the listener to perceive subtle shifts in texture and color, reminiscent of how light interacts with the multifaceted surfaces of a prism. The piece unfolds in waves of sound, with gradual transformations and subtle variations that create a sense of fluidity and organic growth.

Hirs’ music is often inspired by mathematical and physical concepts, particularly those related to spectralism and the overtone series. In bee sage, she draws from these interests, allowing several harmonic spectra to guide the global musical form. The work invites the listener to immerse themselves in a sound world where time feels elastic, and where the richness of the harmonic spectra is slowly revealed.

sage through the ages
Sage is a medicinal herb traditionally used to cleanse the home and body. The botanical name of the sage family is salvia from the latin word salvare, which means to heal. In ancient Egypt and among the ancient Greeks and Romans, sage was used as a universal cure-all. Dioscorides, the pioneer of medicine and herbalism, recognised that sage had antiseptic, menstrual and wound healing properties. Galen and Pliny used sage to treat sore throats, bronchitis, worms, liver disease and forgetfulness. The school of Salerno was famous in the Middle Ages for its high level of medical knowledge, which was a mixture of Arabic, Jewish, Greek and Roman medicine. Salerno was named ‘City of Hippocrates’ in the 10th century, after the great Greek physician. In Salerno, sage was considered to have special healing powers. “Why should a man die if he has sage in his garden,” is an important Salerno proverb about sage. According to Rembert Dodoens, the pioneering herbalist of the 16th century, sage sharpens the senses.

Bee sage (salvia apiana), a particular type of sage, is known as a sacred and revered herb among Native American tribes in North America, including the Lakota, Chumash, Cahuilla and others. It is believed to have powerful spiritual properties and is considered a gift from the Creator or the Great Spirit. The herb is revered for its ability to cleanse and protect people and spaces from negative energies and influences, to offer prayers and to seek guidance or healing. The herb is used as an offering or in ceremonies to express gratitude, seek wisdom or connect with the natural and supernatural elements.

Sage is mainly used for its leaves and sometimes for its flowers. It contains at least fifteen essential oils. Sage has astringent, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Sage is also an antiseptic and inhibits infections caused by bacteria, viruses and, to a lesser extent, fungi. The herb also contains vitamin C, which plays an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system and preventing disease. The herb may improve cognitive function and help prevent memory loss. The herb may also help regulate blood sugar levels.

Some varieties have grey-green leaves with pretty purple-blue flowers. As an evergreen shrub, it is therefore a popular feature in gardens and parks. Sage flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bumblebees, carpenter bees, bomber flies, and hummingbirds.

details

commission, dedication
The new duo was created at the kind request of cellist Katharina Gross and (contra)bass clarinettist Fie Schouten and is dedicated to the players.

instrumentation
cello
bass clarinet (or contrabass clarinet/ bass clarinet)

duration
The total length of the composition is approximately 14 minutes.

music publisher
The score of bee sage (2023) by Rozalie Hirs can be obtained through its publisher Deuss Music.

further details
bee sage (Deuss Music, 2023) was composed by Hirs at the request of Fie Schouten and Katharina Gross and is dedicated to the players. In August 2024 the duo Gross and Schouten recorded bee sage for the CD of the same name with works by Saariaho and Hirs, among others. The photo below shows Gross and Schouten together with the composer after the premiere of bee sage on 17 September 2023.

The duo is based on the composition article 10 [prismes] (2021) for solo cello, which Hirs commissioned from Radio France for the French cellist Marie Ythier.

performances

26 May 2024, Neue Musik in St. Ruprecht, St.Ruprechtskirche, Ruprechtsplatz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria – Fie Schouten (contrabass clarinet/bass clarinet), Katharina Gross (cello)

30 April 2024, Unerhörte Musik, BKA Theater, Mehringdamm 34, Berlin-Kreuzberg (U7/ U6 Mehringdamm), Germany – Fie Schouten (contrabass clarinet/bass clarinet), Katharina Gross (cello)

22 March 2024, Witte kerkje van Simonshaven, Lageweg 1, 3212 LZ Simonshaven, The Netherlands – Fie Schouten (contrabass clarinet/bass clarinet), Katharina Gross (violoncello)

20 November 2023, AASSM Küçük Salon, Izmir Yeni Müzik Günleri (New Music Days/Tage für Neue Musik Izmir), Yasar University, Izmir, Turkey – Fie Schouten (bass clarinet), Katharina Gross (cello)

17 November 2023, Bilgi Yeni Müzik Festivali, Bilgi Santral Instanbul Kampüsü (Green Room E1 binasi), İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Müzik Bölümü, İstanbul, Turkey – Fie Schouten (bass clarinet), Katharina Gross (cello)

17 September 2023, Muze van Zuid, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Katharina Gross (cello), Fie schouten (contrabass clarinet/bass clarinet) – world premiere